Jumping from $4,500 to $18,000 Weddings in 3 Years – Taylor’s Story

09/05/23 • 38 min

LEVEL UP: A Wedding Photography + Videography Podcast

In this episode, Kelley interviews Taylor about her journey from hobbyist YouTuber to luxury wedding filmmaker charging $15K+ per wedding. Discover the mindset shifts, strategic moves, and bold decisions that helped her scale from $875 bookings to fully booked luxury seasons—all while raising three kids.
In this episode, we cover:
✅ How Taylor landed her first wedding with zero experience
✅ Building a sustainable portfolio through styled shoots
✅ Navigating business growth during COVID
✅ Why pricing jumps require big action
✅ Leveraging slow seasons for strategic expansion
✅ Setting goals and building an abundant mindset
✅ How to prep your business for luxury-level bookings
🎯 Ready to raise your rates and book dream clients?
This episode is packed with actionable advice for wedding filmmakers who are ready to grow with intention.
📲 Follow Taylor: @taylorpetrinovich | @thelevelupco

Timestamps:

00:00 – 04:00 | Introduction
04:00 – 09:00 | Taylor’s Filmmaking Origin Story
09:00 – 13:00 | From $875 Weddings to Booking Out a Season
13:00 – 20:00 | The Power of Styled Shoots & Business Reinvention
20:00 – 26:00 | Big Jumps = Big Action
26:00 – 32:00 | Booking Luxury Clients & Future Strategy
32:00 – 38:00 | Mindset, Mentorship & Business Vision

Doors to THE LUXURY MASTERMIND are now OPEN! We are thrilled to welcome you inside our signature 12 week program. Learn more + enroll 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/

Timestamps:

Doors to THE LUXURY MASTERMIND are now OPEN! We are thrilled to welcome you inside our signature 12 week program. Learn more + enroll here >> https://thelevelupco.com/mastermind

Previous Episode

Over a Decade in Business & Thriving – Kelley’s Story

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Kelley Gilster of 618 Studios shares her journey from shooting her own wedding video to becoming a sought-after luxury filmmaker charging $25K+. With over 13 years of experience, Kelley opens up about the mindset shifts, missed opportunities, and the steps she took to finally own her value.
In this episode, we cover:
✅ Kelley’s origin story & how she found filmmaking
✅ The shift from mainstream to luxury weddings
✅ Key lessons from booking $7K weddings that looked very different
✅ Tips for recognizing and leveraging high-end opportunities
✅ Shooting $2M weddings and multi-day luxury events
✅ How to stop playing small & get out of your comfort zone
🎯 Want to go from burned out to booked out with dream clients?
This episode will help you see what’s possible and why you can have it all too.
📲 Follow Kelley: @618studios | @thelevelupco

Timestamps:

Doors to THE LUXURY MASTERMIND are now OPEN! We are thrilled to welcome you inside our signature 12 week program. Learn more + enroll here >> https://thelevelupco.com/mastermind

Next Episode

How to Feel More Fulfilled as a Luxury Wedding Filmmaker

In this transformative episode, we sit down with John Bunn of How to Film Weddings and John Bunn Films to explore the path from burnout to business brilliance. Learn how John scaled back from 50 weddings a year to shooting just a handful of luxury events—while charging premium rates and feeling more fulfilled than ever.
In this episode, we cover:
✅ John's journey from Redeemed Productions to John Bunn Films
✅ Why scaling down led to greater profits and better films
✅ The impact of branding and defining your ideal client
✅ The long game: how patience and diligence pay off
✅ Launching LUTs for luxury color grading with Gamut
✅ Building legacy relationships with planners and couples
✅ Education, impact, and the power of niching down
🎯 Ready to elevate your wedding filmmaking business?
Join us as we dive deep into the mindset and moves required to attract high-end clients and create fulfilling work.
🔗 Visit howtofilmweddings.com/luts
📩 DM John: @johnbunn_ | Follow: @howtofilmweddings

Timestamps:

Doors to THE LUXURY MASTERMIND are now OPEN! We are thrilled to welcome you inside our signature 12 week program. Learn more + enroll here >> https://thelevelupco.com/mastermind