LEVEL UP: A Wedding Photography + Videography Podcast
Ready to take your wedding photography or filmmaking business from mainstream to luxury? We are on a mission to equip YOU with the information and resources you need to scale your business into the premiere and luxury markets, where you can successfully 2-3x your prices.
Every Tuesday we invite you to tune in on conversations with Kelley and Taylor, luxury wedding cinematographers and business coaches, as we teach you what we have learned over 22+ years of combined experience in the wedding industry.
Learn the ins and outs of the luxury market, how to align your brand within it, and become fully prepared to take your business from mainstream to luxury.
In a nutshell: this is the wedding filmmaking + photography podcast for creatives striving for MORE in their businesses.
The wedding industry can be a challenging place to build a career, and we are here to help.
https://thelevelupco.com/
LEVEL UP: A Wedding Photography + Videography Podcast
150: Creating a Luxury Wedding Market in a Non-Luxury Location
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Think you can’t charge luxury prices because of where you live? Think again!
In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Mike Cassimatis, a St. Louis-based luxury wedding photographer, shares how he created a high-end wedding market in a location that wasn’t traditionally considered luxury.
Mike reveals how strategic networking, branding, and vendor collaboration allowed him to go from $1,500 weddings to charging $18K+ per event—all without moving to a major luxury hub like LA or NYC.
If you’re a wedding photographer or videographer looking to break into the luxury market, raise your prices, and build a sustainable business no matter where you live, this episode is a must-listen!
In this episode, we cover:
✔️ How Mike transitioned from side-hustle photography to a full-time luxury brand
✔️ Why mindset is the key to charging higher prices—even in small markets
✔️ How to collaborate with vendors to raise the luxury standard in your area
✔️ Why networking isn’t just about planners—florists, DJs, and makeup artists matter too
✔️ The best way to educate clients on high-end pricing & perceived value
✔️ Why curating and only showcasing premium work helps attract luxury clients
✔️ How to position your brand for long-term success and continued price increases
💬 What’s your biggest challenge in breaking into the luxury market?
DM us on Instagram @TheLevelUpCo or share your thoughts in the comments on YouTube!
⭐ Enjoyed this episode?
Subscribe, rate, and review to help more wedding photographers and filmmakers grow their businesses and book luxury clients.
Timestamps:
00:00 – 05:00 | Introduction
05:01 – 15:00 | The Journey to Full-Time Luxury Weddings
15:01 – 25:00 | Creating a Luxury Market in a Non-Luxury Location
25:01 – 35:00 | Strategic Networking & Building Industry Relationships
35:01 – 42:00 | Pricing, Brand Positioning & Future Goals
The next round of The Luxury Mastermind will start in Spring 2026! We are thrilled to welcome you inside our signature 8 week program. Learn more + save your seat here >> https://thelevelupco.com/mastermind
📲 Love this episode? Screenshot and share it on social media! Tag us on Instagram at @TheLevelUpCo and let us know your biggest takeaway.
The Level Up Co. Resources:
- Wedding Planner Email Templates: https://thelevelupco.com/planner-email-template-bundle
- Elevated Client Experience Bundle: https://thelevelupco.com/client-experience-bundle
- Elevated Shot List: https://thelevelupco.com/elevated-shot-list
- The Luxury Framework Course: https://thelevelupco.com/theluxuryframework
- The Luxury Pricing Mini Course: https://thelevelupco.com/reset
Connect with Taylor , Kelley + The Level Up Co.:
🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelevelupco/
🔗Taylor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorpetrinovich/
🔗Kelley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/618studios/
💻Website: https://thelevelupco.com/