Our Weekend Update: An Albuquerque Family Session & A Trivium Estate Wedding

Happy Monday!! I'm only happy it's Monday because I am at the beach this week and I have so much goodness to share over the next few days!! I had such a full week at Creative at Heart in Denver (still going to post an update soon!!) and then I flew to Albuquerque to spend time with family! While there, I got to snuggle with Breighton, and totally fell in love!! He's less than two weeks old and totally perfect!! I flew back to Lynchburg, Virginia on Friday to shoot Dave & Aynsley's Trivium Estate Wedding! All of the vendors, details, and this couple were seriously perfection!!! 

So excited to share a few photos from everything this weekend until full blog posts are ready!! I cannot wait to share these!! 

EVERYTHING about Dave & Aynsley's wedding was perfection. I LOVED working with each and every vendor at this wedding and this couple is the sweetest ever!! Be looking out for Aynsley's bridal portraits tomorrow!! YAY! 

---

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Farmville, Roanoke, Richmond and surrounding areas.  

Available for travel world-wide.  Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2016 and 2017.  Contact us today for additional information.  

Things I'm loving this summer || Lynchburg VA Wedding Photographer

Okay, get ready for the most random post ever, but it's summer time and we all know that I LOVE the summer!! I'm getting sad just thinking about it being over in just a few short, short weeks! Today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things right now! :) 

* BIG BROTHER!! I am so obsessed and love watching the live feeds while I'm working!! I wish this show wasn't just in the summer!! 

*These amazing J.Crew Sandals! I bought them at the factory store here in Lynchburg, but I've seen them at both Madewell and J.Crew stores! They are so comfortable, and a bit of an upgrade from flip flops! 

*Starbucks Cold Brew- Black.  SO refreshing and I get my caffeine fix in!! You know, I always have to drive through on my way to drop Emmie off at school! ;) 

*Scalloped shorts! I love the extra detail on the bottom to dress up any outfit! I have some from J.Crew and some in the Loft.  

*This big Kate Spade tote! It's actually a diaper bag, but I love it and don't think you can tell! It's the perfect pop of color for these summer months and I can fit so much in it! It's a great carry-on option, or just a go around carrying all of Emmie's extra toys and stuff in it! 

*Matua Sauvignon Blanc.  Normally, I'm a red wine drinker, but sometimes in the heat, I just want something colder! This is by far my favorite white wine! SO good! 

I want to hear- what are some of the things you are loving this summer??! 

---

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Richmond, Roanoke and surrounding areas.  Available for travel world-wide.

Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2016 and 2017.  Contact us today for additional information! 

All about First Looks || Lynchburg, VA Wedding Photographer

The first look is an amazing options for your wedding day-- it's a special and romantic addition to your wedding day celebration! I never tell my brides to do one way or the other because it is a personal preference, but I find that a lot of couples don't really even know what a first look is! It not only adds to the experience, but also helps reduce stress! 

It's no secret that photographers love first looks, and wedding guests typically do as well! I just want to encourage you to keep an open mind and do the research before deciding one way or the other! 

Not doing a first look at my own wedding is my only regret from the day.  I thought I wanted to be traditional and not see each other until the aisle, but I know the moment could have been so much more emotional and intimate doing a first look! I was so nervous before my wedding and we were all super stressed to make sure all of the pictures that we wanted were taken! 

A first look allows you to have intimate, alone time with your groom! It's an emotional moment that just you two will share, and it's incredibly special! This is a time to love on each other, to be able to actually talk to each other, and for him to tell you how amazing you look, instead of having to wait 30 minutes until after the ceremony's finished You can see how this would be a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity!! 

By doing a first look, you'll receive at least 40% MORE portraits of you and your groom!! These are the images you are paying for, the one's you'll decorate your first home with and will guarantee you're getting the most for your money! 

Thinking about doing a first look, but aren't completely sure? Shoot me an email and we can talk through it to make the best decision for you and your fiancé!! 

---

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia.  Serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Farmville, Richmond, Roanoke and surrounding areas.  Available for travel world-wide.  

Ashley has been photographing couples for over 5 years and is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships and images you can cherish forever.  Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2016 and 2017.  Contact me today for additional information! 

Hunter & Robyn's Radford Engagement || Lynchburg Wedding Photographer

I love when a couple chooses to do photos somewhere that's super memorable to them, and Hunter & Robyn had the greatest idea to go back to where they first met over 10 years ago, Radford University!  We hit up Robyn's old apartment, where their initials are carved into the porch, the store Robyn used to work at, Hunter's old radio show, their dorms, the library, Hunter's house and the fountain around the campus.  I loved hearing stories about each place and seeing where their love story began and grew! 

Robyn & Hunter have been dating for over 10 years and are so fun together! Hunter is super sarcastic and making me and Robyn laugh all along the way!! 

---

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving Lynchburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, Farmville, Radford, Roanoke and surrounding areas.

 Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2016 and 2017.  Contact us today for additional information! 

Creating a daily schedule || Lynchburg VA Wedding Photographer

When I first started working from home full-time, I would find myself so easily distracted by all the other things around the house. I would sit down to start working and then get up to go change the laundry over to the dryer.  Then on my way back, I'd just empty and re-load the dishwasher for a few minutes, which would easily turn into me cleaning the entire kitchen.  I would finally sit down to start working and shortly have to get up for lunch. Before I knew it, it would be time to leave to go pick up Emerson from school! 

This was a super frustrating cycle, and I would end up having to catch up on my editing and emails in the evenings, stealing time away from my family.  

Working from home and owning my own business was supposed to give me MORE time, not less time and more stress! 

At this point, I have learned that I am a list and schedule person.  I have a notebook full of to-do lists for the days and weeks, and a planner that is color coded and full of sticky-notes with reminders of what needs to get done each day. I've found, when I get home and start working, having a list to keep my focus on what needs to get done, I am able to focus more.  Some other tips I've learned along the way are: 

1- Get ready in the mornings.  I will still get dressed, do my hair and my make-up. I don't have to get super fancy and wear heels everyday, but getting ready helps me feel put together and more productive throughout the day. 

2- Do the big projects first.  Things that didn't get completely finished the day before, or those annoying tasks that you dread all day. By knocking those out first, I'm able to fly through the rest of my lists! 

3- Right before lunch-time, I schedule time to get all those little things on my list done.  This helps me move quickly and cross things off my to-do list!! 

4- Schedule time to turn off phones, iMessages, and social media.  This includes notifications! I will completely sign out of facebook, because sometimes I find myself clicking over out of habit.  By signing out, it adds another step to needing to log in, which usually reminds me "no social media right now!!" When I get distracted by social media or a text message that comes through, it takes me a while to recollect my thoughts and figure out exactly where I was.  

5- Schedule some time to get out of the house at least one day a week.  For me, I'll set up breakfast or lunch with some other friends in the industry that need to get out of the house as well, or will set up a time to grab lunch near a friends work.  Getting out of the house gives me a nice break and not feel like I've been sitting up in a cave forever! 

6- Because messes distract me, I will spend about 10 minutes in the morning straightening up my desk, and my office space.  I share my office with Michael's closet (small closets in older homes! ugh!!), so I will hang up some of his clothes, straighten out the papers, etc.  and then I will shut the door to the house.  Out of sight, out of mind!! 

I'm sure you have some amazing ideas for staying productive and staying on schedule- I want to hear your best tips and tricks!! 

---

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia.  Serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Farmville, and surrounding areas.  Available for travel worldwide.  

Ashley is passionate about chasing your dreams and doing what you love, while maintaining a family/work balance. Currently booking a limited number of weddings for 2016 & 2017.  Contact us today for additional information!