From the first look at Alex and Courtney’s Folly Beach Engagement, you can feel the relaxed charm of Charleston. Folly Beach offers golden sunsets, soft sand, and a mix of lively boardwalk energy with quiet corners by the water. For a photographer, this balance is perfect. You get vibrant city-meets-sea vibes and endless backdrops—piers, waves, and warm evening light.
Alex and Courtney’s story is full of meaning. They met over five years ago at a family reunion spot. Fate brought them together at a friend’s son’s birthday party in the same location. To honor it, they both tattooed the map coordinates—a permanent reminder of where their love began. After moving from Massachusetts to Charleston three and a half years ago, they built a life full of creativity, golf, and sunshine.
Their engagement session reflected that mix of fun and closeness. They started at a cozy beach bar, clinking glasses under a neon sign, laughing like only best friends can. Then we walked by the pier, where waves crashed and golden light wrapped around them. Holding hands, barefoot in the sand, they looked at ease—like Charleston had always been home.
Our professional wedding photographer team captured not just the big smiles but also those small glances and gestures. Reviews from other couples show how much these candid moments matter, and you can explore their words on our reviews page. Beyond photography, our wedding videographer creates a cinematic way to relive laughter, tears, and joy.
Original Weddings is a team of professional photographers, bringing you real love stories—find more on our blog. Alex and Courtney’s engagement was edited in our airy editing style. We offer three different photography editing styles: Timeless, Airy, and Rustic. Please click here to learn more about our photography styles. You pick the style you love for your photos!
Folly Beach Engagement Photos
Things to do in Folly Beach
As a wedding photographer walking alongside Alex & Courtney during their Folly Beach Engagement, I always tell couples there’s magic in the in-between moments of exploring. Start your day with paddleboarding or kayaking in the salt marshes—soft light at dawn makes reflections beautiful. Then wander down the pier, where crashing waves and the pier’s structure create dramatic shadows for portraits. Spotting dolphins from a boat tour adds surprise joy (and great candid shots). Don’t skip Center Street’s shops and local cafés for warm, personal frames of laughter or quiet moments. These little adventures are what give your Folly Beach photos heart and depth.
Folly Beach Rentals
Once you’ve got your Things to Do list, where you stay really matters for your Folly Beach Engagement shoot. Rentals here range from cozy cottages right on the sand to river-side homes with sunset views. As a photographer, I love morning light spilling into beach bungalows, capturing quiet preparation shots—brushed hair, laid-out dress, coffee in hand. Oceanfront rentals let us step outside at golden hour and use the water’s edge as a setting. Rentals are also great for getting that “at home by the sea” feel. Small touches—such as shells on the porch and hammocks—lend candid details to the album.
Folly Beach Hotels
For an engagement shoot, you’ll want a comfortable setting that also enhances the experience—Folly Beach hotels offer just that. Tides Folly Beach, Charleston’s oceanfront hotel, is a favorite when we work at Folly Beach Engagement because every room has ocean views and many offer private balconies for intimate moments (couple’s toast, sunrise hugs). Boutique hotels like Hotel Folly give more character—marsh views, coastal décor, local art—that add personality to images. Choosing a hotel close to the beach saves time between the ceremony and photo locations. It also means less driving, more natural moments. And yes, we always scout light from hotel windows and terraces—they often surprise you.
