Casey & Kelly| Folly Beach Sunset Engagement

So....I did a thing. I had this super strong desire to design my own session. A few months ago I did a model call. I got so many great couples that it was very tough to decide. I had about 17 wonderful couples apply for consideration in the styled engagement session. This couple you're about to meet, I just 100% fell in love with the moment I heard the story of how they met.

These two originally came across one another on match.com in 2015. Kelly said that she was impressed by his hobbies and how "INSANELY good looking" he is. They attempted to meet up a few times, but never made it happen and lost touch. Kelly let her membership expire and unknown to her, Casey moved to Atlanta. Casey says that he always kicked himself for not taking the time to make meeting her happen. 

Almost a year later, Kelly signed back up with match for the sole purpose of finding out what he was up to and ironically, Casey had just moved back to Charleston. Guess what? They finally met and had their first date at Shem Creek Bar & Grill. Casey says that as soon as he saw her walking down the dock, he knew he would marry her. Awwwww.

This story captivated me because it was so similar to mine with my husband, but that's a story for another day---just switch match for myspace.

I had this vision for a beach engagement session and they were on board for it. I shared my style guide with them and soon we were rockin' and rollin' with choosing outfits. 

On the day of session, Kelly and Casey came to my house for hanging out and getting ready. I had one of my favorite make-up artists, Kelly with Charleston On-Site Make-Up,  there to just add glitter to the natural beauty that Kelly already has. Once we left the house, things got a little comical. 

I had had this vision of sunset, dusk, candles, and champagne. Shooting at sunset is super tricky because it's a limited amount of time. The location we were headed to on Folly would require a walk. As we came over the bridge onto Folly Beach, a dump truck was broken down in the middle of street blocking traffic. Next, we got behind someone who was lost and doing 20 in a 35. We made it to the beach, parked and began walking out. After Irma, the mosquitos were like small airplanes.  They were swarming and you could feel them landing on you. I had brought an ice chest with bottled water for us, but hadn't thought about bug spray. These two were like professional models. They smiled and gazed into each other's eyes without stopping to swat at mosquitos or scratch. The love between the two of them is also just palpable. I would say "give her a hug" and then just step back while they whispered and giggled and kissed and were just overwhelmingly adorable.

By the end of the session we had laughed so much together that I came home and just kept gushing about them. I told my husband we need to invite them over for dinner and continue the relationship. That is why I love photography so much. It's not just an opportunity to take beautiful pictures. It's a chance to connect with wonderful people I would never have known before. I'm so glad that Kelly applied for the model call because I can't imagine not knowing these two. I think I may have a crush on this couple.  I know you will too after you see these images. Enjoy!

make-up: Kelly Campbell Charleston On-Site Makeup

Dress: Lulu's

Suit: Kenneth Cole