Katrina’s 18th Birthday Debut | DoubleTree by Hilton Torrance

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel • Torrance • Los Angeles • California

Stephanie Ip Photography

Posted on July 30, 2022

Every culture and religion celebrates major birthdays differently. If you were to ask me, in America, turning 21 is quite a big deal, as it is the legal drinking age, and as you can probably guess what would be the focus of the 21st birthday celebration – alcohol.

In the Latino culture, Quinceañera is a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday, which I haven’t personally experienced, but by the look of it all, it is quite like a Princess ball. Hopefully one of these days, we will get to participate and photograph one!

In the Filipino tradition, the Debut is a birthday celebration for a girl turning 18. To me, 18th sounds like a major milestone in teens, as it is the typical age one graduates from high school and enters a new chapter in life. Whether they choose to enter the workforce or head to college for further education, at 18, it marks the beginning of adulthood and independence.

In June, we had the pleasure to photograph a family of 4, commemorating the family’s high school graduate. We were invited back in July to document Katrina’s 18th birthday celebration alongside her extended family and friends, and we feel so very honored the family loved our photographic style enough to want us back. It was our first time experiencing a Debut, so every part of the program was fresh and new to both of us! The Debut program was filled with fun and heart warming activities from Hot Potato to 18th Roses Dance to the 18 Candles Speech. Family and friends had traveled from all over the world to witness this special moment for Katrina’s family, you cannot not believe this is a big deal to the family’s culture and traditions, which we are so happy we got to be a party of these memories.

Thank you for having us at the party, and we wish you all the best at UCLA, Katrina! Go Bruins!

Hair and Makeup by Beauty by Lyndel https://instagram.com/beautybylyndel
Party Decors by Lady B Rentals https://instagram.com/ladyb_rentals
Balloons by Gina Tex Balloons https://instagram.com/ginatexballoons
Photo Booth by Primo Prints https://instagram.com/primoprints
DJ by Vox DJs https://instagram.com/voxdjs

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A post shared by LA & OC Event and Family Photographer (@photography.stephanieip)

"Stephanie made me feel very comfortable as she was taking photos for my graduation shoot & my birthday party. She does a fantastic job at capturing the small moments during big events, making the photos that much more priceless. Overall, I'm VERY happy with how the photos turned out for both photo shoots."

18th Birthday Debut Party at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Torrance, Los Angeles, California

Katrina I.

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