Business Details
19 Years
experience
Award-Winning Wedding Photography in Ashdown Forest
Craig Payne specialises in capturing timeless, emotive wedding moments through natural storytelling. With over fifteen years of experience, Craig focuses on unobtrusive, genuine photography that reflects couples' personalities and love for the outdoors. His approach prioritises candid moments, golden-hour lighting, and creative sparkler trails, ensuring each gallery tells a unique story. Craig's dedication to quality extends to curated presentation boxes, high-resolution digital images, and printed keepsakes. His passion for photography began in his teens, evolving into a career that includes award-winning work and collaborations with prestigious events like Hickstead Horse Show.Clients praise his professionalism, ability to blend into the day, and the emotional impact of his imagery. He offers venue visits, custom photography lists, and flexible packages tailored to individual weddings. Limited to photographing five weddings annually, Craig ensures personal attention to every detail. His work has been featured in international magazines and a self-published book on Ashdown Forest's seasonal beauty. Craig's commitment to excellence is matched by his dedication to client satisfaction, making him a trusted choice for couples seeking authentic visual storytelling.
Services
Wedding Photography
Couple Portraits
Documentary Coverage
Sparkler Light Trails
Venue Previews
Printed Albums
Digital Galleries
Thank You Cards
Slideshow Creation
Parent Albums
Details
- Year established: 2007
Highlights and features
- 15+ years capturing weddings with natural, storytelling techniques
- Specialist in golden hour and low-light creative photography
- Personalised venue visits and custom photography planning
- Award-winning portfolio featured in international publications
- Limited annual bookings ensure dedicated attention to every detail
Associations and certifications
- Society of Wedding Photographers (Licentiate Award)
What people say
Stunning photos
Amazing service
Emotive storytelling
Professional yet friendly
Beautiful prints
Services
Wedding Photography
Documenting weddings with a natural, storytelling approach that prioritises candid moments and emotional authenticity. Using expert lighting techniques and unobtrusive methods, we create galleries that reflect each couple's unique personality and celebration. Our work ensures lasting memories through carefully composed images that capture both grand events and intimate details.
Golden Hour Portraits
Specialist outdoor photography utilising the soft, warm light of sunrise and sunset. These sessions produce vibrant, atmospheric images with flattering illumination and dramatic shadows, creating romantic, timeless portraits that highlight the connection between couples in scenic natural settings.
Sparkler Light Trails
Creative evening photography using sparkler light trails to produce magical, fairytale-like images. This unique technique adds dramatic visual interest to wedding galleries through dynamic light patterns and movement, resulting in striking centrepiece photographs that stand out from traditional night photography.
Printed Albums
Curated wedding albums combining traditional print quality with modern design. Each album features professionally mounted prints in luxury presentation boxes, ensuring photographs maintain their vibrancy and tactile appeal for generations, complementing digital collections with tangible memorabilia.
Venue Previews
Pre-wedding venue visits to scout optimal photography locations and lighting conditions. This service ensures seamless day-of execution by familiarising with spaces, planning shot compositions, and discussing logistics with couples, resulting in more efficient coverage and better contextual storytelling.
People
Craig Payne
Lead Photographer
Award-winning photographer with 15+ years experience capturing weddings through natural storytelling. Holds Licentiate Award from Society of Wedding Photographers and has documented events at Hickstead Horse Show. Specialises in emotive imagery and creative light techniques.
Questions
What photography style do you specialise in?
I focus on natural, storytelling photography that captures genuine emotions and candid moments using available light, complemented by creative sparkler light trails for evening shots.
How many weddings do you photograph annually?
I limit bookings to five weddings per year to ensure dedicated attention to each couple's unique requirements and maintain the highest quality standards.
What's included in your standard package?
Three-hour coverage from pre-ceremony preparations to first dance, 80 edited images in a presentation box, 64 prints, digital gallery, and slideshow creation.
Do you offer venue visit services?
Yes, I conduct pre-wedding venue visits to plan optimal photography locations, lighting conditions, and logistics to ensure seamless day-of execution.
How long until we receive our photographs?
A sneak peek gallery of 40 images is delivered within 48 hours, with full collections typically ready within two weeks after the event.
