Lynchburg, VA Elopement: Taylor & Kim || Central VA Wedding Photographer

I've been DYING to share this gorgeous elopement & am so so so excited to finally be sharing it today! Taylor & Kim had their family coming to visit them in Lynchburg for Thanksgiving and they decided to elope while everyone was here! I LOVE elopements because they are so personal and intimate! Just the couples very closest friends and family without the stress of planning a huge wedding! Taylor and Kim had both sides of their families there, and a couple of good friends, as well as her daughter. 

Their ceremony at Riverside Park in Lynchburg, Virginia was so sweet and special. They choose a tucked away part of the park that overlooks the James River. The leaves were still on the trees and the sun was coming though so perfectly.  It truly was a gorgeous day! Kim's daughter was an important part of the ceremony- she held the rings and Taylor gave her the sweetest necklace to symbolize them becoming a family. 

After their ceremony, the families headed to Bootleggers in downtown Lynchburg for a celebratory dinner. Taylor's parents decorated the bar tables and truly made it a special dinner for them! 

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Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, and surrounding areas. Available for travel world-wide.  Ashley is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust and lasting friendship.  

Currently booking a limited number of wedding and portrait sessions for 2018.  Contact Ashley today for additional information! 

A little December Snow! Lynchburg, Virginia Photographer

I'm just a little jealous of the east coast and where we grew up today! It's SO cold and windy here, yet they're getting all the gorgeous snow! I am NOT a fan of the cold weather, but if it's going to be this frigid, there needs to be some snow so we have an excuse to stay home and snuggle! ;) And eat all the junk food. 

A few weeks ago, Lynchburg got a beautiful surprise and a little bit of snow- which is so early for this area in this season! It truly added a whole level of Christmas Spirit! We normally don't get snow in Central Virginia until later January and February, so having it early was magical! Plus, it didn't stick around too much so the roads were clear and safe! I know I'm super late in posting these, but I'm just sharing as I am there in the snow in spirit! ;) 

A big shoutout to Michael who had a great attitude and didn't once complain about the fact I was making us late to leave (we were heading to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens!!) and he kindly found something for me to set my camera on, helped set up the self-timer, and still had a smile on his face. He's a keeper, I'm telling ya! (PS: Emmie is in her Jammies because we had JUST gotten back from Santa mini's with Liz Cook Photography!) 

So, I want to know! Do you have snow where you're at? I mean, even Florida has snow right now and Virginia doesn't! What is going on?! Send me photos and some warm, cozy days where the family is off! ;) And then send summer!! 

Lynchburg Family and Maternity Photographer || The Griffin Family

Photographing friends & their families are so special to me! I've been taking photos of the Griffin Family for a few years now- ever since she was pregnant with Hamilton, and it's always such an honor to document milestones each year and seeing how much their little one is changing! Jenn is pregnant with baby #2 now and due in March (yay March babies!) and is seriously just stunning! 

We met out at the Ivy Creek Park in Lynchburg, Virginia this week! It was the perfect location, with the sun setting, the gorgeous trees & lake! I need to remember this one more! They dressed all up for me and looked AMAZING & Jenn had a flower crown made by Foraged & Cut for some individual photos and I am obsessed! 

Thanks Griffin Family for always trusting me to document your family! I know it's cliche' but it really is such an honor when there are so many people you can choose from! Love you guys!! 

View their full gallery & purchase prints here! 

Lynchburg, VA Engagement Session || James & Tresa

I can't even begin to tell you my excitement when I turned into the entrance of Sweet Briar College and saw how much color was still around! All week, I've been shooting with very limited options- you know- the trees with the half-dead dark orange leaves barely hanging on. Somehow, it's like this little area has been protected from all of the wind and rain we've had lately and all of the gorgeous color was there! 

James & Tresa drove down from Northern Virginia to Charlottesville for their engagement session, and then met me at Sweet Briar, which is only about 30 miles from the Lynchburg area. I love this spot because there are a ton of options and so much variety- between the boat house, open fields, brick buildings, and the barns- there's something for almost everyone! 

We had a great time getting to know each other- their adorable pup, Foster came along and you know I LOVE it when fur babies get included! We chatted all about their upcoming wedding at the Knights Gambit Vineyard in Charlottesville, Virginia- it's going to be BEAUTIFUL and so much fun! 

Thanks James & Tresa for making the trip down to Lynchburg! I LOVED LOVED LOVED getting to know you both and can't wait for your big day!!! 

View their full gallery or to purchase prints, click here! 

Motherhood Moments: The little things are what matters

Today's post is something that I really struggle with, and the more Moms I talk to, the more I find out that I'm not alone. It seems in this day and age where we are bombarded with everyone's 'best of' moments through social media, I feel the constant need to be THE best Mom ever.  You know, to constantly be doing fun things, making everything a teaching moment, and for her to always be having fun.  Let's be real here- this isn't possible. If we were sitting and chatting over some wine and you were telling me you were struggling with these things, I would tell you the very same thing. You're going to make yourself crazy.  

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, and this is especially true in Motherhood. I have a friend that looooooves baking, and almost every day makes something healthy and fun with her kids.  I see her doing that and instantly feel guilty... do slice and bake cookies count as a baking project with her, cuz that's about the extent of baking I'm capable of... and even then, there's a good chance they're going to be burnt.  I have another friend that is so good at getting down on the floor and playing with her kids. She sits there and plays doctor, or barbies with her kids. I've tried doing this too, (yall, it's so boring!!!). I'm no good at it!!  Basically, I want to be able to take Em on family trips and bake, and play, and do all the fun things, all the time, every single day. 

Being a working Mom (yes, especially Moms that are  working at home!!) means that I have to prioritize my time, that I can't always be there, available and ready to play and do the most amazing things all the time.  I start to feel so guilty because I'm not giving her my undivided attention some days.

Can we be honest here for a second- kids don't need our complete attention all the time. They need to learn how to play on their own, use their imaginations, and not rely on us so much all the time. I need to be okay with not always being in "Mom mode."  

I was talking this out with someone the other day and she made such a great point.  There are some seasons where we will spend so much time together- in the summer, we will go to the pool multiple times a week, we will get ice cream, and go on adventures, and that is all so great and so fun. But there are also seasons where I need to get work done, and that's okay too. As long as I'm being purposeful about spending some quality time with my family, that's okay.  All Emmie needs is a little one-on-one time with me for it to make her day. I don't need to have this 'all or nothing' mentality.  If I can spend 15-20 minutes creating with play dough with her, that little block of time is the quality time that she needs for the day. But, those 15 minutes need to be completely focused on her. Put the phone away, turn off the email notifications, and sit and talk and play with her. It's the little moments, where we can be fully present that are going to make the biggest difference.  

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Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Farmville, Richmond, Roanoke, and surrounding areas. Currently booking a limited number of weddings and portrait sessions for 2017.  Available for travel world-wide.  

Ashley is Mom to 5 year old, Emerson and is passionate about balancing Motherhood and your chasing your dreams and providing for your family.   Contact me today for additional information!