Grace & Elegance Photography

"The greatest thing about photographing weddings is the energy I get from all the people involved. The eagerness, the love, the craziness -- all the emotions -- are food for my soul. I feel especially honored to be the one hired to capture this emotion with my camera, for the enjoyment of you and your family.

I seek out the subtleties and the nuances. I take advantage of the natural light and shadow to provide the dramatic flair that will lend impact to the image. And as I do my work, I am conscientious of the energy in the room and how to use or enhance it to get the images that will still excite you years from now. The style I embrace is photojournalistic fashion, fine art, and avant-garde.

Every wedding is a great adventure, which is to say you can always expect the unexpected and really experience people as their truest, most authentic selves. That's why I love being a photographer.

Documenting a wedding, and the emotions surrounding it, is a true challenge. I live for that challenge. How does one capture the essence of a moment when a soul is laid bare? How can one capture stillness and subtlety in the midst of chaos?

Believe it or not, it takes a lot of intentionality, and often a lot of preparation, to get that great "candid shot." It requires an absolute immersion in the moment. The photographer must be completely, utterly present!

George Payne Jr.
Owner / Lead Photographer