10 Happy Things for January (And a Sale!)
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HAPPY 2026 & THANK YOU!
In 2025 I photographed:
80 families,
42 weddings/elopements,
and 30 couples/engagements,
AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR TRUSTING ME WITH YOUR INTIMATE AND SPECIAL MOMENTS!
Extra special thanks for the weddingwire, google reviews, zola reviews, holiday cards, handwritten notes, instagram shout outs, & referrals - these mean the world to small businesses like mine!
10 HAPPY THINGS
As always, this list is pretty random, but hopefully something on it will bring you joy!
1. How pretty is this Jenga? I also like the much cheaper Ikea version.
Plus, who knew an olive dish could be so beautiful?
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2. Currently Reading. Watching (I know many people disagree, but I really loved this movie). Listening. And more Listening.
Further, I love a year-end best of list and here is a website full of them. (Basically every critic loves Geese & One Battle After Another).
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3. Our family spent 10 days over Christmas in Nicaragua in Popoyo, Little Corn Island, and Laguna De Apoyo. I've been obsessed with Nicaragua since I first visited in March and I was so happy my family loved it too (though maybe not as much as me).
Here are some photos and stories from our Christmas vacation. (I also love that our hotel in Popoyo - Hide and Seek - and the Emerald Coast were listed as #14 in the NY Times' list of 52 places to go in 2025).
Also, I finally blogged Dan and my September hiking trip through Mallorca (such a beautiful place!), as well as some snapshots of our Thanksgiving and various trips to NYC.
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4. Beans, beautiful beans.
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5. MTV Rewind - more than 35,000 videos and multiple channels (remember 120 Minutes and Club MTV?) all for free. SO MUCH NOSTALGIA! I love the addition of the old commercials.
Speaking of nostalgia, I cried a little bit while watching this short video - Core Memories with the Swiftie Dads.
"These guys taking their daughters to Taylor Swift concerts — and unabashedly enjoying it! — are the model. They are being themselves and not treating their daughters’ interests as stupid or aberrant or a thing they should be patted on the back for participating in."
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6. This light and sound exhibit at the National Cathedral looks beautiful. And more live entertainment around DC this winter.
Also, I finally went to the Aire Ancient Baths in NYC and now I can't wait to go back.
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7. NY Time's 64 Visuals That Defined The Year in Arts (wow these photos are amazing).
And I don't think you can really discuss arts in 2025 without mentioning the Vanity Fair photos and why they're masterpieces.
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8. Has anyone tried Sparefare? As someone who loves to travel, it sounds too good to be true.
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9. The 52 Best Breakup Lines (Said in Real Life) - some of these are really funny.
"I want to move out," he said. "Oh, where do you want us to move to?" I said, not getting it.
. . . .
"You obviously want to be sad and I want to be happy," he said. "And Leonard Cohen does not make me happy."
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10. So many new weddings and engagements are up on my blog. Please stop by and check them out!!
BUSINESS UPDATE
FAMILIES - WINTER SALE - $100 OFF ALL SESSIONS IN FEBRUARY
Also, mid-late March is almost full, so if you're waiting to schedule, please do so soon.
More info on my rates here.
Not sure what a winter session would look like? How about street hockey? Or some family time in the park? Or nerf guns in the backyarad? Or an indoor session with dinosaurs, books, and a dance party?
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COUPLES - JANUARY & FEBRUARY SALE!! - 40% OFF REGULAR PRICING
More info on my rates here.
Not sure what a winter session would look like? How about surrounded by beautiful leafless trees? Or an afternoon in Georgetown? Or Old Town Alexandria? Or DC in the snow?
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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We did a full family session with Darcy for my mom's 60th birthday, and we truly could not be happier! She captured so many joyful, sweet, and candid moments in a 2-hour session. It is worth noting that we had 4 children in our photoshoot - 2 toddlers and 2 infants - and Darcy kept everything happy and moving, and all the kiddos were captured so beautifully. We especially loved Darcy's editing to give everything a warm and natural feel. We will happily take all our family photos with Darcy moving forward! - Anna
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Darcy was our wedding photographer and it was one of the best decisions we made. She is simply amazing to work with, and our photos leave me speechless! They perfectly capture everything about the day. She is kind, flexible and brings such a positive energy to her work. So many guests commented to us how much they loved her - and how they noticed that she was always around to get the perfect shot, yet she was so unobtrusive. Our photos are pure joy and I treasure them. I can't recommend her enough to anyone looking for a photographer. - Lauren
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I cannot recommend Darcy enough! She was an absolute joy to work with from start to finish, and we are still amazed at how beautifully she captured my husband and me on our wedding day. She didn’t just photograph us, but all of our loved ones as well, and every image feels full of warmth, joy, and genuine emotion. Darcy has such a calm, pleasant presence and put us at ease immediately, which really shows in the photos. We never felt awkward or overly posed; instead, she guided us gently and let the natural moments unfold. Because of that, our gallery feels like a true reflection of our day and our relationship. We absolutely love our photos and know we will cherish them for years to come. If you are looking for a talented photographer who is kind, professional, and truly invested in telling your story, we would wholeheartedly recommend booking Darcy! - Kate
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Want to see more reviews? Please click these links for google and zola testimonials.
LET’S MAKE 2026 A WONDERFUL YEAR!
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.