Selling artwork is one of the trickiest parts of running a full service photography business, especially if you don’t have a studio or you meet clients over Zoom instead of in person. In this episode, TMA mentor Marie Elizabeth sits down with member Laura Nockett of Precious Little Sprinkles Photography for a real coaching conversation about growing photography artwork sales, from discovery calls to wall galleries and everything that happens in between an inquiry and an order.
Laura came to Marie with specific questions: how to introduce discovery calls without losing clients who only want digital files, and how to close the sale on wall galleries that clients love in theory but rarely commit to. What follows is a candid look at the small shifts that make a big difference, and a reminder that selling artwork doesn’t have to feel salesy at all.
Building Artwork Into Every Touchpoint
Marie’s approach starts before a client ever books. Her discovery calls, roughly twenty minutes on Zoom, are less about pitching and more about connection. She walks new inquiries through her client experience, picks up an album on camera so they can see it, and answers pricing questions before a proposal is ever sent. The goal isn’t to push artwork on every client. It’s to make sure artwork is simply present, again and again, so clients have the chance to fall in love with it on their own timeline.
For Laura, whose biggest hesitation was losing digital only clients, Marie’s reassurance was simple: discovery calls aren’t about filtering people out. They’re about creating more opportunities for clients to see the work, whether that’s through mockups before a session, a quick image pulled from behind the camera mid session, or a slideshow during the ordering appointment. Marie also shared how she helps hesitant buyers move forward without pressure, often by letting them pre purchase a collection or gallery design if they need more time to decide, which keeps the excitement alive instead of letting it fade.
Laura’s Journey From $800 Sessions to a Fully Booked Fall
Laura’s turning point came in late 2022, shortly after her second child was born. She was charging $800 for an all inclusive session and knew the math no longer worked for her family. That’s when she found Marie’s podcast episode, enrolled in her mastermind, and began rebuilding her business around a full service, artwork forward model.
The first six months were quiet. Model calls helped her attract the right clients, and a handful of returning families accepted a loyalty discount while others moved on to lower priced photographers. But a little over a year later, Laura is heading into her busiest fall yet, already booking newborn sessions into January and February. She credits the shift to leaning fully into a luxury, full service experience, especially for exhausted new moms who simply need someone to handle the details.
Why Community and Mentorship Make the Difference
What stands out most in this conversation is how much Laura’s growth came from having a mentor who had already walked the path. Marie’s guidance wasn’t a script to copy, it was a framework Laura could adapt to her own market, her own clients, and her own comfort level with sales. That kind of coaching, paired with a community that normalizes the quiet months and the slow starts, is exactly what makes a transition like this feel possible instead of overwhelming.
It’s a reminder of why mentorship and community matter so much in this industry. Inside TMA, members get access to training like Marie’s discovery call workshop, along with mentors across every specialty who have already solved the problems photographers are currently facing. Growth rarely happens in isolation, and this episode is a good example of what’s possible when photographers learn from each other instead of guessing alone.
Listen and Learn More
If you’ve been putting off artwork sales because it feels intimidating, or you’re not sure how to bring it up without sounding pushy, this episode is worth a listen. Laura and Marie’s conversation is full of practical, low pressure ways to weave artwork into your workflow from the very first inquiry.
Find Laura at preciouslittlesprinklesphotography.com or on Instagram at @preciouslittlesprinkles.
Find Marie at marie-elizabethphotography.com or on Instagram at @marie.elizabeth.photo.
Marie’s mini course, Portraits That Sell, walks through her full framework for boosting artwork sales and is available at marie-elizabethphotography.com/photography-mentoring.
Ready to build a business that reflects your own creative voice? The Motherhood Anthology membership gives you access to expert mentors, live coaching, monthly marketing suites, and a private community of photographers who are invested in your success. Learn more and join at themotherhoodanthology.com.
The Motherhood Anthology is a community and educational resource for photographers who want a profitable and sustainable business they love. With 15+ expert mentors and 7+ years of proven content, TMA helps portrait photographers build confident, thriving businesses through monthly education, mentorship, and a supportive community of 700+ members.
