Stephanie Ip Photography

06/03/2026

She had always said she wanted a boat proposal. He remembered and spent months making it happen.⁠
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A 30-minute sail out from Newport Beach. Champagne and florals already placed. When Yash got down on one knee, there was nothing around them but open water and late afternoon light. The quiet moment that belongs to them only, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean water.⁠
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⚓️ Captain Dustin⁠
📸 Photo & Video Stephanie .stephanieip Stephanie Ip Photography⁠
💐 Picnic Designer Meirose Picnic With Me⁠
📍 Newport Beach ⁠
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06/01/2026

Are you feeling that planning a wedding is like stepping into a world where suddenly everyone has an opinion?

From timelines, budgets, guest lists, traditions, and you wonder whose wedding is it? We know, it's a lot. We have been there.

But here's something we've noticed after photographing various type of weddings, the couples who enjoy their day the most aren't the ones who planned everything perfectly. They're actually the ones that made decisions that actually felt like them.

If you're in the early stages (or deep in overwhelm), we’ve put together a Wedding Planning Starter Guide to help you and your partner:

→ figure out what kind of wedding you both actually want
→ set priorities before budget
→ build a timeline that gives you both space to breathe
→ choose vendors that support your experience, not just the aesthetic or trends

This isn't a checklist you want to rush through, so take your time, bookmark this post.
Find a quiet weekend, where it’s just the two of you, slow down and plan with intention.

✨ Link in bio to read ➡️ http://photography.stephanieip.com/journal/wedding-planning-starter-guide/

05/07/2026

Family of 3 came back to the bluffs with their son Oliver, who is now 4, full of energy and curiosity. Another baby on the way. The same warmth between them that I've witness over the years knowing the them.

There's something I find heartwarming about being a documentary photographer - it's witnessing a family expand, their trust for me to document not just a moment, but the in between phases and milestones of a family. This was one of those sessions.
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05/06/2026

Rachel and Joseph's wedding at the JW Marriott Anaheim started quietly, just the two of them in their suite, reading their personal vows to each other before the ceremony began.

Then came the outdoor garden ceremony, the Arbor Ballroom, two families celebrating together, and a photobooth that brought out a side of the guests nobody had seen all day.

The full wedding story is on the journal now from getting ready, the private vows, the ceremony, the reception, all of it.

🔗 https://photography.stephanieip.com/journal/jw-marriott-anaheim-wedding-photographer/

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📍 Venue JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort
🗒️ Planner Eunice Wedding by Eunice
💋 Makeup & Hair Jessica Credo Makeup Studio
📸 Photographer Stephanie .stephanieip Stephanie Ip Photography
🎥 Videographer Kevin Luxury Lifestyle Studios
💐 Florist Cristina Cristina’s Flowers
👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏻‍♂️ Wedding Dress & Suit by Wedding House
💒 Officiant Pastor Susan Chen
🪩 DJ/MC Steven Hi Def Group
🎆 Photo Booth by Ivan Happy Memories Photo Booth
🪑 Rentals by Yennis Party Rentals

05/04/2026

Fifty years, and they still move through the ballroom like they're the only two people in it.

Over the weekend, Jamie & John gathered their closest friends and family at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach to celebrate half a century together. There's something special and different about documenting a love that has already been through almost everything, the kind that doesn't need to perform, it just is.

It was an honor to be present and witness it all behind our lens. These are the evenings that remind me why I do this work.

Thank you, Jamie & John, for having us.
Here's to fifty more. 🥂
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📍 Venue Old Ranch Country Club, Seal Beach
📸 Photographer Stephanie .stephanieip Stephanie Ip Photography
🪩 DJ/MC David David Newton
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04/24/2026

Some moments carry more than just the present.

04/21/2026

The quiet moment before everything begins.

04/17/2026

He had already walked these cliffs, chosen a place that felt like them.⁠
The forecast promised sun, but the coast disappeared into fog.⁠
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Soft, quiet, almost like another world.⁠
He chose to proceed anyway.⁠
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No setup.⁠
No audience.⁠
Just the two of them,⁠
standing in a place that felt almost unreal.⁠
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Some places don’t reveal themselves all at once.⁠
And some moments become more than what you planned, ⁠
simply because you chose to step into them anyway. 🤍⁠
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Palos Verdes proposal location⁠
foggy beach proposal California⁠
intimate proposal ideas Southern California⁠
cliffside proposal Los Angeles⁠
how to plan a surprise proposal in LA⁠
best proposal spots in Palos Verdes

04/17/2026

Why Location Matters More Than You Think for Family Photos

Long Beach • California...

Discover how choosing the right location can transform your family photos. See a real multigenerational session at Roessler Point in Palos Verdes and learn expert tips.

04/16/2026

If you are from the mainland, planning a proposal, elopement, or wedding on Catalina Island sounds romantic… until you realize how many moving pieces are involved.⁠
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From ferry timing → scouting the right location → navigating crowds → and making sure everything happens seamlessly without giving away the surprise…⁠
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Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden ended up being the perfect balance: elevated views, quiet corners, and just enough privacy to let the moment unfold naturally.⁠
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If you’re planning a destination proposal (especially from out of town), having someone who knows how to map the experience matters more than you think.⁠
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🔗 Link in bio to read the full guide⁠
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