Since she began her freelance career in 1996, Payne has been a professional writer, and since 2000, a filmmaker, particularly for the web. She has extensive experience writing, directing and producing web series, and award-winning short films and trailers. Payne also has written award-winning scripts, two optioned feature scripts, and has been a columnist and feature article writer for magazines for several years. She has credits in children's TV, have written various ancillary products for children's entertainment properties, and have a published baby board book and a coffee table book of photographs.