As seen in
Blair deLaubenfels - Editor in Chief - World’s Best Wedding Photos
Joe Payne marries fine art photography with documentary wedding photojournalism to bring you the best of both worlds. Celebrating love & legacies, Joe is sought after by discerning couples, families, editors, artists & entrepreneurs who love the way he captures the connections between people & shows them in their best possible light. Expect artistic, emotional photographs when you work with Joe & an upbeat, fun experience from the moment you meet him.
The Premier Portrait & Wedding Photographer in Durham, NC
Bridal
Engagement
Weddings
I specialise in documenting the real moments and unique details of your wedding day. My approach seamlessly combines creative wedding photojournalism with an artistic touch for authentic, memorable photos of your big day. With a commitment to candid storytelling and a keen eye for artistic composition, I create a visual narrative that reflects the genuine essence of your love. Check out my wedding photography packages to see how Joe Payne Photography can document your wedding with a blend of creativity and authenticity.
Looking for something more unique than traditional wedding photography?
Maternity & Newborn
Family & Portraiture
Headshots
Bridal
Engagement
Weddings
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about the photographer
Yep, it’s me: the guy behind the camera & this website.
If you’re here, then you’ve probably just got engaged. If so, congratulations & welcome! I appreciate you stopping by.
If you read through my reviews, the three words my clients most use when describing my wedding photography are “unique”, “artistic” and “real”. These three words truly encapsulate my approach to wedding photography.
I am passionate about telling the story of each wedding honestly yet artistically. I do this through an unobtrusive photojournalistic approach to the majority of the day, only stepping in to direct the portraits based on the specific needs and tastes of each couple.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Durham wedding photographer, storyteller & atrociously bad dancer.
Hi, I'm Joe
Mary Catherine & Peter
Joe’s work is amazing – he really knows how to use light to create beautiful photographs that are like works of art! We received an astonishing number of photos: a good mix of color and b&w, and posed as well as many excellent candid shots. The payment process and the downloading of our images was easy and professional.
Joe was a delight to work with – he was very communicative during the planning process and respectful of the wedding party’s time during the actual event. Our venue was in Virginia, so a bit outside of his normal Raleigh area. Without me requesting it, he actually drove up to our venue a few weeks beforehand, to scope out the site! When I heard he did that, I knew we were in good hands.
He truly is an excellent choice for your event!!!
“EVERYONE who saw my wedding photos raved about them!!”
sophia & kevin, september 2020
My wife and I hired Joe to shoot our wedding at Childress Vineyard in September and we’re BLOWN AWAY with the quality and attention to detail in every shot!
Finding an excellent photographer was our number 1 priority when we started planning our wedding over two years ago, and from the moment we first met Joe over a couple of beers at a local brewery, we knew we had found the perfect person to capture our special day.
In addition to getting beautiful pictures throughout the day, Joe was personable, funny and kind, helping minimize any potential stress the day brought! Sophia and I highly recommend Joe’s services to anybody who values quality photography for their wedding!
“Joe was personable, funny and kind, helping minimize any potential stress the day brought!”
kathleen & michael, december 2018
Joe not only took incredibly stunning, artistic photographs that captured our emotions and precious moments perfectly, but he also did a great job wrangling my large bridal party.
We were married at Duke and had the reception in Chapel Hill and he knows both towns (& the best places to shoot photos) like the back of his hand, which made for fantastic scenery for the photos.
He was with us every step of the way throughout the entire day and handled everything with kindness and professionalism. Thank you Joe!!!
