Lightbloom Photography

Wilmington Wedding & Travel Photographer

BEST OF 2018 | Wilmington Wedding & Travel Photographer

Let me just start out by saying how grateful I am to each and every one of my clients and friends who supported me this year. Starting my company over again in Wilmington has not been an easy accomplishment, starting from scratch in a town where I knew no one. Now I can say that I’ve met and worked with some incredible local vendors in the industry, and luckily I can call a few of those my friends. Not only have I worked with amazing teams to make wedding dreams come true, but I’ve also had the absolute best clients. I know I say this all the time, but I would not keep saying it if it wasn’t so true. They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. There has never been a sentence so true. My job has introduced me to clients that have turned into some of my closest friends in Wilmington, it has lead me to destination weddings that take me out of the country to beautiful places like St. Lucia, it has provided me with a reason to travel even more than I do normally. It brings me to fun projects like making a calendar of attractive men and beautiful dogs, it has introduced me to local businesses that I wouldn’t have noticed before, and it lets me get out all of my creative fixes. People judge you when they hear that you went to school for fine art, but I’m here to tell you that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and it’s all because of the opportunities that being an artist gave me.

I’ve compiled a group of some of my favorite images, moments, and experiences from 2018, and I wanted to share that with you guys. If you have any recently engaged friends, please send them my way for 2019 and 2020 weddings!

Thank you to everyone who made it such a great year, and I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings.

– Allison

Downtown Wilmington Portrait Photography | Leeah’s Headshots

Downtown Wilmington Headshots

Headshots are one of those things that I think are commonly a very posed, stuffy aspect of photography. But when I do them, I strive to do exactly the opposite. Headshots, in my opinion, don’t need to be posed in front of a green screen or in a studio as if you’re back in high school and posing stiffly for your yearbook picture. I like to put a more modern twist on them, and I actually hardly even put any of the headshot work I do on my blog, but I wanted to share these! Leeah is the sister of one of my brides from this year, and she was a bridesmaid in their wedding (Nicole & Dylan). We all had so much fun together on the wedding day that their awesome mother decided to book another session with me right after – so here we are! Leeah’s a beautiful girl with a bright future ahead of her and now she has some great headshots to use 🙂 check out some of my favorites from our session!

– Allison

Fort Fisher Anniversary Portraits | Ethan & Abbie

Fort Fisher Anniversary Portraits Wilmington NC

I met these two friends of mine when I started working at Ironclad Brewery in downtown Wilmington. Ethan and I got hired right around the same time so we were the new kids together, and we all instantly became friends. Ethan and Abbie even got married at Ironclad, and this fall was the perfect time for an anniversary photo shoot. We braved the cold (okay maybe it was like 50 degrees but for us North Carolinians – that is cold – and yes, all three of us are even from Ohio) and walked around Fort Fisher with their trusty dog, the handsome little Fozzie bear! He may not have loved having his picture taken, but we loved having him there anyway. Ethan and Abbie even went out into the ocean by the end of our shoot as the sun was setting and the waves attempted to tackle them, but instead we got some great photos! I always feel so lucky when I get to do what I love and share that with my friends, so thanks for letting me take your pictures, and happy anniversary!! Can’t wait to celebrate all of your future anniversaries, too 🙂

– Allison

Fort Fisher Family Portrait Photographer | Goecke Family

Last week I got to head out to Fort Fisher right before sunset for some family portraits of the Goecke Family! I know this sweet family from all the way back in Ohio, and they were vacationing at Carolina Beach for the week. Perfect opportunity to snag some family pictures, if you ask me. We wandered around the rock beach and the beautiful wind swept trees at Fort Fisher and had a great time laughing and rock hopping (and not falling!). Thanks for thinking of me while you guys were on vacation! Here are some of my favorites:

– Allison

Sunset Beach Family Photography

Sunset Beach Family Portrait Photography

What was extra special about this fun family session, wasn’t just the beautiful location with the most PERFECT sunset. It was actually that I got to work with a couple who I’ve done this with before!! Randy and Ben got married last year in downtown Toledo, Ohio, when I still lived there. We did two photo sessions, and I loved every minute that I got to spend with those guys. So silly and fun and just a blast to be around. Now, a year later, they vacationed in North Carolina, just a few beaches down from me, at Sunset Beach! They invited me to their beach house one night and we got to wander around by the ocean and the boardwalk, taking some photos of Randy and Ben, as well as Randy’s sister and her family! I don’t think I love anything more than I love the colors of the sky in these photos. Thanks for having me, guys!

– Allison

Photographer: Allison Eding

Perks of Having Bridal Portraits | Wilmington NC Photographer

Wilmington NC Bridal Portraits

Upon moving to North Carolina, I started getting asked to photograph bridal portraits. This wasn’t something I had ever heard of in Ohio, but I quickly learned that it was quite the southern tradition. While it seems like a lot of work to get your hair and makeup done and squeeze your way into your dress, it actually has a lot of awesome benefits. Not only is it a unique opportunity to get to hang out with your bride and get to know each other more, but it’s also a great idea to do as a test run for your wedding day portraits. You get the chance to see what your photos are going to look like when you’re all dolled up on your big day. I remember one of my brides telling me that it was so helpful for her to have these, because she noticed her makeup felt heavier than she had hoped, so she was able to see how that photographed and then change the look slightly for the wedding. The bridal portraits are a sweet tradition down here, most of the brides choose to do them because their mother had hers done, and their grandmother, etc. It’s so fun to see how each generation differs.

Now here are a few of my favorites, all of which were taken in beautiful downtown Wilmington, my favorite area for these portraits 🙂

– Allison

Maumee Bay State Park Photography | The Ferrara Family

One of the most fun things about going back to Ohio for some visits, aside from time with my family, of course, is getting to see some of the wonderful families I’ve worked with in the past! The last time I saw these guys, little Orion was still in his momma’s belly, and Aurora was so excited to meet her new baby brother. Now, a year and a half later, look at how they’ve grown! We previously did a family session in the middle of an absolute winter wonderland, and this time we got to spend some time on the beach together. Aurora was busy chasing all the birds and collecting their feathers, while Orion had a blast pouring sand all over himself. What a sweet, sweet family. It only makes sense that they got some bright and fun photos together at the beach! Until next time!

– Allison

Downtown Toledo Photography | Keelie & Chris

My buddies from back in Ohio, Keelie and Chris, just got a new puppy! We did a quick session out in the chilly streets of downtown Toledo while I was home for the holidays. I’ve been loving the photos I’ve seen of the light display down at the new Hensville, so I was happy when they liked the idea of going there for our photos. We walked their cute pup, Sarge, around town, along with my little pup, Luna, who’s only a month older than him! She’s already in training to help me with photo shoots – I mean, what’s a better way to get kids and dogs to look at the camera if I have a little while fluff behind me? Thanks for inviting me to snap some photos of you guys, Keelie and Chris! It was so good to see you both and I loved that I got to meet Sarge! Here are some of my favorites.

– Allison

Oak Openings Photography | The Hehl Family

While visiting Ohio for Christmas, I’ve been lucky enough to get to photograph some of my past clients and friends. In August 2015, I spent the day with Lauren & Jeremiah on their wedding day. It’s always such a blast to get to see them again and snap some photos of their wonderful family. We walked around in the chilly Ohio winter at Oak Openings Metropark, at a place now locally known as “The Spot” because of it’s out-of-place trees. Thanks to everyone for shedding their coats in the cold and smiling for the camera! Check out some of my favorites!

– Allison

 

Wilmington Wedding & Travel Photographer | 2016

What a year it has been! I’ve moved from Ohio to North Carolina, got a sweet and fluffy puppy, I made a ton of new friends, explored Italy and eaten more gelato than anyone should probably eat in a lifetime, relaxed on multiple beaches, shopped in Charleston (I ate some more gelato there), hiked part of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, and taken way too many photos. I’ve been lucky enough to have gotten multiple weddings published this year, and I plan to continue that trend. I’ve loved every minute of 2016, cheers to an even better 2017. I already know it’s going to be great. Here are a few of my favorite images from this year.

xoxo, Allison

  • Jen & Paul’s engagement session is up on the blog! Follow the link in my bio ♥️
  • Working hard on this engagement session to bring you a new blog post tomorrow! Can’t wait to share more from Jen & Paul!
  • Sunsets & strolling hand in hand with your new husband/wife. Does it even get any better than that?
  • When dogs are life 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
  • You know why I always suggest having an engagement session? BECAUSE I HAVE SO MUCH FUN HANGING OUT WITH YOU GUYS BEFORE THE WEDDING! . . I had the pleasure of meeting Jen & Paul today on this GORGEOUS day to do their engagement photos!!! I had SO much fun with them (AND THEIR DOGS!) and they were absolutely naturals in front of the camera. They’re so comfortable and silly with each other, we even ended the session on the playground. Also can we talk about how pretty Jen’s dress is?! Yeah. Just wait till you see more 😍
  • Wishing you all a happy Valentine’s Day and hoping you get to spend it with the ones you love ♥️ #dogscountasvalentinestoo
  • HAPPY GALENTINE’S DAY! Ladies supporting ladies. That’s what it’s all about 🙌🏼
  • I ordered a brand new camera body to upgrade my gear for this upcoming photo season... and it gets here TOMORROW. Just in time for a few shoots in the next couple weeks and of course a destination wedding at the end of the month!!! Cannot wait!