Charlottesville Virginia Engagement

Sorella Farms Wedding in Lynchburg, Virginia || Gabe & Meghan's Central Virginia Wedding

Gabe & Meghan's Sorella Farms wedding day was so beautiful! It was a GORGEOUS fall day, the colors were starting to turn on the trees and their ceremony location overlooked the gorgeous mountains! Meghan is one of those brides that I wish I could clone. She's so sweet, super laid back, and truly lived in the joyful moments of her wedding day! 

Sorella Farms in Evington- right outside of Lynchburg- is such a gorgeous venue! Their Bridal Suite and getting ready room is the perfect space to hang out with your wedding party and get ready! Gabe & Meg's ceremony was STUNNING overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway! Right after the ceremony, the sky started turning dark gray and we quickly changed the timeline to get some photos of them together before it started to downpour. We moved SO fast and got through all of their couple portraits- just in time for the sun to come back out for family and wedding party portraits AND sunset photos with Gabe & Meg.  

Their reception in the Sorella Farms barn is gorgeous! Their reception space is so elegant and classy with draped white fabric, twinkle lights, and gold mirrors on the barn doors. It's gorgeous! 

Congratulations Gabe & Meg! We're so excited for you guys as you begin life together! 







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Behind the Camera: Planning for the Year || Lynchburg, VA Wedding Photographer

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I know, I'm a little bit weird (please tell me I’m not alone in this! ha!) because I LOVE the process of planning and especially love getting a new planner and starting to organize my year. I get out my pens (of course, you know I color-code my planner!)

When I’m first plugging in dates, it seems like I have tons of free time. Everything I’m writing in are big, important dates- like weddings I’ve booked, birthdays & anniversaries, school start dates, etc.  But I learned if I don’t plan days off ahead of time, I can so easily over-book myself and feel the burnout.

One of the most important things I do when I’m first planning out my year, or when I book a new wedding, is I will, of course, block out the actual wedding day, but I will also schedule a work day AND a day off.

With a new baby on the way, this year is going to be totally different and face a whole bunch of new challenges, so setting myself up for success is going to be so important! I have a whole list of my wedding and event workflow, and know how much time I need to block off for my workflow steps- from uploading cards, culling, editing for my blog, and outsourcing steps, which is so helpful when planning ahead. I know that I most likely won’t have super long stretches of time to get everything done in one day, at least at first, so having that time set aside is super helpful.

Behind the camera: planning ahead for the year || Ashley Eiban Photography || www.ashleyeiban.com

I also schedule a day off for each wedding that I shoot. I learned quickly that if I don’t go ahead and block it off on my calendar, I will try to squeeze some things in on that day & end up not getting the day off. This is especially important for months like June, September and October- the super busy wedding and engagement photo sessions.  Also, taking time off for important dates, like Birthdays, Anniversaries, and planning vacation and time away with my family. It can be SO difficult to take a day off when you work for yourself, but please, take it from me, the burn out you’ll feel if you don’t is not worth it!

So tell me, am I alone in LOVING the “school supplies” and fresh starts of new calendars, planners, and color coding.  Do you schedule your work days and off days ahead of time as well?

Lynchburg and Charlottesville Wedding and Portrait Photographer || www.ashleyeiban.com

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! 

Lynchburg, Virginia Fall Wedding || Levi & Chelsea's Wedding at The Trivium Estate

Guys! My wedding season for 2017 wrapped up last weekend and OH MY GOODNESS! It was a perfect wedding to wrap up my year! Chelsea & Levi got married overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains at The Trivium Estate, in Forest, Virginia.  It was a chilly day, but so worth it! The views, the last remaining trees with fall colors- heaven!! They provided blankets, hot chocolate & cider for their guests while they exchanged vows! 

Chelsea & Levi seriously made this wedding 100% theirs! I mean- wait until you see her engagement ring to know that she's not your fully traditional bride, which I loved! They really personalized things to make it exactly what they wanted for their big day! Her bridesmaids all wore different color jewel tones for their dresses, they included their dog Skully in their first look photos, and they even had a cookie table at their reception! 

Levi & Chelsea knew photos were a priority for them, and my goodness were they troopers! As the sun started to set, the chill really set in, but neither of them complained once! We pretty much couldn't feel our fingers by the end of their portrait time, but we all warmed up quickly inside the gorgeous reception hall where all of their guests were dancing and having a blast! 

I am so excited to share these gorgeous photos! Her details, this dress, and their love for each other made this day such a dream for me! Thank you Levi & Chelsea for choosing me and hand designing the perfect wedding day to wrap up my season!! I hope you are having a blast on your winery honeymoon in the mountains!! 

Charlottesville and Lynchburg Wedding and Portrait Photographer || www.ashleyeiban.com

Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg & Charlottesville & surrounding areas.  

Ashley is currently booking a limited number of weddings and portrait sessions for 2018.  Find more information here, or contact us with any questions! 

Lynchburg Family Photographer || Smawley Family

Oh I'm so excited to share the Smawley's family photos! Kristin was our mortgage broker, and a HUGE  help to us when we bought our new house recently.  I was super excited when she contacted me needing some updated family portraits! Their family is so busy with football & work & life, so it's such an honor they took time off to spend with me for their photos! 

We met up at Sweet Briar College- which is such an amazing gem in the Lynchburg area! I love the history and character that all of the buildings offer! The Smawley Family wanted a rustic, barn feel, and I knew the Sweet Briar Dairy Barns would be the perfect fit! They're a gorgeous, worn white barn surrounded by open fields and wooden fencing! 

Lynchburg and Charlottesville Wedding and Portrait Photographer || www.ashleyeiban.com

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville and surrounding areas. Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2018.  

Ashley is passionate about capturing moments as they authentically happen to ensure a successful session that gives you time to enjoy each other and savor the wedding day moments.  Contact me today for additional information! 

Early Mountain Vineyard Wedding || Romantic, Sunset winery Wedding || Robert & Shannon

It's not a secret that I love taking a couple out for extra portrait time during sunset, but oh my goodness- this wedding was an amazing exception! They had a sunset ceremony overlooking the Vineyard at Early Mountain Winery in Madison, Virginia.  

The Charlottesville area has some amazingly gorgeous vineyards- and the Early Mountain Vineyard is no exception! The views, open skies, and vineyard is the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony! The reception hall is unreal- especially for a wedding taking place in the fall! Those fireplaces! 

Robert & Shannon and their friends and family all traveled from all over the United States to the Charlottesville area for this event! It really seemed to add to the celebration and joyfulness of the day seeing everyone step away from their crazy lives to celebrate with these two! 

 

 

 

 
Unit 206 at Brenleigh Commons is UNDER CONTRACT! I just love these condo units- they are such a need in the Lynchburg area! Available for short-term, mid-term, or long-term rentals, or is the perfect place if you're looking for maintenance free liv
1738 Willow Oak Drive in Forest, VA is CLOSED!

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