10 Happy Things for December
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HAPPY DECEMBER
I cannot wait for snowy days, holiday lights, warm sweaters, and a long winter break. How about everyone else?
10 HAPPY THINGS
As always, this list is pretty random, but hopefully something on it will bring you joy!
1. The photos in this month's newsletter were taken at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. If you're looking for a gift for the person who has everything please consider donating or sponsoring one of the farm's animals.
2. So happy to be included in this wonderful local holiday gift guide!!
Further, I love all these low-spend or no-spend gift ideas.
3. Currently Reading. Watching. Listening.
4. The best hike in every state = life goals.
5. Is Gen X Actually the Greatest Generation? (gift link) Okay, so this article was a little cheesy, but it still made me happy. Also, how wonderful is it to see so many artists photographed together?
"[Gen-X] is a moment, a mood, an ethos and an enduring way of being, the hallmark characteristics of which — anticorporatism, anti-authoritarianism, ironic detachment, artistic independence, an existential horror of selling out and a live-and-let-live philosophy of life — feel like the antidote to a lot of what’s currently wrong in our culture. Lately, I’ve noticed that whenever I recount stories of my youth, the response is one of intense yearning, especially from young people, who never knew that mythical time before social media turned everyone into mirror stars and ruined social life."
6. My favorite song/video for December (which I watch over and over and over again).
7. Where Jose Andres eats in Washington DC.
8. There are so many "best of" lists out right now and I can't stop browsing. Here are a few of my current faves. Lit Hub's Favorite Books of 2025. NPR's Books We Love. New Yorker's 2025 In Review. The Guardian's guide to the best board games for 2025. Rolling Stone's Best Songs of 2025. Pitchfork's Best Albums. NY Times' 10 Best Books of 2025.
9. How beautiful is the artwork of Nigel Van Wieck? Like a modern day Edward Hopper.
Also, loving these beach photos.
10. Lately I've been staying up super late editing out and I've found that this essential oil in a diffuser keeps me awake and happy despite the lack of sunlight.
BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, 2% OF MY NET EARNINGS WENT TO THE ACLU & PLANNED PARENTHOOD. AS WILL 2% OF MY 2025 EARNINGS.
I know 2% isn't a ton of money, but at least it's a start. And these are two causes in which I strongly believe.
Do you have causes you care about? This is a reminder that I offer a pay-it-forward discount for families (see question #22) where you receive $50 off the cost of your session if you give the money to charity.
I also offer a similar, but larger, discount for weddings clients. Contact me for details.
COUPLES & FAMILIES - BUSINESS UPDATE
December is full, but my rates go down in January and I have several openings in late January - March.
Why take photos in winter? Because this is the time of year when everything slows down and families spend more time together. So have a tea party. Or read books. Or build a fort out of magnatiles. And consider hiring me to document all of the fun!
I have the following weekend and holiday dates open in January through March.
Saturday, January 24
Sunday, January 25
Saturday, February 7 (afternoon only)
Sunday, February 8
Sunday, February 15 (afternoon only)
Monday, February 16 (holidays are prices as weekdays)
Saturday, February 21
Sunday, February 22
Sunday, March 1 (afternoon only)
Sunday, March 8 (afternoon only)
Sunday, March 15 (afternoon only)
For info on my family rates, click here.
And for info on my couples rates, click here.
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FOR WEDDINGS, I'M BOOKING 2026 & 2027
If you're thinking of eloping or planning a mirco-wedding, please get in touch - I have lots of advice/suggestions!
Also, if you're interested in wedding venues/locations, here are some of my favorites.
RECENT REVIEWS
As cliched as it sounds, reviews mean the world to small businesses like mine - so THANK YOU again to everyone who wrote one!!
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One of the best decisions we made with our wedding was to hire Darcy. From our very first phone call she impressed us with her desire to get to know us as a couple, the research she had already done about our venue and wedding day (including looking up the time of sunset a year in advance!), and her warmth. Through the whole process she was organized and communicative. On our wedding day, she did an amazing job making everyone feel comfortable around the camera. She managed to be incredibly kind while making sure everything ran on time. She got us our photos in record time and they are absolutely amazing! We could not have asked for a better photographer to capture our special day. - Mariana
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Darcy did our engagement photos at Bon Air park and I can honestly say the photos turned out amazing! Literally every single photo was stunning. It was honestly really hard to pick our favorites, because we loved all of them. The experience was wonderful as well! I highly recommend!! - P
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I really can't recommend working with Darcy enough. Darcy was our wedding photographer and took truly stunning photos + was so fun to work with. This past week, we called her back to do our first professional family pictures. In addition to making the experience itself fun and special for us (and our 3 year old) - the pictures were so so good, exceeding my already high hopes, and will be memories we'll treasure always! - Sean
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Want to see more reviews? Please click these links for google and zola testimonials.
HAVE A GREAT MONTH!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE FAMILY SESSIONS? Then please click below.
Darcy Troutman Photography is a Northern VA/Washington DC/Maryland documentary-style family photographer, who believes in capturing real moments. Interested in learning more? Please click here to sign up for my newsletter or schedule a session.