Colourful, joyful, story-telling wedding photography
Hello, I’m Craig! I specialise in taking beautiful, bright & emotive photographs so you can relive all the amazing feelings and memories that you will have on your wedding day!
My approach is very much to let you thoroughly enjoy your day, blending in like a guest to capture the joy, happiness & emotions, while also stepping up to take the key family photos, couple portraits and the partying late into the evening.
With my background of growing up in the countryside, I love nothing more than taking couple portraits in the golden hour, heading into a field of long grass with a couple or simply making the most of a beautiful garden or view for the group and couple photos.
My night-time photos, including my signature sparkler light trail pictures, bring a fairytale feel to the end of your wedding gallery and make for the most striking pictures.
Weddings have become my passion in life and helping couples have the best day is so incredibly rewarding. We can visit your venue while discussing all your plans, I’ll attend your rehearsal, if free, and if you would like my opinion based on my years of experience then I’m more than happy to help. Most of all, your wedding is unique to you and I want to reflect this in my photos, while also helping to make it the best day of your lives.
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“From start to finish, Craig made us feel at ease. He helped us create the itinerary of the day, was our incredible photographer and even took on the unofficial role of our Master of Ceremony! Craig: everyone commented on how amazing you are at your job, how smartly dressed you were and how comfortable you made everyone feel. As for your photos: we are gobsmacked. You captured the day beautifully, every mood, every feeling of joy, happiness and friendship. We cannot thank you enough!” – Olivia & Daryl
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I am proud to be a qualified Licentiate Member of the Society of Wedding Photographers and to have reached the Regional Finals of the ‘Wedding Industry Awards‘ four times!
My Photographs
Here are a selection of galleries so you can see how my style and approach reflects in my photographs.
Facebook Reviews
Below are the Reviews that have kindly been left on my Facebook page by couples who have booked me to photograph their wedding days.
About Me
Me at weddings
I have been photographing weddings for fifteen years now and thoroughly enjoy documenting every couple’s special day, as every one is so different! My two biggest passions in life are my photography and being able to leave a positive legacy, and combining these through taking photos filled with happiness while using my experience to help a couple have the best day of their lives is something I’ll always value.
Horses and Dogs
Horses & dogs are effectively our children and I love it when a couple include their four legged friends in their wedding day. Over half my couples in 2022 had theirs involved in some way and taking photos of them together always makes for really special photos.
Countryside
The countryside runs through my veins and some of my earliest are growing vegetables, going on long walks and playing cricket. I love nothing more than to explore Ashdown Forest, the hours around sunrise and sunset, and embracing the changing seasons. On a wedding day I am drawn to the green spaces and natural light, wanting to use these to reflect my couple’s happiness.
My Approach
My approach on your wedding day will be a balance between blending in to document the special moments, taking polite control to quickly work through group photos and having fun to keep everything light-hearted so no one feels awkward in front of my camera
LSWPP
On 25th March 2016 I was delighted to be awarded a ‘Licentiateship in Wedding Photography’ with the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers. It is great to have recognition from my peers and since then I have also been a finalist four times in the ‘Wedding Photographer of the Year’ category at the Wedding Industry Awards!
More about me
Want to know more about me and my photography over the last fifteen years? Please do check out my Ashdown Forest project and visit my ‘About Me’ page by following this link…
Your Investment - £1700
I have created a Collection that brings together the modern day flexibility of digital images with the tradition of physical outcomes, so you can cherish your photos in both prints and on screens! For, as I truly believe, ‘pictures should be printed and admired, not just seen on phones!’
The Collection includes all of the following,
A Sneak Peek Gallery of 80 photos with in 48 hours of your wedding, so you can relive your day while on honeymoon
High Resolution Digital Images, supplied on a rose gold crystal USB
50 6×4 inch prints & a walnut print display stand
A linen coated walnut presentation box to store your USB and prints
40 Thank you Cards featuring a photo of your choice on the front
An Online Gallery, Digital Downloads & Printing Service, so your guests can view & download your photos and order their own professionally printed copies from me
A Video Slideshow of your best photos to music
~ £1700 ~
(from three hours before the ceremony to half an hour after your first dance)
Optional Extras
Into the evening coverage, staying til around 10:30pm, to take twilight couple portraits, sparkler light trail couple photos, plenty of dance floor shots and more, then this will be an additional £300.
A second experienced wedding photographer, to document the grooms preparations, the arrival of your guests, a second angle during the ceremony, plenty more informal photos during the drinks reception and more! – £300
Additional thank you cards, to the 40 cards you receive with your Collection
High Quality Wedding Albums and Parent Albums, in a choice of three different styles
Professionally produced mounted prints, in a range of print sizes from 6 by 4 inches through to 30 by 20 inches, and larger!
FAQs
How many weddings do you shoot a year?
Can I see some weddings from start to finish?
Have you worked at our venue before? If not, will you visit beforehand?
What information do you need from us before the wedding day?
Will I be able to give you a list of specific shots we would like?
Yes please do, as part of my Photography List I will invite you to list any specific photos you would like, along with the more standard photos I can take. I want you to be as relaxed about your photography as possible and this List ensures that you can focus on enjoying your wedding, knowing that I am capturing those special pictures you have requested.
How would you describe your photography style?
For me, my style is natural, colourful and genuine. I want you to look at your photos and for all those amazing memories of the day to come flooding back, through the photos being full of life, happiness, colour and stories. Key to this is my approach of being personable and friendly, while blending into the background, so your guests and yourselves enjoy the day without realising you are being photographed!
Can I read some testimonials from past couples?
I am really proud that many of my couples have left reviews on my Facebook business page and my Google business page and you can easily find these by searching for ‘Craig Payne Photography’. Alternatively, I have set up a section above where you can read Facebook reviews that have been left by couples!
What time will you arrive in the morning?
So much happens on the wedding day morning and as such I arrive three hours prior to the ceremony to take photos of the dress with your accessories, the hair and make up being done, family photos and plenty of informal snapshots that sum up the fun of the morning!
Do we need to provide you with food and drinks?
I would really appreciate a main course and a dessert, as these really help to keep me going throughout the day. During the breakfast I will be taking plenty of photos of your guests mingling and joking at their tables (sometimes the best adhok photos of the day) and as such I prefer to eat on my own. I will only really drink water on the day.
Do we need to cover any travel expenses?
As long as you are in Sussex, Kent or Surrey then there are no additional travel costs. I tend not to shoot outside of the South East, but welcome enquiries, so please do get in touch and I can put together a quote for you.
How will you be dressed on our day?
Will other people be able to take photos during the day?
What equipment do you use and do you have back up cameras?
Do you have insurance?
Yes I do, and I am more than happy to send across a Certificate to yourselves or your venue, if they require proof of it.
How much is the deposit and when is the remaining balance due?
What happens if you are ill on our day?
How much time do you need for group and couple photos?
Ideally I like to have about forty-five minutes to take all of your group photographs, and these can be split between the ceremony venue and reception venue if you wish. This said, they can be over in a flash if you just want a few small family group photos, the choice is entirely your own! Likewise, some couples like to have lots of portraits of the two of them, while others are happy with just one or two really special photos. You tell me what you would like and I will go with this, it is your wedding day after all!
How do we book?
Would you like to know more & How to book me?
Please do get in touch via the contact form below, or give me call, to see if I am available for your wedding date. I will send you my Information Pack and we can arrange a video call and/or I will send you my Booking Form!
Please view my Recommended Suppliers via this link.
If you do not hear from me in 48 hours please send a direct email to craigtpayne@googlemail.com as sometimes emails go astray. Alternatively, please give me a call on 07858 962889 and we can have a chat!
I look forward to hearing from you, Craig! 
10/10 Scored for both ‘Ability to Understand and fit into our wedding’ and ‘Value for Money’ by all couples that voted for Craig in the ‘Wedding Photographer of the Year’ Awards