Peering inside the head of Luke Payne, what you find there resembles the lair of a master thief.  A tangled web of snapshots, dossiers, and dioramas strewn across a cluttered workspace.  Post-it notes are everywhere.  Red twine connects items around the room to a giant cork board.  What’s the deal with that half-eaten bowl of mac and cheese?  He obviously left in a hurry.

For many, the breadth and variety of information prove too confusing to decipher, but you’re closing in.  Your meticulous inspection of the scene in Luke’s head has put you one step away from uncovering his plan.  And what is he after?

Oh, not much.  Just life.

It’s nothing sinister, really.  You see, long ago, life captured Luke’s wonder and enthusiasm.  They’re locked up in all sorts of interests and activities, all around the world.  Luke’s goal is to get them back.  

His master plan hinges upon the cunning use of photography, videography and design.  The media arts allow him to apprehend, connect, and frame all of life’s captivating variety.  He found his love for art at a young age, drawing wild cats, designing basketball shoes, and constructing LEGO spectacles.  Encouraged by his parents — a scientist and an opera singer — he discovered a talent for bringing together examination and expression.  

Luke first began to hone his skills studying Photography and Video Art at Biola University.  Thereafter, he built them further working across a varied spectrum of environments, including Ira Lippke Studios, Granada Heights Friends Church, and Trinity Worldwide Reprographics. 

But his zeal for life has taken its most exciting shape when he has been able to pair his love for art and design with his love for adventure.  Nothing energizes Luke like traveling the world, camera in hand.  He especially loves telling the stories of people involved in non-profit or ministry work.  Luke has helped to promote causes in Kenya, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Mexico, as well as in and around his home base of Orange County, California.

When Jen, a friend from college, reached out to enlist Luke’s help photographing a wedding, he found that she shared his passion for art and adventure.  He had met his match.  So he asked her to be his partner in crime forever.  Combined, they have tallied over 30 countries and more photographs than anyone can count.  Though they’ve stopped counting photographs, neither has plans to stop counting countries any time soon.

So if you finally put together all the pieces of his master plan and catch up with him, you’d better be prepared to keep chasing.  Whether exploring new places, new experiences, or new ideas, Luke is most likely to be spotted on the run.

After all, the heist is on.