Maybe you want your vows somewhere that actually takes your breath away. Maybe you want to end the night in a hot tub under the stars. Maybe you just want to get married without performing for a hundred people you're obligated to invite.
Let’s be honest: you’re not looking for the "standard” wedding experience.
This is for the deep-feelers, the aesthetic enthusiasts, the couples who'd rather spend their money on an unforgettable experience that actually means something (instead of cold chicken dishes) — and walk away with photos that remind you how it felt to be on top of the world.
If that sounds like your kind of day, you're in the right place.
Familial and societal expectations? Not today, Satan.
A *Few* Reasons to elope or have an intimate wedding:
You want the day you get married to *actually* be about you and your partner
You know a traditional wedding wouldn't be authentic to who you are
Certain family members could make your wedding... interesting, to say the least
Having 100+ eyes on you for a whole day kiiiinda sounds like torture
You want your wedding photos to be as stunning as possible
You'd rather spend your wedding budget on an unforgettable experience than things
You already love to travel, be in nature, and visit new places
You want to live in the moment on your wedding day and fully experience it
You'd gladly take a chic Airbnb over a wedding venue
You want to start your marriage off with an adventure.
You’ve already been to enough weddings to know exactly what you *don't* want
You want your wedding to feel more like your honeymoon than a circus
You want to feel completely safe being your real, weird, unfiltered selves
The Luke Payne Photo Experience
Come as you are — we’ll make something unreal together
Hey, friend. I'm Luke.
My approach isn't about checkboxes or stiff poses. I want you to have a damn good time and *actually* feel present for your day. Think less vendor, more friend who happens to be pretty good at this.
(Fair warning: I quote Mean Girls, I have a tattoo of a grey alien named Kevin, and I'm probably a touch too sarcastic and cynical for this profession. But folks keep hiring me anyway, so...)
If you're looking for wall-worthy art that takes you right back to how it felt to be there, that you'll look back on decades from now and think, "Wow, we really did that," I'm your guy. :)
I say this with 10000% honesty – Luke is worth every single penny.
If you want a truly magical, but also laid back experience with a photographer who will capture you and your partner's unique love, someone who is just truly kind and cool and will deliver stunning photos then look no further.
Rest assured your search is over.
– Ashley + Ben
"You will laugh, you will cry, you will walk away with photos that are truly art."
Instead of one location, one angle, or one rushed moment, we let the day breathe. A couple different sights, shifting light, and flexible pacing that actually gives you time to enjoy what you planned.
It might look like starting slow at your Airbnb, heading to your ceremony spot as the light gets good, switching looks for blue hour, and ending the night by the pool. Or moving through coastlines, canyons, or forests, stopping wherever feels right.
Your elopement has an arc, and that arc is yours to shape.
We build your experience around a visual narrative — exploring different sights and letting your real moments happen naturally along the way.
If it feels like something you'd do on the best trip of your life, let’s do that.
What does your day actually look like?
There's no one right way to do this.
elopement + intimate wedding packages
up to 15 people TOTAL
Every Elopement + Intimate Wedding Package Includes:
- Custom tailored, immersive adventures
- Multiple locations for a full experience
- Cinematic activity ideas
- Outfit changes welcomed
- Intentional direction when it counts, space to breathe when it doesn't
- Location scouting
- Flexible timeline for best light + privacy
- Permit help
- Airbnb + vendor recommendations
- All my travel included (no hidden fees!)
- Backup day always reserved
- Sneak peeks gallery within a week
- Full curated gallery in 12 weeks
- Hi-res downloads + GIFs
- Minimum 50 hand-edited images/hour
- Beautiful online gallery
- Print store access
elopements + intimate weddings
international
For the dreamers wanting to go big — Icelandic waterfalls, Greek islands, Italian coastlines, wild Scottish cliffs, tropical jungles, wherever your heart’s been pulling you.
Includes highlights like:
✦ Custom scouting across your region
✦ Timeline built around the best light
✦ Editorial moments + honest candids
✦ All my international travel included
✦ Backup weather day for flexibility
✦ Sneak peek gallery within a week
✦ Full gallery w/GIFs + hi-res downloads
Elopements range from 4 hours to multi-day. Pay in halves, thirds, or quarters depending on package.
elopements + intimate weddings
UNITED STATES
For the wanderers dreaming of foggy coastlines, red rock, mystical forests, panoramic overlooks — a mini road-trip adventure wrapped into your wedding day.
Includes highlights like:
✦ Location scouting in parks, coasts + deserts
✦ Cinematic direction + space just to be
✦ Timeline crafted for flattering light + privacy
✦ Airbnb + vendor recs for your vibe
✦ All U.S. travel fully included (exc. AK + HI)
✦ Backup day always reserved just in case
✦ Sneaks in a week + full gallery in 12 weeks
Elopements range from 4 hours to multi-day. Pay in halves, thirds, or quarters depending on package.
Our biggest fear was our day being uncomfortable or awkward, but Luke made it so enjoyable and effortless.
We told Luke the vibe we were looking for and he exceeded our expectations. I thought our elopement was going to need more planning, scheduling, or attention.
He knew all the best places to go and gave us so many different options — from beach, woods, waterfalls to a cliffside where we said our vows.
This experience was unbelievable, I wouldn’t change a thing about it or do it any other way. He truly made our day so special and one of a kind.
I can’t even choose which photo is my favorite because they are all so beautiful!
– Kasondra + Brett
"Luke made it so easy and simple – it was literally no stress."
My books are currently open for 2026 and 2027. Some couples reach out and book a year or more in advance, while others plan everything in just a few months if I have availability.
Most couples end up booking within a few weeks of inquiring, especially for popular seasons like fall which can fill up a year in advance. Dates are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis once your contract is signed and your retainer is paid.
Eloping is a way to create a wedding day that’s fully your own. Most couples intentionally spend between $12–$20K+ on their destination elopement when factoring in photography, attire, travel, accommodations, florals, an officiant, and any unique experiences they want to include.
But unlike a traditional wedding, every dollar goes toward what *actually* matters to you — whether that’s a bucket list location, an unforgettable experience, or an intimate day focused on just the two of you. It’s a different kind of investment that's centered on experience, freedom, and meaning.
My international elopement pricing begins at $6800, and my US elopement pricing begins at $5800. My travel is included in all of my packages, so there are no extra or hidden fees.
Don't worry, almost everyone feels a little awkward at first!
My approach is all about natural direction when it feels right and stepping back when it's your time – no stiff posing, just prompts that bring out genuine emotion and interaction. We'll laugh, we'll move, and I'll also just let you guys do your thing. You just need to show up as yourselves, and I'll handle the rest.
Not at all, I don’t do hardcore hiking days. Think scenic drives, relaxed walks, and the occasional 30–40 minute stroll when it leads to a really good view.
You'll receive sneak peeks within a week, and I'll surprise drop your gallery on you Folklore-style via your email.
Elopements & Intimate Weddings:
12 Weeks
Engagements & Couples Sessions:
8 Weeks
Your images are delivered to you in a curated online gallery with high-res downloads and access to an online store where you can purchase archival quality prints, design your own album, and more.
There are a few thoughtful ways to do this. It's becoming more popular for folks to have a two-day elopement, where one day is just the two of you and one day is spent with your closest family and friends. You can also ask them to write you letters and you can read them on your day! Alternatively, hold a separate reception (or "Happily Ever After Party!") later on.
While elopements and intimate weddings have my heart, I do take on one or two weddings each year based on fit and alignment. Get in touch for consideration.
Curious about what to expect & how this whole process works?
Good news! I wrote an article about just that. From the moment you submit your contact form to the day you receive your final gallery, here's *everything* you can expect from our journey together.
