By Paul Myers, photographer and owner of Oceanlight Studios
Laguna Beach delivers the kind of photographs that make you stop scrolling: dramatic rocks, coastal cliffs, ocean views, and the two of you in the middle of it all.
I’m Paul Myers, the photographer behind Oceanlight Studios. I photograph surprise proposals, engagement sessions, and family portraits in Laguna Beach, and I recently photographed a surprise proposal at Treasure Island Beach and Treasure Island Park. It was a beautiful reminder of what this coastline offers—and how much the planning matters.
A Treasure Island Beach proposal, with room for the whole story
One of the things I love about the Treasure Island area is the variety. The beach brings you close to the water, while Treasure Island Park offers another perspective on the coast. Together, they give a proposal and the portraits afterward a sense of place without every photograph looking the same.
The public park sits in front of Montage Laguna Beach, with ocean views, grassy areas, and benches. You can plan photographs around the public beach and park without making the resort itself the location. Photography on resort property needs separate permission.
For this proposal, photographing in both the beach and park settings let me include the moment itself and the coast around it. My approach is documentary and moment-driven: pay attention to what’s happening, give people room to be themselves, and create portraits that still feel like them.
Beautiful beaches. Plenty of company.
Here’s the honest part: Laguna Beach is an extremely busy place to photograph.
There are beachgoers, people enjoying the views, and often several photographers working in the same area. A small cove can look secluded in a photograph and feel very different when you arrive. Summer evenings—and especially summer weekends at sunset—are times when I would expect plenty of company.
That doesn’t mean you can’t get extraordinary photographs. It means we plan with realistic expectations.
I look for workable space, choose angles carefully, and respond to what’s happening around us. Sometimes a small shift in position changes the entire photograph. Sometimes we wait for an opening. The goal is to make the experience feel personal while sharing a public place respectfully.
You don’t need an empty beach to get epic photos. You do need a thoughtful plan and some flexibility.
Laguna Beach proposal and family portrait locations
I researched and scouted the locations myself before this assignment, looking at how each setting could work for a real proposal or portrait session. Alongside Treasure Island, I explored Crescent Bay Beach, Shaw’s Cove, Heisler Park, Arch Cove, and Woods Cove. Each offers a different version of Laguna Beach, and each needs to be considered for the actual date and conditions.
Treasure Island Beach and Treasure Island Park
A strong starting point for couples who want beach photographs and coastal park views. The combination also gives families different settings to consider. We confirm the permitted areas and whether the beach access works for everyone in your group.
Crescent Bay Beach
An option for portraits that place you within a sweeping coastal setting. I would consider it for both a proposal and family beach portraits, then choose the exact spot based on tides, crowds, and light.
Shaw’s Cove
Worth considering if you love the feeling of a smaller cove. Small does not mean private: available space, beach activity, and water conditions still shape the plan.
Heisler Park
An option for ocean views from above the beach. For families who would prefer a park setting, or couples who want the coast in the background without standing at the water’s edge, it is worth discussing. We still check the specific route, permitted location, and public activity.
Arch Cove / Pearl Street Beach
A possibility for people drawn to a more dramatic coastal setting. The tide and surf determine which areas are usable. I would not build a proposal around reaching a particular rock feature or passage without checking conditions.
Woods Cove
Another small beach to consider for an intimate-looking coastal session. The setting may feel intimate in photographs, but it is still public, and the tide can limit our room to work.
Other Laguna Beach options to discuss include Crescent Bay Point Park, Picnic Beach, Diver’s Cove, Fisherman’s Cove, Main Beach, Victoria Beach, Goff Cove, Aliso Beach, West Street Beach, Table Rock Beach, and Thousand Steps Beach. These are additional possibilities to evaluate, rather than a promise that each will suit every session.
For a family session, I also consider children’s ages, grandparents’ comfort, stairs, walking distance, and how much space we need. For a surprise proposal, the approach to the spot and how naturally you can arrive there matter just as much as the background.
The best location is the one that works for your people, your date, and the conditions.
Why tides can change the entire plan
At Laguna Beach’s smaller coves, the tide affects how much usable sand we have and whether a particular spot will work at all. Surf conditions matter too; a low-tide prediction alone doesn’t guarantee a safe or comfortable place to photograph.
For this recent proposal, the City told me it was not issuing beach photography permits after 2:30 p.m. that day because of the high tide around 4:30 p.m. I had already scouted, so that meant revisiting the plan rather than simply showing up at the original spot.
That was a restriction for our date, not a rule to assume applies to every Laguna Beach session. It is a useful example of why I check the tide and permit availability before we lock in the location and time.
When should we schedule Laguna Beach photos?
When your schedule allows, I generally recommend considering a weekday morning or a date outside the summer rush. These can offer a better chance of having room to work than a summer weekend at sunset, although no public beach comes with a guarantee of privacy.
Sunset can still be beautiful. If that is the experience you want, we build the plan around the likely crowds, tide, available permit hours, and room to photograph.
For families, the right time also needs to work for your children. A rested, comfortable family can matter more to the photographs than chasing a particular minute of light.
Do you need a photography permit in Laguna Beach?
Yes. Professional photography on City beaches and parks requires a City photography permit. That includes planning a professional proposal or family portrait session in these public settings.
The process begins with choosing a proposed date, time, and location, then checking availability and the current application requirements with the City. We confirm the approved area and hours before finalizing the photography plan, complete the required application and payment, and keep the permit available during the session.
Summer hours are restricted. The City’s 2026 guide lists professional photo permit windows from 7:30–10 a.m. or 6 p.m. to sunset, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Availability and conditions for your specific date still need confirmation.
If your proposal includes decorations, a larger gathering, or other setup, we also check whether additional permission is needed. Locations managed by another agency, and private property, need their own permission checks.
I help coordinate the photography permit as part of planning. Permit fees, location fees, and venue charges are additional, passed along at cost, and paid before they are incurred.
View the City of Laguna Beach’s permit information.
Quick answers for planning Laguna Beach photography
Does Oceanlight Studios photograph proposals in Laguna Beach?
Yes. Paul Myers photographs surprise proposals in Laguna Beach and helps plan the location, timing, and photography permit. Treasure Island Beach and Treasure Island Park are among the locations he has photographed.
Can I book engagement photos or family beach portraits in Laguna Beach?
Yes. Oceanlight Studios offers engagement sessions and family portraits in Laguna Beach. The setting is chosen around your group, preferred scenery, access needs, and conditions on your date.
Can we have a private beach proposal?
Laguna Beach’s public beaches are shared spaces. A small cove can feel intimate in photographs, but I do not promise an empty beach. We discuss quieter timing and a plan for working around other visitors.
How do I inquire?
Send your date, the type of session, the number of people, and any location you’re considering through the Oceanlight Studios inquiry form. For a surprise proposal, mention that it is a surprise so we can coordinate discreetly.
Let’s plan your Laguna Beach session
Whether you’re planning a surprise proposal, celebrating your engagement, or bringing your family to Laguna Beach, I’d love to photograph the connection that brought you here.
Oceanlight Studios offers documentary proposal photography and natural family portraits in Laguna Beach and throughout Southern and Central California. All love stories are welcome.