A Magical Surprise Proposal at Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach | Nghia & Christina

Treasure Island Beach • Laguna Beach • California

Stephanie Ip Photography
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📍 Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach, California
📆 Feburary 9th 2025 ☀️ Sunset at 5:32pm
🌡️ Semi overcast weather
🎬 Start time at 4:30pm


A Magical Treasure Island Beach Proposal: Nghia & Christina’s Special Moment

There’s something incredibly magical about planning a surprise proposal at a stunning coastal location, and Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach is one of the most breathtaking spots in Southern California. For Nghia, who lives in Texas, planning a seamless proposal for his girlfriend, Christina, who lives in Orange County, was no small feat. But with careful coordination, a dedicated team of friends and family, and the perfect golden hour glow, he made it happen.

Originally, Nghia planned to propose in Malibu, but after the devastating 2025 Cal Fire burned down his intended location, he pivoted to Treasure Island Beach—a spot known for its iconic beach cave, rugged cliffs, and sweeping ocean views. After two months of meticulous planning, everything fell into place, and the moment was nothing short of magical.

If you’re thinking about proposing at Treasure Island Beach, here’s how Nghia made it work—and how you can, too!

How to Plan a Destination Surprise Proposal at Treasure Island Beach

Proposing at a popular beach location requires careful planning, especially when crowds, timing, and logistics come into play. Here’s what we learned from Nghia & Christina’s engagement that can help you create your own unforgettable moment.

Photographer’s Tip:

1. Choosing the Right Spot: The Iconic Cave at Treasure Island Beach

Treasure Island Beach is one of the most photographed locations in Laguna Beach, and the cave is a highly sought-after spot for proposals and photoshoots. While this makes for an incredible backdrop, it also means dealing with tourists and beachgoers, requiring extra effort to create a private, intimate moment.

For Nghia, we had family and friends help clear the area right before Christina arrived, ensuring that the setup felt personal and undisturbed. His best friend flew in to assist with the setup, while Christina’s local friends and parents played a key role in leading her to the spot without raising any suspicion.

Pro Tip:

✔ Choose a less busy time for the proposal—weekday evenings tend to be quieter.
✔ Enlist friends or hire a coordinator to help manage crowds if proposing at a popular location.
✔ If needed, gently ask bystanders to step aside for a few minutes to capture the perfect moment.

2. Two Months of Planning: How Nghia Pulled It Off

Proposing in a different state is already a challenge, but Nghia’s two-month-long planning process ensured that everything went smoothly. After the Malibu location was no longer an option, he worked on a new plan that involved:

✔ Scouting new locations remotely and deciding on Treasure Island Beach.
✔ Coordinating with Christina’s family and friends to help bring her to the exact proposal spot.
✔ Bringing in his best friend from Texas to assist with setup and keep the surprise intact.

Even though plans changed along the way, his thoughtfulness and attention to detail made the moment feel effortless. In the end, pivoting to a new location made the proposal even more magical!

Pro Tip:

✔ If planning a destination proposal, visit the location in advance or work with a local photographer to scout the area.
✔ Flexibility is key—have a backup plan in case of unforeseen circumstances.
✔ Give yourself plenty of time for logistics, permits, and gathering loved ones.

3. The Perfect Timing & Weather for a Dream Proposal

Timing was crucial for this proposal, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. The golden hues of the setting sun reflected beautifully off the cliffs, creating a dreamy, cinematic atmosphere. With mild waves, warm temperatures, and just the right amount of cloud coverage, the scene felt straight out of a movie.

For any beach proposal, understanding the tide schedules and sunset times is essential. The cave at Treasure Island Beach is only accessible during low tide, so Nghia planned accordingly to make sure the spot was clear and safe.

Pro Tip:

✔ Check tide charts before planning a proposal in a beach cave—some spots are only accessible at certain times.
✔ Golden hour (one hour before sunset) offers the most flattering and romantic lighting.
✔ If the weather is overcast, consider bringing extra lighting to create a warm, intimate glow.

4. Capturing the Moment: Photography & Videography

A once-in-a-lifetime moment like this deserves to be captured perfectly. Since beach proposals come with unpredictable lighting and movement, we made sure to position ourselves ahead of time, allowing for both wide scenic shots and intimate close-ups.

We also took advantage of the natural elements—the ocean, the cave’s dramatic entrance, and the golden light—to make each photo feel straight out of a fairytale.

Pro Tip:

✔ If hiring a photographer, choose someone experienced with beach proposals to navigate lighting and composition.
✔ Have a second shooter or videographer if you want to capture the entire experience from different angles.
✔ Plan for candid moments—the raw emotions after the “Yes!” make for the most cherished photos.

Final Thoughts: Why Treasure Island Beach is a Magical Proposal Spot

From a carefully planned surprise to a stunning sunset backdrop, Nghia’s proposal to Christina at Treasure Island Beach was nothing short of unforgettable. His ability to adapt, plan ahead, and create a truly meaningful moment is what made this engagement so special.

For anyone considering a beach proposal in Laguna Beach, Treasure Island offers a dreamy blend of adventure, romance, and breathtaking scenery. Whether you’re planning from out of state or locally, a little preparation goes a long way in making the moment magical!

If you’re thinking of proposing and want stunning photography to capture every moment, we’d love to help! Let’s connect and make your dream proposal come to life.

BOOK YOUR SURPRISE PROPOSAL WITH US!

We’d love to plan your surprise proposal with you and for you!
Check out our available packages and contact us when you are ready to start planning!

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"I'am from Mexico and I visited LA California to propose to my girlfriend in the Griffith observatory
Stephanie's team is a true gift to the senses. Each image is a work of art that captures the essence of its subject with sensitivity and emotional depth that leaves you breathless. Each image is a reflection of her passion and dedication to her craft.
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"Amazing as always! we love her work so much that we used her for both proposal and the engagement photoshoot. Great vision when it comes to taking photos! She made us feel very comfortable as we are generally not very natural in front of the camera. Shabu and Bryan are always great company as well! Overall, highly recommend her to anyone who is interested in organizing a proposal & taking engagement photos!!"

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I first messaged Stephanie in August 2023 with plans to propose to my (now) fiance. She instantly got back to me and booked a zoom session for the both of us to better get to know one another. I shared my vision for the proposal and she happily gave some of her recommendations (especially considering she knows where all the "hot spots" are in the Los Angeles area). Ultimately, we planned for a proposal on a yacht in Marina Del Rey, which was her very first time doing this! We were in constant contact regarding all the details for decoration, directions, and for the coordination of my family and friends. She even went out to the Marina to meet the captain and scope out the boat and the area. We had several zoom sessions with both myself and my family to make sure this went perfectly. Stephanie was so patient and was always positive!!
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Always, Marty and Mikaela"

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"Stephanie helped me arrange the perfect surprise proposal for my now-fiancé! We were going back to the site of our first date, and I had an idea of what I wanted the proposal to look like, but Stephanie really made it happen. She communicated efficiently and completely, and with her guidance the logistics were rapidly determined. She and her husband managed to hide from my extremely-observant partner as I maneuvered us into position for the proposal, and she didn't miss a beat! She had planned out the perfect rainy-day proposal photo shoot in advance, and my partner and I felt so comfortable and able to relax with her guiding us through the shoot. And then she sent us photos the very next day and they were spectacular!!! She is a phenomenal photographer, communicator, and logistician, who is so easy to work with! It's unfortunate that I'm limited to 5 stars!"

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Elle W.

"Stephanie helped shoot my proposal. I was coming from out of town and had our friends bring my fiancee to the proposal spot without her knowing what was going on. Needless to say, it required a lot of coordination and Stephanie helped with all of that. She researched the final two spots I was considering, met me the day of to figure the perfect spot and angle. Also her husband was there for any support and extra props since it was at a public space.
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Vanessa G.

"Stephanie helped shoot my proposal to my girlfriend (now fiancee) and did an amazing job!! The pictures came out beautifully and my fiancee is so happy with them.
For me, what was even more helpful was the location scouting Stephanie did prior to the shoot. She went to 5 different locations for me (since it was a destination proposal) and gave me her clear and honest feedback on each of the spots until we found the perfect place! See the picture below.
She also put me in touch with a decor expert who she had worked with in the past, so the day of I had absolutely nothing to worry about except not fumbling over my words when I actually proposed.
Highly recommend!!"

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"The family photos Stephanie took were absolutely magical and more than I could have hoped for. I never do reviews (I am not sure I have ever done one before) but feel compelled to write this because I am so happy with the entire process of working with Stephanie. She was extremely responsive from the time I reached out to book the session all the way to helping with questions on the website platform after she delivered the photos. We had a few family members who did not want to do photos :) and she worked extremely well with all the personalities. She gave great advice on what to wear. All that being said the end result of the photos were amazing. If you are looking for photographers book Stephanie!!!"

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L D.

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Cha R.

"What can I not say about Stephanie? She did an incredible job throughout the process. I commissioned a mini-engagement photoshoot for a surprise proposal. Stephanie was very professional in wanting to know the story and plan. She was very flexible scheduling zoom calls to confirm the plan. She suggested great spots and I even took one of her suggestions and I do not regret it. I had to reschedule a few times and Stephanie was more than accommodating. When it came to the day of, Stephanie did a great job hiding in plain sight and coaching me to do certain things. She as a great aesthetic and really worked hard to capture the natural beauty of us. She directed us well and could not have asked for a more pleasant experience. The pictures came out spectacular. I wish I could give her 6 stars!"

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"I booked professional headshots with Stephanie. She arrived early to quickly set up and used the full booking time to do as many shots as possible in different angles and poses. Stephanie was helpful, friendly, and easy to work with. The photos came out great!"

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Saki G.

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Javad T.

"My husband and I realized we didn't have a single decent photo with our 9 month old, so we reached out to Stephanie for a session (thank you Yelp for the rec). We are so glad we did! First off, the process of booking a session with Stephanie was so easy. I booked a slot on Stephanie's website, and Stephanie reached out immediately to schedule a phone call to learn more about what type of photos we were looking for and to help us determine a location for our shoot. She had numerous photos of each location in the South Bay she frequently shoots at, which made figuring out where we'd want to shoot and determining the type of photos we wanted so easy.

All we were hoping for was 1 frameable photo with our baby, but in a 30 minute session with Stephanie, we came out with dozens of great family photos, where even our baby is smiling and looking at the camera. My husband and I are not people that normally pose for photos. Stephanie was able to direct us to pose in ways that felt natural to us, and not forced, and how to get our baby to smile and look at the camera.

After booking our first session with Stephanie, I immediately booked a second session for a photo session with my extended family. With that said, we'd highly recommend her!"

Dow-Li K.

"I reached out to Stephanie for a surprise engagement photo shoot with my now fiance. Stephanie is such a wonderful and professional photographer! She is very generous and flexible to work with and is great at communicating with you to plan the photoshoot which is a big plus! I didn't have time to scope out the location I suggested to do the shoot however Stephanie went above and beyond to scope out the location herself and provided great suggestions and options as to where to do the engagement and get great photos! The surprise engagement itself was perfect because of her help! The photoshoot itself was very smooth and was easy to pose for the photos because of her excellent communication skills. My fiance and I fell in love with the photos that Stephanie captured! The results exceeded my expectations! She definitely captured this special moment in our lives which I am grateful for. Would definitely recommend to anyone that needs a photographer to capture any special moment in their lives! Thank you Stephanie for everything you did to capture our special day!"

Juan M.

"This company offers reasonable prices rates and outstanding customer service. I highly recommend Stephanie Ip Photography to anybody looking to capture the special moments in their life on camera. 📷"

Nathan G.

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Katie S.

"So happy we booked our New Year mini session with Stephanie and her husband (he assisted during the photo shoot) we couldn't be happier. From the start Stephanie was helpful and responded quickly. Both Stephanie and her husband worked so well and professionally (and made the kids comfortable and laugh) with us. We love the way our photos turned out and I'm already excited to book for next year. Definitely would recommend."

Stephanie D.

"Stephanie was awesome! We had such a fun time on our shoot, and the pictures came out so great!! Super friendly, easy to talk with, and fair prices. She was able to edit out my husbands braces as he was not a big fan of them in the pictures but you can't even tell he has them! Thanks for the great pictures!"

Braeden H.

"We had the pleasure of working with Stephanie for a multi-generational family mini-session at Terranea. Stephanie was responsive, flexible, and very willing to work with us and our not always cooperative toddler. The end results were fantastic and were delivered in a very timely manner after the session. I highly recommend Stephanie and look forward to working with her again."

Jaimie E.

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Julie D.

"Stephanie was by far the best photographer I have ever worked with! She responds promptly to emails, she brings enthusiasm and grace to the shoots and gets your gallery back in record time! It was wonderful working with her! We cannot wait to work with you again."

Kelli F.

"So grateful we found Stephanie for our family photos! She responded quickly, set up a zoom call to meet and answer all questions, and took gorgeous family photos for my family of 7 at Terranea in Palos Verdes. She rose to the challenge as we're all adults without kids yet, but she gave us great poses and we loved how easy and affordable she was to work with."

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Linda F.

Nancy H.

"I was looking for a photographer for my family and I. And wanted it to be special since it was my family and I first time having a photo shot. stephanie made the Process of booking very easily she made everything very clear on the pricing she also gave us options to chose from on the locating of the photo shot and what time it'll be best to take picture. Stephanie and her Partner were amazing the day of they were very accommodating made everything so easily And comfortable I would honestly book again And would also recommend her for Anyone looking for an amazing Photographer."

Stephanie S.

"Stephanie Ip Photography is an excellent photographer, I love how our family photos came out. She is very patient and took her time so that the pictures come out perfect. Stephanie has excellent communication skills, I highly recommend her services!!!!"

Norma B.

"I found Stephanie through Yelp while browsing for photographers for our family portrait. We had not taken one in MANY years, and this one was going to be a birthday gift to our 92 year old mom, so everything needed to be ON POINT. The job of finding "the perfect photographer" was sort of thrown into my lap at the last minute, as we had one person leaving for college, a few others going on vacation, plus a holiday weekend coming up, and Mom's birthday was 2 & 1/2 weeks away. This was also during COVID! I requested quotes from five different photographers; only THREE responded. TWO of them told me FLAT OUT they were NOT accepting any reservations. Stephanie responded immediately via e:mail, and included her pricing and package options, as well as a link to her website so I could review some of her past shoots. From the start, I already felt a sense of warmth & genuine openness. Since it had been years since we had done any type of group portraits, I had a million silly questions! Stephanie, however, was ever patient and understanding, and NEVER made me feel uncomfortable (or dumb), and always took the time to explain everything in detail to me so I understood what I was paying for & what we were doing. The day of our photo shoot, Stephanie and her amazing assistant arrived early enough to set up and start shooting at our designated time. There were 11 of us, so you can imagine how difficult it was to get us all lined up, postured, etc., but in spite of her sweet, soft voice, Stephanie managed to get it done, and our pictures look fabulous! I would absolutely consider soliciting Stephanie again the next time I need a photographer to capture a special memory (provided she hasn't retired from all her success!), and I am more than pleased to recommend her to the community to capture YOUR memories as well!"

Shelly O.

"It was a last minute thing. I needed a wedding photographer for my parents' wedding in 5 DAYS. I was lucky to find Stephanie online. I called her and glad she came to the rescue. She was VERY helpful, detailed, and professional. She was very kind to accommodated my requests too! She definitely took beautiful pictures and captured moments from this special day. Looking forward to future bookings. Will definitely recommend to family and friends!"

Khristine G.

"Stephanie is a fabulous photographer. She listened to what I wanted and was very flexible to accommodate my requests. She did my headshots for my MBA program. My photos look awesome! I will definitely refer my family and friends to her."

Joy A.

"Stephanie is very easy going person. We had a great photo session for headshot. She knows how to leverage outdoor lighting very well."

Ethan L.

"Stephanie was great! Great shots despite me being camera shy, done quickly, retouched and delivered in under a week. Highly recommend!"

Blake R.

"We had a wonderful experience with Stephanie for our family photo session! She made the whole experience fun and engaging for everyone. We love how our photos turned out! We definitely recommend her to friends and plan to contact her in the future to capture more of our precious family moments."

Wendy C.

"Stephanie was FANTASTIC. She absolutely nailed the perfect proposal/engagement photo shoot and helped to coordinate the entire play-by-play with me from start to finish. I'm based on the East coast and was trying to plan a proposal on Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles. I had never been to the beach before but knew it was the right place to pop the question. Not only did Stephanie remain stealthy and capture the whole moment with 100+ photos, she scouted the area a week ahead (and sent a Youtube video of vantage points), suggested the perfect spot (with the pier in the background), showed me her hiding spot and angles, and even ran out to purchase a bottle of champagne for me (and kept it chilled). She did all of this for me AFTER HAVING HER OWN OFFICIAL WEDDING THE MORNING OF THE PHOTOSHOOT. My fiancé and I are so happy with the photos and Stephanie was extremely generous with her time (before and during the day). She even sent ~5 photos along during the same day so we could shar them with friends and family immediately. Just incredible, incredible service and A+ quality pictures. I would 100% recommend her to anyone seeking some help for a high (or low) stakes photo opportunity."

Chirs G.

"Stephanie was fantastic to work with! She seamlessly rolled with the punches even when the weather didn't cooperate (rained ) the morning of the photo shoot. Super professional and the photos came out great. Would highly recommend Stephanie to anyone looking for some stunning engagement photos!"

Jeff Y.

"I feel so fortunate to have discovered Stephanie Ip Photography! I contacted her about photos to use for online dating. Understandably I was a little bit nervous about the whole thing and Stephanie set me at ease from our first phone conversation. She was very clear, organized, and professional at every stage of the process from booking to confirming to the actual shoot. My photos turned out great and the shoot was a lot of fun. Stephanie was able to suggest locations and show me similar photos and let me choose from a variety of times of day, lighting, and specific locations. Proofs were available very quickly and once I chose the ones I wanted, the final product was in my email inbox the next day. I am already getting compliments on the pictures including "You're photogenic!" which I have never been told before, ever!

Juliet G.

"Stephanie is a great photographer!! She is professional, courteous, so much fun to work with and her photographs are stunning. She is really quick to pose and gets a nice shots without taking too much time at posing. We never thought that we would have pictures as beautiful as we do and they turned out even better than I could have imagined! She guided us every step of the way - from picking a great location to matching outfits. She exceeds my expectations and we felt really comfortable during the shoot.

We are so thankful for the work that she did and I'm so happy we have these beautiful photos to cherish forever... I definitely would recommend her!!!!"

Kristine C.

"Absolute 10 out of 10!! Stephanie did a fantastic job capturing my sister's high school graduation photos. She was very attentive and creative with directing my sister, who is a bit camera-shy. Stephanie made her feel comfortable and relaxed during the whole photoshoot. She was very knowledgeable in regards to lighting, backgrounds, and poses. Stephanie indeed went above and beyond; she even stayed an extra 30 minutes to capture more golden hour shots of my sister. I truly appreciate how accommodating and punctual she was at the photoshoot location. Again, thank you so much, Stephanie, for the thoughtful keepsake you gifted my sister and the beautiful pictures!!"

Chidinma O.

"As many others have stated, Stephanie is responsive, responsible and goes above and beyond. We were new to the professional photography world and she answered all my questions, set up a Pinterest site to see my tastes, and was flexible on the date of shooting (sun/heat). We used her for family photos but I would not hesitate to recommend her for business use also."

Marcia L.

"Stephanie was great, she knew a good location and was flexible with my time slot and day of the week. Shes also got a great eye for backgrounds and poses. It was my first time getting anything like this done and she helped me through it. Stephanie was also the very helpful in helping me stay in my budget. I already recommended her to my associates and friends."

Sean V.

"I am so grateful for the work you have done.. amazing pictures and wonderful person to work with.. she made me smile even though i didn't know how to smile on camera."

Salem A.

"I had a great experience working with Stephanie for my business headshots. She was professional, made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Communication was excellent; scheduling the appointment was easy, and the shots were great. I highly recommend and hope for future use as our business grows."

Tom F.

"Stephanie is such a great photographer. She accommodated every request I have, and went above and beyond of what is expected. We did the shoot in our not-so-spacious house, and worked with it so well. It's hard to really take a great photo if space is limited. But she was able to manage and still made the outcome looked great. And apart from being a great photographer, she's a very kind person, very patient and very professional. She takes her job very seriously. I would definitely recommend her to my friends and families. I couldn't be happier with our photos. Thanks to her!"

Jessan C.

"Stephanie was amazing! I planned a surprise engagement and Stephanie scouted the location, sent me videos of her plans (covid precautions instead of meeting in person), and did an amazing job capturing our very special day. She was prompt, responsive, and had great follow through. Would definitely recommend her services. Also, the photos came out great!"

Josh E.

"Stephanie has taken many pictures of my family over the years! Whether it's portraits of me setting out bunches of luscious Thompson seedless grapes, or pictures of the family oohed and aahed over the new baby on Thanksgiving, or capturing our toddler running around in excitement hunting for Easter eggs!

Stephanie has passion for arts and a keen sense to capture the moment! Her creativity and imagination shines through in her photographs and they speak to me! We look forward to seeing more of her amazing work of art!"

Terry J.

"Stephanie Ip Photography has done a great work on our family pictures during this pandemics. The pictures are lively, full of joys and fun as we were directed by the photographer. We found family pictures would not need to be formal, sit tight with formal smiles but family pictures can be lively, relaxing and joyful.

The year of 2020 was a year gave everyone the worst year and look forward good times coming. Photos give us snap shots of joyful moments which cannot be recreated."

Charles I.

"Very professional photos. Stephanie was very nice and knew exactly what she was doing. Highly recommend and planned out every shot we did."

Sepehr K.

"The best! it’s my first time to hire a photographer as i am not comfortable with my body.. stephanie made me so special, like a friend giving advices on my poses .Stephanie took an amazing shots and professionally done. thank you stephanie i really love it 😍"

Rodolfo L.

"Stephanie’s ways of capturing those precious moments are unique. She took quite a few lively and lovely pictures for our family members during this unprecedented pandemic - sweet and fond memories locked not just in the album but also in my heart."

Anita I.
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