The Art of Risk-Taking: How Storybox Cinema Built a Luxury Filmmaking Brand

Are you playing it too safe in your wedding business?

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Chris Jespersen of Storybox Cinema shares how taking creative, business, and personal risks transformed his wedding filmmaking career.

From charging $1,000 for his first wedding to filming celebrity-level luxury events, Chris explains why stepping outside your comfort zone is the key to success in the wedding industry.

If you're a wedding photographer or filmmaker looking to differentiate yourself, book high-end clients, and scale your business, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories.

In this episode, we cover:
✔️ How Chris went from documentary filmmaking to luxury weddings
✔️ Why risk-taking is a skill you can develop over time
✔️ How to push creative boundaries to stand out from competitors
✔️ The story behind same-day edits for luxury planners—and why they worked
✔️ Why authentic networking leads to more high-end bookings
✔️ How to develop your artistic voice instead of mimicking others
✔️ The mindset shift needed to confidently raise prices and scale a wedding business

💬 What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your business?
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 Luxury Weddings
15:01 – 25:00 | The Art of Taking Risks in Business
25:01 – 35:00 | Creative Innovation & Standing Out in a Crowded Market
35:01 – 45:00 | Industry Networking & Building Strong Relationships
45:01 – 51:00 | Final Thoughts

The next round of The Luxury Mastermind will start in October 2025! We are thrilled to welcome you inside our signature 12 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.:
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💻Website: https://thelevelupco.com/