Today we’d like to introduce you to Son & Stephanie Le.
Hi Son & Stephanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Stephanie and I have been together for 12 years, and for as long as I’ve known her, she’s been a photographer. Before “Last Minute Photoshoot” ever existed, I would tag along to her sessions — families, maternity, quinceañeras, even events like EDC Las Vegas. Back then, photography was her side hustle while she worked a 9–5 as a receptionist, and I was building my career in retail management in Palm Springs.
Everything shifted in 2020 when COVID hit. The world stopped. We were both furloughed, and for the first time we had months to think about what we truly wanted. When our jobs called us back, business was slow, foot traffic was dead, and people were afraid to go out. Less than a year later, we were both let go.
The next couple of years were survival mode. We worked gig apps — Uber, DoorDash, Walmart deliveries — anything to keep the lights on. Eventually, we burned out and found ourselves right back where Stephanie had always been strongest: behind the camera. And for me, my strength had always been people and business — reading clients, understanding service, and building trust. When you combine Stephanie’s photography talent with my background in communication and customer experience, a partnership built on service naturally formed. That’s the foundation we used to launch Last Minute Photoshoot in the fall of 2024, and we actually just celebrated our one-year anniversary a few months ago.
We didn’t start with proposals or engagements. We didn’t know what would work, so we tried everything. We did countless collaborations, free shoots, and said yes to anyone willing to let us practice. We met incredible people, learned nonstop, doubled down on what worked, and let go of what didn’t.
At the same time, I spent every spare hour building our website, learning SEO from scratch, and teaching myself how to market a photography business. For months we saw little to no results — a few clicks here and there — but I kept going, watching the data, slowly seeing traffic rise.
About six months into building the brand, everything changed. We received our very first online submission: someone asking if we were available that same day for a photoshoot in La Jolla. We lived two hours away, but our answer was yes. We got in the car, drove to San Diego, and waited. That last-minute session became our first official proposal booking under our new name — and it opened the door to everything we do today.
Since then, we’ve built a full-time photography business specializing in natural-light storytelling across Southern California — surprise proposals, engagements, elopements, courthouse weddings, and family milestones. What started as a side hustle and a pandemic pivot has grown into our life’s work, rooted in service, gratitude, and a promise to show up for our clients no matter how last-minute the moment is.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The first six months were the toughest. We had no traction, no momentum, and for every $100 we spent on ads or boosted posts, we were lucky if we made $10 back. Most of the time, our returns were zero. We were basically paying just to build awareness — gaining a few followers here and there, getting a couple of likes, and hoping someone would see the value in what we were trying to build.
But in hindsight, those months weren’t a waste. What we were really building was our communication, our networking muscle, and our overall business skills. We were learning how to talk to clients, how to position our work, how to create offers, how to follow up, and how to market. We had to figure out what worked and what didn’t, and that understanding became the turning point in the traction we finally saw after six months. As Einstein once said, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.” We took that to heart. We made changes constantly. We experimented. We adapted.
We also reached out to hundreds of vendors — and almost all of them either said, “No thanks,” or never replied at all. That rejection built thick skin. And on top of that, we’d walk up to strangers in public and ask if they wanted a free photo just so we could practice and build a portfolio. We got rejected plenty of times there too.
And then there’s the part people don’t talk about: building a business while being a couple. Stephanie and I didn’t always agree on everything. We had different ideas, different approaches, and different instincts. It tested our relationship, forced us to trust each other, and pushed us to create new habits that supported the partnership instead of fighting it. We had to define who did what, when, and why — and grow into our roles both individually and together.
All of those struggles — the rejection, the slow months, the financial losses, the personal challenges — they ended up strengthening us. They built the foundation for the business we have today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Last Minute Photoshoot?
We run Last Minute Photoshoot, a husband-and-wife photography team specializing in surprise proposals, engagements, elopements, courthouse weddings, and storytelling sessions across San Diego, Orange County, Riverside County, and beyond. We’re known for two things: fast turnaround and exceptional service, even on short notice. A lot of our clients reach out with only a day or two to plan something meaningful, and we’ve built our entire brand around making those moments feel seamless, calm, and beautifully documented.
Our style is natural-light, portrait-driven, and storytelling-focused. But what really sets us apart isn’t just the photos — it’s the experience. We don’t just show up and take pictures; we help plan, coordinate, scout, and guide you through what can be one of the biggest days of your life.
We’re most proud of our guiding philosophy: Our Promise Beyond the Package — the foundation of our brand and the reason so many clients tell us we exceeded their expectations.
More than décor and photos, you receive a commitment to care and reliability.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Honesty — Transparent pricing, clear communication, no surprises.
Punctuality — We show up early, prepared, and ready for anything.
Clarity — You’ll always know where to be, when to be there, and what to expect.
Reliability — No ghosting, no last-minute cancellations, ever.
Peace of Mind — Your proposal is in calm, dependable hands. You get to be fully present while we handle the details.
We’ve built our business on service — scouting locations ahead of time, creating timelines, sending maps and pins, coordinating with friends or vendors, staying flexible when weather changes, and delivering sneak peeks within 48 hours. Whether we’re shooting a backyard proposal, a golden hour beach engagement, or a civil courthouse wedding, our goal is always the same: make the moment effortless for our clients and capture it in a timeless, natural way.
What we want readers to know is simple:
If you want a photography team that cares deeply, communicates clearly, and shows up with intention — even on short notice — Last Minute Photoshoot was built for you.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories (Son) was learning how to ride a bike. My dad taught me in our front yard while all the neighborhood kids were cheering me on. I’m pretty sure I still had the training wheels on, but in that moment, I felt like I was on top of the world. It was one of those small milestones that made me feel brave, supported, and unstoppable.
For Stephanie, her favorite childhood memories were the birthday parties her parents would put together. They’d hang up a piñata, invite family over, and all the kids would take turns trying to break it open. When the candies finally fell, everyone ran to collect as many as they could. For her, it wasn’t just about the treats — it was being surrounded by the people she loved most, feeling that joy, that closeness, and seeing how much effort her parents put into making those moments special.
Pricing:
- Last Minute Love Surprise Proposal Photography Package $495
- The Undercover Yes — Surprise Proposal Disguised as a Photoshoot Package $695
- Cliffside Boho Proposal Picnic With Photography at Sunset Cliffs $849
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lastminutephotoshoot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lastminutephotoshoot
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Last-minute-photoshoot/61562117532811/
- Twitter: https://x.com/lmphotoshoot
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastminutephotoshoot
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/last-minute-photoshoot-la-jolla
- Other: https://share.google/eb3llCFHhVl0WDgRf
Image Credits
Last Minute Photoshoot
