You know that feeling when you just *know* something is right? That’s how I felt when I got my first Canon DSLR back in 2012. But the journey started way before that, with a baby pink point-and-shoot camera I got from my dad on my 9th birthday. Fast forward a few years, and I was deep into yearbook deadlines, design layouts, and sneaking in those candid shots that no one saw me even take (but everyone loved). I even ended up as head editor my junior year, which taught me more about teamwork and creativity than any class ever could.
But the real magic? That hit when I was 15, standing at the start of my first wedding, camera in hand, heart racing. Capturing that love, those moments—it was like finding the missing piece of my puzzle. Since then, I’ve been all in, chasing those moments with everything I’ve got.
Now, here I am, 25 and based in Houston, Texas, with over a decade of experience documenting weddings and love stories. very couple I work with brings something new and beautiful to the table, and I’m here to document yours like that unforgettable scene in your favorite '90s romcom.
and have had a camera in my hand ever since. (Look at baby Pay over there)
I started taking pictures before I even knew how to tie my own shoes
I'm Payton -
ABOUT ME:
Hanging out on the back patio with my family is my ideal Saturday. Game nights are what I live for. Game of Thrones should’ve ended differently. I’m a huge swiftie. I love traveling & reading really, really good books. Oh and true crime podcasts! Even though they make me sleep with the lights on…
Alec
WHO I LOVE
Alec and I first crossed paths back when we were both doing the part-time thing at HEB. Who would've thought those mundane shifts could lead to something so extraordinary? We actually learned that we went to the same elementary school, lived in the same neighborhood, and had the same friends, but just missed each other by a year when I moved towns. (Strong believer in the invisible string theory.) Now, here we are with our own place, a dog named Mickie we're crazy about, and ENGAGED. When I decided to dive headfirst into the photography world full-time, Alec didn't just have my back; he was my biggest supporter. Through the chaos of our 20s, he's been my anchor. Our story is ours, it's real, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Where You Can Find Us
Alec and I love being outside. We're constantly in the mix, playing spikeball or getting competitive on the pickleball court, or playing fetch with our dog (we like to call it Mickie in the Middle). Wednesdays are our designated 'date days' when we are both off of work and spend time together. We go thrift shopping, grab lunch at one of our favorite spots, go to the arcade, or tackle chores like grocery shopping or cleaning up around the house. Weirdly enough, we find the mundane stuff kinda fun when we're doing it together. We're total creatures of habit, capping off the day with a laid-back movie night or catching up on YouTube subscriptions together. We LOVE popcorn and are always ordering new seasonings to try online. Alec works as a bartender and loves to craft up new cocktails for me to try. And when we're not at home, you'll probably find us playing darts at our fave hole-in-the-wall sports bar. Just living the good life, you know?
WHAT I LOVE
Logan
Logan, he's not just my best friend; he's my ride-or-die, my favorite second shooter, and the dude who's basically my personal stand-up comedian. We first crossed paths at the age of 13 when our shared obsession for YouTube led us to connect on our Twitter fan accounts. Turns out, we lived just 15 minutes away from each other. He's actually the one who got me the job at HEB, where I then met Alec. Fast forward to our mid-20s, and while the fan accounts may be a thing of the past, our love for online pop culture remains the same. It's funny how life works – If it weren't for Trisha Paytas, where the hell would I be?!
WHO I LOVE
Mickie Girl
Mickie, the four-legged wonder in my life, was the runt from an unexpected litter of puppies that my mom's dog had in December 2022. Being born just 2 days after Christmas, she was the best present I've ever gotten myself. I've known this pup since the second she was born—I weighed her, cleaned her up, and set her back with her doggy momma. She is a true goofball but as smart as can be. Yes, everyone says that about their dog, but Y'ALL, I SWEAR. She might be Einstein reborn. Mickie is, without a doubt, the most cuddly dog you'll ever meet. She's also never met a stranger. If you aren't a dog person, she'll make you one.
WHO I LOVE
My Hobbies & Interests
Taking pictures (obviously). Got a weird obsession with lighthouses, thanks to my granny's influence. Scrapbooking is my chill hobby – gluing memories together and all that. I'm into trinkets, especially vintage jewelry with its own stories. I love frogs if you didn't notice. I always have my nose in a good book or I'm binge-watching series like 'Daisy Jones and the Six,' 'Game of Thrones,' and 'Friends.' Again, YouTube & Podcasts. My favorites are Trisha, Unfiltered, Good Influences, and Mile Higher. I love to thrift, it's like a treasure hunt (My granny always said bargain shopping was a woman's fishing). And most importantly I love spending time with my family and friends. Late nights on the patio are my absolute favorite.
WHAT I LOVE
Chocolate with oreo chunks mmm
FAVORITE ICE CREAM:
Make time for the ones you love
MOST IMPORTANT LESSON:
Laguna Beach
BEST VACATION SPOT:
Sugarfree Redbull
I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT:
Thrifting
MY HOBBY:
At fifteen years old
I STARTED THIS BUSINESS:
Taylor Swift (Couldn't tell?)
MY FAVORITE PERSON IS:
Youtube
I'M OBSESSED WITH:
it's just a date!
I’ve spent the past ten years capturing the essence of human connection through my lens, and every moment has deepened my love for what I do. This isn’t just a photoshoot – it’s an experience. I want you both to be entirely in the moment, not worrying about how you look or if your outfit is perfect. Just be with each other. Even if you're not usually comfortable in front of the camera, I promise you'll feel at ease, and soon enough, you’ll forget the camera is even there. This is about more than just taking pictures; it’s about enjoying your time together and preserving Your love and connection that makes your story one of a kind.
like i said,
here's how i see it-
Keep up with me on Insta-
@paytonhartsell
Madeline & scott
"Payton made the entire wedding experience from beginning to end so easy and beautiful. Her ability to capture pure human emotion and the love my spouse and I share for one another is unmatched. Truly a standout in the industry!! We couldn’t recommend her more and will be using her throughout our lifetimes."
Madison & Luke
"We loved every step of the way with Payton. She is very organized and a wonderful person. When we first met her for our shoot, I was very nervous having never done something like this before, but she made it feel as if we were life long friends. A fantastic and easy experience overall!"
hannah & austin
"Payton is amazing!!! She made our experience so special, easy, and fun! Not only did my husband and I love our experience with her, but our kids adore her & so do our extended family. She made our wedding feel magical long after it was over by capturing memories that we will cherish forever. How she manages to take a couple and turn them into absolute STARS is beyond me. I can’t say enough good things about her. She will capture everything you ever wanted and so much more. She’s more than just a photographer. She will be your hype-man, personal cheerleader, and friend. And I am so so so glad I chose her"
lyndsey & Stuart
"I’d give Payton a 10/10 over & over again! She is MAGICAL to work with and so kind. I hired Payton for my engagement photos and she did such an amazing job that I can’t wait for her team to tackle my wedding next! She’s incredibly talented and I love working with her. I know you will too!"
tess & Blake
"We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer for our Vegas elopement! Flying Payton out was the best decision—she made the day unforgettable and flow so smoothly. We love her so much. She’s been there for every milestone, from our wedding to maternity, birth, and family photos and every picture is BEAUTIFUL. We appreciate her so much."
Ashley Jurak
owner of vow & voyage
"Payton is absolutely extraordinary. She is able to make a couple feel so comfortable and really capture the essence of their love. As a wedding planner, I love photographers who are flexible and positive, and Payton certainly exceeds all expectations! She is so fun to work with and really has an eye for beautiful photos. Her editing style is also unique and stunning. I will continue to recommend her to future clients. A must have!!!
Kendra & Christian
"We are so thankful that we had Payton's creativity the day of our wedding! She worked around the obstacle of rain and captured the most dreamy pictures ever. It was everything I wanted! She was beyond easy to work with throughout every process, from beginning to end. She was open to any requests we had; she makes you feel heard, which was so special for us. I can't recommend her enough! Her talent is so evident in her work.""
gabrielle & William
"Payton surpassed our expectations and then some! We wanted moody, authentic and candid photos that showed the love and joy we surround ourselves with. Not only did she do that, but she captured so many moments we didn’t have time to fully appreciate the day of. I would recommend her 10000000x over and we will be using her for all of our future shoots."
victoria & Eric
"Payton did our engagement shoot and our wedding and she was so amazing. Good communication, easy to work with and she really captured the aesthetic we wanted for our day. She went above and beyond to get some late night/last minute shots of our day that ended up being some of our favorites. We have gotten so many compliments on our unique wedding photos and I cannot recommend Payton enough. I’m so glad we found her!"
sally & Tyson
"I'm so glad we chose Payton to be our wedding photographer! She was easy and wonderful to work with and captured so many amazing moments. Her photographs are truly one of a kind. We still have people commenting on them even a year later! I definitely recommend her to anyone who needs professional photographs. I can't say enough good things about her!"
mallory & Lance
"Payton did my wedding photos and I was completely in love. She was so professional, sweet, and really has a perfect eye for detail. My wedding ceremony was near sunset, and the lowlight work that she did was amazing. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for great pictures for any occasion"
Kind words
kendra & christian
We are so thankful that we had Payton's creativity the day of our wedding! She worked around the obstacle of rain and captured the most dreamy pictures ever. It was everything I wanted! She was beyond easy to work with throughout every process, from beginning to end. She was open to any requests we had; she makes you feel heard, which was so special for us. I can't recommend her enough! Her talent is so evident in her work.""
Madison & luke
We loved every step of the way with Payton. She is very organized and a wonderful person. When we first met her for our shoot, I was very nervous having never done something like this before, but she made it feel as if we were life long friends. A fantastic and easy experience overall!"
Lyndsey & Stuart
I’d give Payton a 10/10 over & over again! She is MAGICAL to work with and so kind. I hired Payton for my engagement photos and she did such an amazing job that I can’t wait for her team to tackle my wedding next! She’s incredibly talented and I love working with her. I know you will too!"
Ashley jurak | owner of vow & voyage
Payton is absolutely extraordinary. She is able to make a couple feel so comfortable and really capture the essence of their love. As a wedding planner, I love photographers who are flexible and positive, and Payton certainly exceeds all expectations! She is so fun to work with and really has an eye for beautiful photos. Her editing style is also unique and stunning. I will continue to recommend her to future clients. A must have!!!"
Hannah & Austin
Payton is amazing!!! She made our experience so special, easy, and fun! Not only did my husband and I love our experience with her, but our kids adore her & so do our extended family. She made our wedding feel magical long after it was over by capturing memories that we will cherish forever. How she manages to take a couple and turn them into absolute STARS is beyond me. I can’t say enough good things about her. She will capture everything you ever wanted and so much more. She’s more than just a photographer. She will be your hype-man, personal cheerleader, and friend. And I am so so so glad I chose her"
Madeline & scott
Payton made the entire wedding experience from beginning to end so easy and beautiful. Her ability to capture pure human emotion and the love my spouse and I share for one another is unmatched. Truly a standout in the industry!! We couldn’t recommend her more and will be using her throughout our lifetimes."
tess & Blake
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer for our Vegas elopement! Flying Payton out was the best decision—she made the day unforgettable and flow so smoothly. We love her so much. She’s been there for every milestone, from our wedding to maternity, birth, and family photos and every picture is BEAUTIFUL. We appreciate her so much."
Gabrielle & william
Payton surpassed our expectations and then some! We wanted moody, authentic and candid photos that showed the love and joy we surround ourselves with. Not only did she do that, but she captured so many moments we didn’t have time to fully appreciate the day of. I would recommend her 10000000x over and we will be using her for all of our future shoots."
Victoria & Eric
Payton did our engagement shoot and our wedding and she was so amazing. Good communication, easy to work with and she really captured the aesthetic we wanted for our day. She went above and beyond to get some late night/last minute shots of our day that ended up being some of our favorites. We have gotten so many compliments on our unique wedding photos and I cannot recommend Payton enough. I’m so glad we found her!"
Sally & Tyson
I'm so glad we chose Payton to be our wedding photographer! She was easy and wonderful to work with and captured so many amazing moments. Her photographs are truly one of a kind. We still have people commenting on them even a year later! I definitely recommend her to anyone who needs professional photographs. I can't say enough good things about her!"
