Stephanie Ip Photography | Surprise Proposal and Mini Engagement Photographer in Los Angeles and Orange County
Background Story

Our Proposal

When my husband proposed to me, it was at Narita Airport in Japan, mere hours before our return flight back to the States. With crowds of oblivious airport shoppers strolling left and right hunting for duty-free bargains and souvenirs, he kept it simple and didn't hire a photographer, as his mission was to propose to me before we head back to the States. Long story short, he made it happen, and I said yes.

surprise proposal photographer in southern california, los angeles, torrance, hermosa beach, manhattan beach, palos verdes, santa monica, orange county

Everyone's proposal stories are different. Not everyone would think about capturing such precious moments when they are so caught in the how-to's and the perfect plan. Proposals are emotional and nerve-racking, but they are one of those once in a lifetime moments that will make your heart race so fast and your body goes shaking with all the adrenaline running through your veins.

As a photographer, planning is key to any proposal, so having close communication with the proposer is crucial for a successful undercover shoot. Just like weddings, location is important, making sure there's good light and hiding spots will provide even better results.

THE APPROACH

Original. Stories. Fun.

Our natural smile is the best make-up we can put on. Smile with your eyes, your mouth, or even your body language. Every smile is unique and tells a story of the time it was captured.

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Pick a spot

Got a location that signifies something special in your relationship. Or simply a dreamy location you know will boost your chances of getting the "Yes!"

Come up with a "cover" story

Tell us your real plan, and tell your special person another. We will keep it a secret until the day you go down on one knee!

It's action time!

Stay calm and collected. Send me a cue to get me in position for the epic moment!

Quick Turnaround

We know you can't wait to tell the world your engagement, that's why we do next-day sneak peek preview so you can have beautiful photos to share your announcement!

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THE TEAM

We are a team of 3.

A husband-and-wife team, with a curious fluff as long as the location permits, creating cherishable memories for you and your loved ones.

About Us


"Working with Stephanie during our surprise proposal was an absolute pleasure. I'm not usually one for photos but she made the entire experience fun, relaxing and rewarding. All out photos turned out wonderful. We'll definitely be looking to book her again for future photos."

Josh B.

"Working with Stephanie was incredible! She was super organized, prepared, and her pictures were perfect. Highly recommend to anyone! She’s the best!!!!"

Marc S.

"TLDR: Stephanie and her husband, Brian, were truly fantastic to work with. I would wholeheartedly vouch for their premium service to anyone needing a photography session. She goes above and beyond with communication AND coordination. Our engagement photos came out immaculate and I couldn't be more thankful!!
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!!
Fast-forward to the actual proposal: Everything went off as planned!! Stephanie and her husband, Brian, coordinated my family on to the yacht prior to the arrival of my fiance and me. My fiance had her eyes closed the entire time while we set sail. By the time we anchored the yacht, Stephanie guided my family to the front of the boat. I then had my fiance open her eyes, only for her to discover we were in the middle of Marina Del Rey during sunset with all of our loved ones present. It was so beautiful and Stephanie did an amazing job capturing the moment. The decorations were gorgeous and she did an exceptional job at providing us with a beautiful charcuterie board with champagne and refreshments.
Overall, my family, my fiance, and I were TRULY blessed to have worked with Stephanie. It's incomprehensible just how much work she does behind the scenes. She really wants you to have the best experience you can. I would, without a doubt, highly recommend her to do your photos! Thank you again Stephanie and Brian, you two are truly amazing!!!!
Always, Marty and Mikaela"

Marty E.

"We had a secret engagement photoshoot and everything was PERFECT! We can't thank Stephanie and Bryan for all they did. ❤️❤️"

Eduardo N.

"Stephanie helped me arrange the perfect surprise proposal for my now-fiancĂŠ! 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!"

Michael L.

"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.
Definitely recommend!"

Samir S.

"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!!"

Chiraag D.

"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!"

Alfredo S.

"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.

"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 fiancĂŠ 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Contact Us

What is your creative process working with a new customer?

To craft a beautiful session, I usually begin learning about you and the story you want to capture. We then pick a shooting location of your choice. I can also provide recommendations for you if needed. Next, we will work out a color story for the outfits that best complement the shooting location you chose.

Yes, I do! Post production of the photographs is as important as the day of shoot. Every image you receive will be edited in some shape or form to create that cohesive look of a collection.

My office is based in Torrance, California, 90501. For any photoshoots under an hour, I am willing to travel up to 15 miles radius, free of charge. Anything that falls beyond will be charged by each mile to cover the driven mileage and gasoline cost, at $2/mile.

The turnaround time for any photoshoot will be 2 weeks from your shoot day. They will be uploaded to a private, password protected gallery for you to view and share among your friends and family.

Celebration Sessions
In addition, an USB flash drive with the high resolution files will also be mailed to you as a keepsake.

Only the web resolution files are watermarked for your online usage. All the high resolution files will not be watermarked.

Upon receipt of your digital files, you will also receive a Print Release - Use License, which allows you to print and use the pictures for personal use only. As for obtaining the copyright, it means to own the creator title to the work performed. I do not sell the copyright of the images, but you will have the license and right to print and share your images for personal use as much as you like!

Mask on for me at all times! Most of the shoots will be conducted in outdoor settings, unless specified. We will maintain good social distance and follow all local laws, but you and your close ones can certainly stay as close as you’d like!

Packages

Lucky you!

If you are reading this, you are probably planning a proposal yourself - lucky you! Not everyone gets to do this, so let's make it a good one!

Based on the general requests a typical proposer usually has, we've designed 3 proposal options! They range from budget-friendly to luxury. Pick the one that suits your style, wants and needs!


Investment Includes planning, actual session time and editing time.
Location Pre-scouting of location
Travel No travel fee for location within 15 miles radius from 90501. Otherwise, it is $2/extra mile driven one way.
Duration 1 Hour coverage from start to finish.
Quality All photos are high resolution enough to print up to a 20" canvas.
Turnaround Time Next-day sneak peeks, and the rest is 2 weeks from your shoot date, unless noted otherwise. Option to have 1-week rush job for $200.
USB Keepsake Our limited edition USB Keepsake, includes a cork bottle USB thumbdrive with all your favorite photos stored inside, 4.25x5.5" studio prints of your choice, a limited edition Homesick Let's Toast scented candle, and a cork bottle of matches with striker and custom label. See more

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Best Value

The Sparkler

One of our most attractive setup that will last an impression. Choose between a picnic setup or giant marquee lights that sets a scene for the epic moment.

Choose between a picnic set up or giant Marry Me marquee sign with heart shaped rose petals.

x1 Bottle of Chilled Champagne with a pair of flutes to take home

Next day sneak-peeks

20 Retouched digital downloads, with the option to purchase additional

Complimentary 60 second highlight handheld video with audio and full cut of proposal video

USB Keepsake with 6 4.25x5.5" prints.

$20 Print credit for enlargements

Starting at $1650 +tax
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Bubbly Gold

Light celebration with bubbles and a bouquet to brighten up the overall scene!

x1 Bottle of Chilled Champagne with a pair of flutes to take home

x1 Bouquet flower of your choice

Next day sneak-peeks

20 Retouched digital downloads, with the option to purchase additional

Complimentary 60 second highlight handheld video with audio and full cut of proposal video

USB Keepsake with 6 4.25x5.5" prints.

$10 Print credit for enlargements

$850 +tax
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Simply White

Keep it simple, bring your own props.

Next day sneak-peeks

20 Retouched digital downloads, with the option to purchase additional

Complimentary 60 second highlight handheld video with audio and full cut of proposal video

USB Keepsake with 6 4.25x5.5" prints.

$650 +tax

Upgrades & Downgrades

Our packages are designed to make it easy for you, but we are certainly flexible and will work with you to create the vision you have in mind! Here are a few things you can choose to upgrade and downgrade. Reach out to us if you have other ideas!

Upgrades

Fresh rose petal walkway | Every 5x5' Starting at $100
Videography | Cinematic film Starting at $1000
Additional Photos | Available at Final Gallery $15/photo, $120/10

Downgrades

Complimentary Video | 60-Seconds Highlight Video Minus $100
USB Keepsake Set | USB, print, small token gift Minus $85

Ready to book?

Let's get rolling!

Secure a date and time in 3 simple steps.

Pick a Package

Pick a Date, Time and Spot

Put Down 50% Deposit

Getting official.

Contract We want you to be happy with the photography service provided to you, so having a binding contract that clearly lists out the fine details will give you and us peace of mind on the day of our shoot.

Deposit This deposit will count toward the total amount. The remaining 50% will be due on the session date, before any photography actually begins.

Call Once you had placed a non-refundable despoit to lock down a date on our calendar, we'll be reaching out to confirm and discuss the details of the shoot.

Location and Time

Location Outdoor or indoor setting.

Time Weekday or weekends. Best time to shoot outdoor is typically the hour after sunrise or before sunset. Indoor setting does not matter what time unless we are working with natural light.

Cancellation / Rescheduling

If for any reason you need to cancel or reschedule, please note that all deposit fees are non-refundable. You're allowed up to 2 rescheduling date/time with no charge. A minimum of 24 hours notice will be required for cancellation. Any cancellation made with less than 24 hours notice prior to the agreed upon service date will result in full payment by you. Cancellations and requests to reschedule will be treated according to the terms outlined in the signed contract.

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