LEVEL UP: A Wedding Photography + Videography Podcast

259: Rethinking Instagram Ads

Taylor Petrinovich & Kelley Gilster | The Level Up Co.

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0:00 | 25:58

We recorded this episode in the car on the way to Santa Barbara, and it turned into a conversation that completely shifted how we think about marketing.

For the longest time, we believed ads were for mainstream businesses. Not luxury. Not high-end.

But what if we were wrong?

In this episode, we’re unpacking how ads actually fit into the luxury market, why brands like Chanel still use them, and how your ideal client is already being influenced by them every day.

Because running ads like a beginner attracts beginner clients.

But running ads like a luxury brand?
That’s a completely different strategy.

We also break down visibility vs conversion ads, targeting, and why staying top of mind might matter more than booking directly from an ad.

If you’ve ever thought ads would cheapen your brand, this episode will challenge that.

Because staying where you are feels safe.
But it might also be what’s keeping you stuck.

The industry is evolving.
Your marketing should too.

This episode was sponsored by Wanderlust Videos, use LEVELUP100 for $100 off your first edit at https://www.wanderlust-videos.com/

And thank you to VidFlow for sponsoring today's episode. Level up your delivery experience at https://vidflow.co/thelevelupco

Timestamps:

00:00 - 01:37 | Elevating Client Experience & Podcast Introduction
01:45 - 06:14 | Car Chats: Travel Realities & The Truth Behind “Luxury” Weddings
06:14 - 12:56 | Rethinking Ads: From Mainstream to Luxury Strategy
12:56 - 14:11 | Breaking the Editing Cycle: Why Outsourcing Matters
14:11 - 18:20 | Ad Strategy Deep Dive: Targeting, Visibility vs Conversion
18:20 - 21:56 | Running Ads Without Diluting Your Brand
21:56 - 24:04 | Building Authority in a Luxury Market
24:04 - 25:28 | Goals, Positioning & Industry Insights
25:29 - 25:45 | Final Thoughts & Community Engagement

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

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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/