WELCOME
"Authentic, Heartfelt Wedding Photography and Videography for Couples Who Cherish Real Moments"
with Authentic Heartfelt Photography
Celebrating Every Love Story...
As Wilmington, NC wedding photographers, we specialize in capturing romantic, timeless, and light-filled wedding photography and videography for couples across North Carolina and beyond. From stunning coastal venues to elegant estate weddings, we create beautifully preserved memories that last a lifetime. We ensure every couple—whether it’s your first wedding or a beautiful second chapter—feels confident and radiant in front of the camera.
- LET'S CHAT!
dog lovers,
passionate at heart,
history obsessed.
We’re Matt and Riley-Payton, a husband and wife wedding photography team based in Wilmington, NC, passionate about capturing elegant, light-filled wedding moments across North Carolina and beyond. With a mix of documentary, editorial, and candid storytelling, we focus on genuine emotions, romantic details, and the timeless beauty of your wedding day.
We believe wedding photography is more than just images—it’s about preserving the feeling of each moment so you can relive them for a lifetime. From crafting seamless timelines to delivering breathtaking heirloom portraits, we ensure every part of your experience is effortless and unforgettable.
Whether you're celebrating in Wilmington, anywhere in between the NC Mountains and the Outer Banks or beyond, we’d love to document your love story with artistry and care.
Hi! We're Riley-Payton and Matt, your wedding and portrait photographers.
Our philosophy is simple. From your first inquiry to the final delivery of your gallery and films, every step of your experience with Bella Lumiere is built on trust, connection, and care. We don’t just document your wedding—we hold space for you throughout it.
Whether you’re feeling joyful, anxious, self-conscious, or deeply sentimental, we meet you right where you are. We understand that being in front of a camera—especially on such an emotional day—can feel vulnerable. That’s why we guide you with gentleness, celebrate you with sincerity, and ensure you always feel safe, seen, and stunningly beautiful just as you are.
Through both photography and videography, we preserve not just how your wedding day looked, but how it felt. The glances. The laughter. The tears. The in-between moments that matter most.
This is more than visual storytelling—it’s emotional support wrapped in artistry. And it’s our honor to hold space for your love story, exactly as it unfolds.
click on the images
to see examples of our work
“Timeless, romantic, vibrant images that tell your personal love story.”
"They do an absolutely amazing job during their sessions. They made us feel so comfortable while taking our pictures and made us feel so special when we got them back. We are so in love with our engagement shoot and we will be using them for our wedding as well and cannot wait!"
- Taylor D.
"Riley-Payton came up with a timeline, shot list, inspiration board, and became our unofficial wedding planner and helped to make sure our day went off without a hitch."
- Trinity c.
"They made our wedding day spectacular and had us laughing and having fun the entire time! Truly one of the best photography experiences you will ever have!"
Jared i.
"Very professional couple who both have great personalities, which in turn help calm any nerves you may have and result in gorgeous pictures."
- trista L.
"Riley-Payton was so personable, answering every single question I had. She made sure I felt comfortable in my own body by giving me a few posing tips. She helped create the day-of schedule including all details before she arrived on scene. We have beautiful, creative, artistic images that provoke so many memories and emotion - all without feeling like our day was focused only on photography.
- Jessica L.
"I would recommend working with this team a million times over. They not only saved our once in a lifetime images and gave us even more amazing ones through our reshoot, but they also became great friends through the process. 1000/10 recommend working with this amazing team!"
- Marina E.
"We will always use them for further photos and I will absolutely recommend them to everyone I know!! Thank you a million times over Riley-Payton and Matt!!!"
- Jessica I.
"Riley-Payton and Matt were increible, they provided a calming atmosphere as well as having an amazing sense of humor. My wife and I were so lucky to have met and hired them. Our photos turned out like something you'd see in a magazine!"
- aaron L.
"My husband and I were so pleased with how our wedding photos turned out. We were in a bit of a time crunch and hadn't quite worked out some fine details. Riley-Payton and her husband Matt had many great suggestions and totally put our minds at ease. They're a phenomenal duo and they work seamlessly together. Thank you both for making our day so special!"
- Tara K.
