LEVEL UP: A Wedding Photography + Videography Podcast

270: Am I the A**hole???

• Taylor Petrinovich & Kelley Gilster | The Level Up Co. • Episode 270

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0:00 | 32:06

What happens when a wedding photographer walks off the job? Or when a photographer shows up to a wedding dressed completely inappropriately? Or when a client demands their gallery while their photographer is grieving the loss of a parent?

In this episode, we're trying something completely different.

We dove into some of the wildest wedding industry stories we could find and gave our honest take on who was right, who was wrong, and most importantly, what wedding photographers and filmmakers can learn from these situations.

While some of these stories are hilarious, they also reveal important lessons about professionalism, communication, client experience, online reputation, boundaries, and what it really means to run a successful business.

One thing we see all the time is that small decisions have big consequences. The way you dress on a wedding day. How you communicate when something goes wrong. What you post online when you're frustrated. How you handle difficult clients. These moments may seem small, but they shape your reputation and ultimately impact the growth of your business.

If you're a wedding photographer or filmmaker who wants to elevate your client experience, build a stronger brand, and avoid the mistakes that can hold you back, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways disguised as entertainment.

Plus, you'll probably laugh a few times along the way. 😂

In this episode, we discuss:
✨ Wedding photography horror stories
✨ Professionalism on wedding days
✨ Client communication and expectations
✨ Wedding photographer attire and brand perception
✨ Contracts, delivery timelines, and client experience
✨ Social media mistakes business owners make
✨ Building a luxury wedding photography and filmmaking brand
✨ Lessons every wedding creative can learn

Grab your coffee and join us for one of the most entertaining conversations we've had on the podcast in a long time.

This episode was sponsored by VidFlow. Level up your delivery experience at https://vidflow.co/thelevelupco

Timestamps:
00:00 - 02:14 | Podcast Introduction & Wedding Industry Reddit Stories
02:15 - 08:19 | Wedding Photography Miscommunication: A First-Time Photographer's Dilemma
08:20 - 15:21 | Professionalism on Wedding Days: Attire, Reviews & Client Perception
15:22 - 17:19 | Growing a Luxury Wedding Business with The Luxury Mastermind
17:20 - 23:55 | Family Weddings, Boundaries & Maintaining Professionalism Online
23:56 - 30:51 | Client Expectations, Contracts & Handling Delays with Grace
30:52 - 31:53 | Final Thoughts & Should We Do Another Reddit Episode?

The next round of The Luxury Mastermind will start in Fall 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/