A Magical Weekend Update: Christmas concerts, Santa visits, and family fun

I love this time of year- even with all of the stress that may come along with it! It's a season that I have to be sure to be intentional, to plan things in advance, but also to know when to say no and take care of yourself and stay home.  This year, I'm trying SO hard to do fun activities with Emmie, to spend a lot of family time, and really talk about the Christmas story!  

This past week was so full of Christmas fun! Friday night we went to the Handle's Messiah concert in the new Liberty music hall. Oh my goodness, this concert totally blew my expectations out of the water! Emerson loved seeing all of the instruments in person and listening and singing along to all of the music!  She was pointing out each instrument that she's learned about at school! 

We LOVED going to the Lynchburg Christmas Parade this year! Even though the weather was less than ideal, it was a lot of fun to be out there and of course, to see Santa at the end of the night! 

On Saturday morning, we had the BIGGEST surprise for Emerson! We set up Christmas photos with with Liz Cook and had Santa come out and surprise her! Her reaction was priceless and something I want to do with her every single year!  We've seen the most amazing sneak peek- I can't wait to get the rest... and don't you worry- I'll be sharing!! 

Michael & I attended an ugly Christmas sweater party on Saturday... and Mike's outfit is too good not to share! ;) I went the easy route and had a stocking on my shirt hold my wine bottle! You're welcome for the laugh today... 

How was your weekend? Did you do anything Christmas-y or unique? Or were you able to stay home, relax and recharge?! 

---

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 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! 

Emerson's 5th Birthday || Lynchburg and Charlottesville Photographer

Excuse me while I'm wiping away some tears and feeling super sentimental, as we celebrated Emerson's FIFTH birthday last month! It's been a few weeks now, and I'm still emotional thinking about how much she's grown up!  I had all intention to share this post on her actual birthday, but it's the tail end of busy season, so all personal things get pushed aside! ;) 

Em was so super excited for her birthday this year, and has been counting down the days for over a month.  She's all about cartwheels, so it only seemed natural that she chose to have a gymnastics birthday party! It was so much fun seeing her there with her friends and loving each moment of attention.  

And, I can't have a birthday post without sharing some of the sweetest photos from over the last five years! *Most of these are iPhone photos* 

Thanks so much to all our friends and family that came to celebrate Emmie this year! It really means the world to me to see her loved by so many people so very well! 

---

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 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! 

Lynchburg Family Photographer || The Klinger family

It's the ultimate compliment when friends ask me to document their families for them. I know how precious and fleeting these days are, and to be the one chosen to capture these moments is such an honor! I was so excited to capture the Klinger family's portraits this year! Rachel was on my hall my freshman year in college, so to have them back in Lynchburg and see our kids playing together is so surreal! 

For their family photos, we headed out to Riverside Park in Lynchburg, Virginia. I love this park year round, but during the fall, the colors are just so amazing! There are spots to do photos around every corner! 

---

Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographerbased 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 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! 

Surviving Busy Season || Motherhood and Small Business series

It's that time of year, where getting dinner on the table seems like a major accomplishment. Heck, even taking a shower and putting on clothes that aren't leggings is a huge accomplishment! This is coming at the very end of the busy-season, but blogging during the busy September, October and early November months is almost non-existent.  When the work piles up, there are photoshoots every night, and it's easy to push other things aside, like family time. It's moments like this when I've found I have to put super intentional with scheduling time off, and putting the work away for the evenings.  

1- Learn to say No. I know, I talk about this all of the time, but it is so difficult to turn down work, especially knowing that the next few months are going to be way slower.  But saying yes to everything means you're having to say no to the things that really matter.  

2- Take the time to Schedule your week.  At the beginning of every week, I look through my shoots and schedule the time for the office work that is required.  I try to have at least one day where I don't schedule any appointments out of the home and I know that I'll be able to answer emails, and get my editing done.  

3- Schedule time off.  If you look at my (color coordinated!!) calendar, you'll see where I have dates that I schedule off ahead of time.  I know that these are the days I can spend some time at school with Emerson, I can do brunch with some friends, and really, just take some time for myself to re-coup and re-energize.  

Trust me, I totally understand how difficult it is to turn down paying clients.  But, I've learned from the past, I've learned from being burnt-out and sacrificing important family time that it really isn't worth it.   

---

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 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 

Ash Lawn-Highland Engagment Session || Charlottesville, Virginia Wedding Photographer

I had such a great time with this adorable couple at their Ashlawn-Highland engagement session in Charlottesville, Virginia! The Highland was home of President James Monroe and is completely stunning! There are so many corners and fun little places, buildings and gardens around the venue! I could have stayed there all day with Andrew & Melissa.  These two are so awesome- I loved getting to know them and we were all laughing and having so much fun their entire session! I secretly kinda love when a couple tells me in the beginning that they don't think they are photogenic, because when they are this cute, that's just impossible!! 

Andrew & Melissa are getting married at Keswick Vineyards in Charlottesville next year, and oh my goodness, I can already tell this is going to be the most fun wedding! Yay!! 

---

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 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!