Mark & Amber Smith Mountain Lake Elopement

Neither rain nor shine could hold this adorable couple down!! Mark & Amber choose to have a small, intimate elopement ceremony, with both sets of parents there, overlooking the gorgeous Smith Mountain Lake at the Mariner's Landing.  It really was the perfect setting! It started raining just as the ceremony started, but what a romantic setting it was! 

After the ceremony, we headed out to the docks for some photos when it started POURING! This couple was in such great spirits though and we got some amazing photos despite the rain and wind!! But, don't worry- the sun came out shortly after and we were able to get some amazing photos in the sunshine too! 

Venue: Mariners Landing at Smith Mountain Lake

Ashley Eiban is an elopement and wedding photographer based in Central Virginia- serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Richmond, Smith Mountain Lake, Farmville, Bedford, and surrounding areas.  Available for travel worldwide.  Currently booking weddings for 2016 and 2017. Contact us today for additional information! 

Brian & Lindsay's Pharsalia Wedding || Lynchburg, VA Wedding Photographer

These two!! They are seriously so much fun. And both of them totally lit up around each other, and it was such a fantastic reminder of why I love this job oh so much!! Lindsay made such a gorgeous bride and I am still obsessed with her gorgeous dress! It was so perfect for her!! 

Brian & Lindsay's Pharsalia Wedding was the most perfect day ever! After over a week of rain, it was so refreshing to see the sunshine! And goodness Pharsalia is such a gorgeous venue! The views, the  history! Oh my goodness- I could shoot out there ALL the time!! Enough of my chatting- I've got a million pictures to share!! 

A HUGE thank-you to all the amazing vendors that helped make this day so perfect!! 

Venue: Pharsalia Events

Hair & Make-Up: Glam Squad

Flowers: The Faded Poppy

Invitations: MidValley Press

Bridal Dress: Sealed with a Kiss Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses: Custom Made by Greta Kay with White Dress Bridal

Groom and Groomsmen Tuxes: White Dress Bridal

Planner: Susan Durovy

Caterer: Harvest Moon

Videography: DeVries Productions

Dj: AAA Disc Jockey

Cake: A Little Something Sweet 

Favors: Kings Popcorn

Ashley Eiban Photography is a Wedding Photographer based in Central Virginia- serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Farmville, and surrounding areas.  Available for travel world-wide! 

We are currently booking weddings for 2016. Contact us today for additional information! 

Family Portrait's don't have to be miserable! || Lynchburg, Virginia Wedding Photographer

Since it's a Monday morning (yuck)... I figured now would be the best time to talk about (almost) everyone's least favorite part of the wedding day... formal family photos.  We have all been in those weddings where the family photos drag on and on, and we all know that we just want to get to the food! Early on in my photography career, I would mostly play it by ear and photos would seem to last forever... and there would always be something that was missed.  It was always so stressful for me, but worse, for the bride, groom and their families.  

I quickly learned that this was not what I wanted weddings to look like- I strive to help my brides and grooms be completely stress-free on their wedding days and this was throwing everything off! So, I changed my approach completely and now have the bride and groom provide a full & detailed list before the wedding day.  I have them chat with their parents together to set expectations.  If we only have 15-20 minutes for all of the family photos, we cannot have a list of 30+ variations.  

Some tips I've learned along the way: 

* Talk with your Mom & your future Mother-in-law to make sure everyone's expectations are set.  Discussing how you have 15-20 minutes of family portrait time that you're splitting between your family and your fiance's family.  

*If there are people you want in family photos, make sure you're communicating that with those family members! Having to search someone down in the middle of portrait time is no fun! 

*We can start family photos right away, even if there are some guests still around! Once they see us starting photos, they will automatically start walking over to the cocktail hour! 

*The best light is not always the ceremony site.  I will scope out the lighting situation before photos and have a plan for where would be best for those! 

*I always start with the officiant, and then the family with the oldest members so they can get into the reception and sit down!

Here is the list that most of my couples start with, and then adjust it based on their specific family members attending their wedding!

Bride & Groom with Officiant 

Bride & Groom with Brides Full Extended Family (parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.) 

Bride & Groom with Brides Grandparents

Bride & Groom with Brides Immediate Family (parents, siblings, spouses & children) 

Bride & Groom with Brides Immediate Family no spouses (parents, siblings) 

Bride & Groom with Brides Parents

Bride with Brides Mom

Bride with Brides Dad

Bride with Brides siblings

Bride & Groom with Brides Siblings

Bride & Groom with Grooms Full Extended Family (parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.) 

Bride & Groom with Grooms Grandparents

Bride & Groom with Grooms Immediate Family (parents, siblings, spouses & children) 

Bride & Groom with Grooms Immediate Family no spouses (parents, siblings) 

Bride & Groom with Grooms Parents

Groom with Groom's Mom

Groom with Groom's Dad

Groom with Groom's siblings

Bride & Groom with Groom's Siblings

Remember, the more detailed you can be for your family list the better!! It is always so helpful for me when I'm calling out names to be specific! Calling out "Brides Aunt" can be a lot more productive if there's a name included in that! 

See, formal portraits don't have to be THAT difficult! I can knock them out in about 15-20 minutes and get you enjoying your wedding reception sooner than later!! 

Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Lynchburg, Virginia- available for travel world-wide.  Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2016 and 2017.  Contact us today for additional information! 

Coleton & Elizabeth's Wedding Day: Trivium Estate Wedding

It is such a special honor to be chosen to photograph someones wedding.  It's something that I never ever want to take lightly.  I have the privilege of being a part of these giant moments in peoples lives, and I invest so much of myself emotionally into my couples.  I get to be behind the scenes, help them throughout the day, see how much their friends and family love on them, and be a part of their private moments that prove how important love and marriage is. I am so beyond thankful that Coleton & Elizabeth chose me to photograph their wedding.  They are the cutest couple ever- you can see their love and their joy just radiating from them!  It was the greatest feeling seeing her walk down the aisle with her Dad, wear her grandma's special earrings, laugh with Coleton through the evening, and celebrate with her friends and family! 

The Trivium Estate was THE perfect backdrop for their gorgeous wedding!! It really was the perfect day in April and everything was so beautiful! I am so excited to be sharing images from their wedding day!! 

A HUGE thanks to the amazing vendors that made this day go SO WELL!! 

Venue: The Trivium Estate

Flowers: Bloom by Doyles

Coordination: Victoria Hunt with The Trivium Estates

Dress: Ballew Bridal

Hair: Before & After Hair Salon

Make-Up: Laci Fore Makeup Artistry

DJ: Official Entertainment

Caterer: Avenue Foods

Cake:  La Bella Torta

Ashley Eiban Photography is a Wedding and Portrait Photographer in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg, Forest, Richmond, Roanoke, Charlottesville, and surrounding areas. Available for travel worldwide! Currently booking for 2016 and 2017. Contact us today for additional information! 

Elizabeth's Bridal Portraits: Lynchburg, Virginia Wedding Photographer

I totally have a love/hate thing going on with bridal portraits! I seriously LOOOOOOOVE so many things about them, like the bride getting another chance to get all dolled up, getting a trial run with hair and make-up, and the fact that they are so much fun. But then after the fact I have to keep them top-secret and that is just straight up torture!! haha! 

Coleton & Elizabeth got married on Saturday and oh my gooooooodness it was such a beautiful day! Elizabeth is the sweetest and made the most beautiful bride!! And that means I finally get to share photos from her bridal portraits!!  Thanks to The Trivium Estates in Forest for allowing the perfect spot for these!!