In this episode, Amber and Marie break down why some images feel instantly high-end while others unintentionally read budget. They explore the visual cues that define luxury photography and share the intentional choices that elevate a portfolio. From lighting and color to posing, wardrobe, and curation, you will learn how to audit your work through the lens of The Vogue Test and shape a portfolio that attracts premium clients.

• The core elements that create luxury imagery
• Why intentional lighting is the strongest indicator of a high end brand
• How consistency in edit, color, and mood builds trust with premium clients
• The importance of natural skin tones, movement, and connection
• How confident direction elevates posing and client experience
• Why wardrobe choices dramatically affect perceived value
• Common visual mistakes that quietly read budget
• Different luxury aesthetics and what makes each of them elevated
• How to use The Vogue Test to refine your portfolio
• A simple process to curate a more cohesive, luxury aligned body of work

• Luxury is built on intention and clarity
• Beautiful light, clean color, and refined posing elevate even simple locations
• Strong curation is one of the fastest ways to transform your portfolio
• Removing budget cues immediately raises perceived value
• A luxury portfolio is tight, cohesive, and aligned with your artistic vision

If you are ready to refine your portfolio and create a more elevated brand presence, stay tuned for upcoming resources. Share this episode with a photographer who is ready to move into a luxury lane

https://www.instagram.com/light_livin_photography/

https://www.instagram.com/marie.elizabeth.photo/The Vogue Test Worksheet

• Why ChatGPT only works well after you’ve built a clear brand foundation (ideal client, tone, values, purpose, mission)

• The danger of generic AI output — and how to avoid “copy-paste photographer internet voice”

• How Amber created a custom ChatGPT trained on her messaging

• Using AI to repurpose one strong message into:

  • IG captions + hooks

  • Email newsletters

  • Pinterest descriptions

  • Blog outlines

  • Sales page copy

• How ChatGPT can deepen connection while maintaining authenticity

• Why AI should amplify your voice — not replace it

Marie’s workflow:

• How Imagine edits her galleries in 15–20 minutes

• Why she barely has to tweak anything anymore

• Creating separate profiles (studio, outdoor, film stock)

• The “secret sauce”: continuously feeding Imagine your refined edits so it learns your style

Amber’s experience:

• Why Imagine didn’t work for her in the past — and what changed

• The learning curve and how it handles tone curves + background masks

• Where it excels and where she still fine-tunes things

• Why it’s saving her after a huge tech issue this month

Key takeaway: Imagine can drastically speed up your editing workflow and improve consistency — especially once your profile has been fully trained.

Marie’s go-to tools for newborn & family sessions:

• Infant acne removal

• Skin evening

• Double-chin reduction

• Hair frizz + flyaway removal

• Eye catchlights

Amber’s approach:

• Why she customizes a new “preset” for each client

• Her favorite features: under-eye circle reduction, wrinkle softening, clothing de-wrinkle

• What she uses sparingly to keep edits natural

• How Voto saved a wind-blown lavender farm session

• Why it’s the most user-friendly AI tool she’s tried

The biggest perk: Magazine-quality refinements in minutes — without outsourcing a single image.

AI tools are evolving monthly — and the industry is moving fast. Marie & Amber share why learning these tools now gives you more freedom, more creative energy, and more time to deliver meaningful, elevated work.

Marie’s Courses — $200 off each:

• The Posing Course

• The Artwork Course

• The Client Experience Course

Amber’s Black Friday Exclusive Bundle: Includes:

• Light Livin Transformation Course

• Playful Posing Course

• Style Guide

• Contract Templates

Imagen AI

Evoto

Instagram:

Amber: @light_livin_photography Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo

Website:

Amber: https://lightlivinphotography.com/

Marie: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/

Here’s to using AI with intention, elevating your creative workflow, and building a photography business you love.

See you next week, friends!

In this episode, Amber and Marie talk openly about burnout and how to rebuild margin, creativity, and joy in your photography business.

You will learn:

• Why burnout shows up even in successful seasons
• How raising your prices creates space for rest and creativity
• Amber’s story about stepping away from an overpacked calendar
• Why weekday sessions can transform your schedule
• The power of planning one creative shot per session
• Why styled shoots reignite your artistry
• Simple habits that protect your energy
• Amber and Marie also begin exploring how AI can support photographers with marketing materials, content planning, and workflow systems.

Stay tuned for next week’s episode where they walk through the AI editing tools they have tested and what actually helps reduce burnout in the post processing phase.

Grab the freebies:

• Download one of Amber’s free guides in the show notes to join her list and get exclusive Black Friday pricing on Light Livin Transformation, Playful Posing, and her templates.
• Download one of Marie’s freebies to join her list for updates on her photography education and her own Black Friday offers.

Instagram:

Amber: @light_livin_photography Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo

Website:

Amber: https://lightlivinphotography.com/

Marie: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/