Holly Christina Photography accused of defrauding brides

A Triangle-area, husband-and-wife wedding photography team are being sued by the state for allegedly defrauding more than 160 brides, Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Tuesday.

Holly Christina Photography and its owners, Holly Christina Scott Ayscue and Christopher Owen Ayscue of Franklin County, are each named as defendants in the complaint filed in Wake County court Tuesday. The couple is accused of pressuring brides to book them, then disappearing this fall and failing to honor their contracts for dozens of weddings, according to the complaint.

Customers’ concerns gained traction locally last month when The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner, ABC11, began an investigation into the company. At least 50 brides told ABC11 they couldn’t reach the Ayscues after paying thousands of dollars in deposits. That included brides whose weddings had already been photographed and couples with upcoming weddings.

Holly Christina Photography began around July 2019 and became an LLC in February 2025, according to the state’s complaint. The company’s website describes it as “a God focused team built on connection, trust, and a shared passion for telling meaningful stories through artful imagery.”

At least 166 customers have submitted complaints to Jackson’s office since late January, according to a news release. Their losses currently total about $750,000, the release says.

“This photographer left engaged couples and newlyweds stranded without a wedding photographer, without refunds, and without memories from one of the most important days of their lives,” Jackson said in the release. “Even before they shut down, they were deceiving customers to maximize their own profit.”

It’s not clear when the first issues with Holly Christina Photography were reported, but the earliest story shared in Jackson’s complaint dates to Sept. 27, when the company allegedly sent different photographers and videographers than promised to a bride’s wedding. On Nov. 2, another bride reported Holly Ayscue’s brother showed up for her bridal portraits instead of Holly, the complaint states.

Communication issues apparently began in December, when brides reaching out about delayed photos and videos allege they couldn’t get a response from the Ayscues. More than half of the customers who complained to Jackson’s office had paid the company in full to take advantage of a 10% discount for doing so, according to the release.

“The company either failed to provide all the services they promised, or they failed to do any work at all for their clients,” the release said.

The business is also accused of overbooking wedding dates throughout the state and the country on multiple occasions, including one date on which it booked five weddings, the complaint says. And despite their troubles, the Ayscues allegedly continued to take deposits from clients “until shortly before” closing the business Jan. 25.

Some brides received raw photos and videos in December and January, but not the edited final images promised, according to the complaint. The company sent emails to customers in January and February claiming they could no longer edit photos and were ceasing operations, the complaint says. Some customers were sent broken links to raw photos and videos, according to the complaint.

The Ayscues have not commented publicly beyond social media posts on Instagram and Facebook on Jan. 19 claiming Holly Ayscue was experiencing a medical emergency, then announcing the business’s closure Jan. 26.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to fulfill existing contracts, and no services will be provided for future events,” the company wrote in a Feb. 7 email shared by Jackson’s office. “All business operations are in the process of being formally closed.”

The company provided a Raleigh address customers could mail correspondence to, according to the email.

Jackson’s office began receiving complaints Jan. 19 and reached out to the Ayscues at least four times since, court documents show. The couple wrote back to Jackson’s staff Feb. 5, stating they were reviewing the complaints and consulting with legal counsel.

“We are available to coordinate a phone call and will follow up shortly regarding next steps,” the couple said in the email. “Please let us know if there is any additional information you need from us at this stage.”

That follow-up never came, according to Jackson’s office, which says it has not been able to speak with the Ayscues.

Besides Jackson’s suit, the couple also face a lawsuit in Franklin County from a bride alleging she hasn’t received any photos from her Nov. 1 wedding, court documents show. That complaint was filed Feb. 18.

“We have not received any communication from Holly Christina since January 3rd when she stated we were in the queue for editing,” the complaint reads. “WE have tried multiple ways to contact Holly Christina and have had no response. She was paid in full $6675.96.”

Christopher Ayscue pleaded guilty Jan. 30 to assaulting his wife by pushing her in Wake Forest on Oct. 21, court records show. District Court Judge Margaret Eagles placed Ayscue on supervised probation for a year and ordered him not to assault, threaten or harass Holly Ayscue, according to court documents. He also must complete an abuser treatment program.

“These missing memories are irreplaceable, but the State brings this action to at least recover the payments that were made to Defendants and to stop Defendants from perpetuating their unfair and deceptive business practices on other unsuspecting couples,” the state wrote in its complaint.