about

"Be prepared, work hard, and don’t be a pain in the ass"—this motto has shaped Payton Daly’s career as an internationally award-winning filmmaker, actor, and photographer. She began directing, shooting, and color grading films at 15 years old, splitting her high school years between Houston and frequent shoots in New York City, where she refined her craft as a cinematographer. She has trained with the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the Society of Camera Operators, Manhattan Edit Workshop, and Liquid Motion Academy (underwater camera operating). She is shooting her first feature film, Are We There Yet, in August of 2025 before moving to NYC, where she will join NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts as a Film and Television Production major.

Since first stepping on stage at 3 years old, Payton has performed in more than

50 plays/musicals, acted in films and trained in acting, voice and dance at The Juilliard School, Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, Stella Adler Acting Studio, Stonestreet Screen Acting Studios, Theater Under the Stars, Stagedoor Manor, HITS Theatre, Wildfish Theatre, Queensbury Theatre and Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute.

Never without a camera, she is also an avid still photographer. Additionally, she trains in choir, improv and visual arts.

A voracious learner and passionate soul, Payton dedicates her life to telling stories.