After years of using my hot pink point-and-shoot digital camera my dad gave me on my 9th birthday, I wanted something—well—better. So, in 2012, I got my own Canon DSLR (my mom wanted hers back). Then, two years later, I joined the yearbook staff at my high school. It's wild how much that gig taught me about teamwork, time management, and design. By the next fall, guess who was the head editor? Yep, yours truly! The real game-changer happened at 15 when I shot my first wedding. That magic hit me like a ton of bricks, and I've been hooked ever since. Now, at 25, I'm a wedding and love story photographer based in good ole Houston, Texas with over 10 years of professional experience. Wherever your love story kicks off, count on me to paint it in photographs that you'll hold almost as dearly as the one you're sharing it with.
Alec and I first crossed paths back when we were both doing the part-time thing at HEB. Who would've thought those mundane shifts could lead to something so extraordinary? We actually learned that we went to the same elementary school, lived in the same neighborhood, and had the same friends, but just missed each other by a year when I moved towns. (Strong believer in the invisible string theory.) Now, here we are with our own place, a dog named Mickie we're crazy about, and this whole mind-reading thing that's kinda weird (but also sick?). When I decided to dive headfirst into the photography world full-time, Alec didn't just have my back; he was my biggest supporter. Through the chaos of our 20s, he's been my anchor. Our story is ours, it's real, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Alec and I love being outside. We're constantly in the mix, playing spikeball or getting competitive on the pickleball court, or playing fetch with our dog (we like to call it Mickie in the Middle). Wednesdays are our designated 'date days' when we are both off of work and spend time together. We go thrift shopping, grab lunch at one of our favorite spots, go to the arcade, or tackle chores like grocery shopping or cleaning up around the house. Weirdly enough, we find the mundane stuff kinda fun when we're doing it together. We're total creatures of habit, capping off the day with a laid-back movie night or catching up on YouTube subscriptions together. We LOVE popcorn and are always ordering new seasonings to try online. Alec works as a bartender and loves to craft up new cocktails for me to try. And when we're not at home, you'll probably find us playing darts at our fave hole-in-the-wall sports bar. Just living the good life, you know?
Logan, he's not just my best friend; he's my ride-or-die, my favorite second shooter, and the dude who's basically my personal stand-up comedian. We first crossed paths at the age of 13 when our shared obsession for YouTube led us to connect on our Twitter fan accounts. Turns out, we lived just 15 minutes away from each other. He's actually the one who got me the job at HEB, where I then met Alec. Fast forward to our mid-20s, and while the fan accounts may be a thing of the past, our love for online pop culture remains the same. It's funny how life works – If it weren't for Trisha Paytas, where the hell would I be?!
Mickie, the four-legged wonder in my life, was the runt from an unexpected litter of puppies that my mom's dog had in December 2022. Being born just 2 days after Christmas, she was the best present I've ever gotten myself. I've known this pup since the second she was born—I weighed her, cleaned her up, and set her back with her doggy momma. She is a true goofball but as smart as can be. Yes, everyone says that about their dog, but Y'ALL, I SWEAR. She might be Einstein reborn. Mickie is, without a doubt, the most cuddly dog you'll ever meet. She's also never met a stranger. If you aren't a dog person, she'll make you one.
Taking pictures (obviously). Got a weird obsession with lighthouses, thanks to my granny's influence. Scrapbooking is my chill hobby – gluing memories together and all that. I'm into trinkets, especially vintage jewelry with its own stories. I love frogs if you didn't notice. I always have my nose in a good book or I'm binge-watching series like 'Daisy Jones and the Six,' 'Game of Thrones,' and 'Friends.' Again, YouTube & Podcasts. My favorites are Trisha, Unfiltered, Good Influences, Cody Ko, and Mile Higher. I love to thrift, it's like a treasure hunt (My granny always said bargain shopping was a woman's fishing). And most importantly I love spending time with my family and friends. Late nights on the patio are my absolute favorite.
My husband and I did a lifestyle shoot with Payton to have some updated photos to use for our real estate business. We were so surprised with how awesome they turned out! I literally have no idea what to do when a camera is pointed at me. She was so sweet, accommodating, and reassuring! She guided me on posing and we ended up with amazing photos that we could use for more than just our business. She truly captured our love and personalities! We love her and can’t wait to schedule our next shoot!"
She is MAGICAL to work with and so kind. I hired Payton for my engagement photos and she did such an amazing job that I can’t wait for her team to tackle my wedding next! She’s incredibly talented and I love working with her. I know you will too!"
Not only did my now husband and I love our experience with her, but our kids adore her and so do our extended family. She made our wedding feel magical long after it was over by capturing memories that we will cherish forever. How she manages to take a couple and turn them into absolute STARS is beyond me. I can’t say enough good things about her. She will capture everything you ever wanted and so much more. Her beautiful vintage vibe will have me coming back for more in the years to come. She’s more than just a photographer. She will be your hype-man, personal cheerleader, and friend. And I am so so so glad I chose her."
Payton did our engagement shoot and our wedding and she was so amazing. Good communication, easy to work with and she really captured the aesthetic we wanted for our day. She also went above and beyond to get some late night/last minute shots of our day that ended up being some of our favorites. We have gotten so many compliments on our unique wedding photos and I cannot recommend Payton enough."
We are so thankful that we had Payton's creativity the day of our wedding! She worked around the obstacle of rain and captured the most dreamy pictures ever. It was everything I wanted! She was beyond easy to work with throughout every process, from beginning to end. She was open to any requests we had; she makes you feel heard, which was so special for us. I can't recommend her enough! Her talent is so evident in her work."
We are always thrilled when we see the finished product. Payton has been there to capture many special moments for us including both of my Sons Senior portraits, engagement and wedding photos. I highly recommend using Payton and assure you that you will be love the images she captures."
to be our wedding photographer! She was easy and wonderful to work with and captured so many amazing moments. Her photographs are truly one of a kind. We still have people commenting on them even a year later! I definitely recommend her to anyone who needs professional photographs. I can't say enough good things about her!"
She was so professional, sweet, and really has a perfect eye for detail. My wedding ceremony was near sunset, and the lowlight work that she did was amazing. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for great pictures for any occasion"
it's just a date!
here's how i see it: