Maria Mor

It was only a matter of time before Carmen, Kelley, and I would share our first photographic experience together. You see, I have secretly been cheering for their relationship on Instagram since day one. You may call it border line stalking, but I call it productive research. Just through one photograph on their feed, I knew that Carmen had fallen in love with Kelley. Let’s be honest, no random guy goes to “Painting With A Twist” and spends an hour mixing paints while sipping wine. NO RANDOM GUY!

Their story is quite funny! When they first met Carmen had asked Kelley to hangout while she was in a relationship. Carmen pretended that it was strictly platonic and would not interfere with anything. However, when Kelley became single, he did not waste a minute in asking her out. Their first date started at a wine bar and finished at a strip club. Definitely not your typical outing. Knowing that this was not how he wanted to begin their adventure, Carmen properly asked Kelley out on a dinner date. One month later he told her he loved her. They often debate on who said it first, but at this point who cares. He asked her to be his girlfriend a month later and five months after they were sharing a home together! Now they enjoy beachy Sundays, late night dance parties, and matching Halloween costumes.

To be honest my infatuation with their relationship had nothing to do with their ability to look good in matching outfits, but their willingness to meet each other in the middle. Carmen’s gentleman qualities complement Kelley’s soft and spirited personality. From afar I witnessed their core foundation to be based on understanding, acceptance, and good old times.

You can only imagine my excitement when I received the opportunity to capture the essence of their relationship with my camera. In getting to know them individually and together, I wanted to instill the pureness and spontaneity of their bond giving them a true vision of the freshness and rawness their relationship represents! In creating an intimate space for them, I no longer cheered for them from the sidelines, but front and center.