June Newsletter - What is Your Favorite Photo Ever?
/What is your favorite photo? I've been thinking about this a lot lately.
Here are:
MY TOP 5 FAVORITE PHOTOS EVER
#1 - This is hands down my favorite photo. And I cannot imagine anything ever upstaging it.
After years of treatment, my dad died from esophageal cancer in the winter of 2011. In September 2010, five months before his death, my father's condition seemed to be improving and the doctors approved him for a weeklong Outer Banks vacation with our family. Trout was 15 months old at the time and I’m pretty sure this is the only picture in existence of the three of us together (this is before camera phones became ubiquitous).
#2
Dan and I didn’t have a professional photographer at our wedding (I know, crazy right?). I was five months pregnant, my dress didn’t fit right, and the whole thing was a shotgun affair hosted in our friends’ backyard (I wasn’t even wearing shoes).
We were married before the widespread availability of digital photography and I knew I didn’t want posed/staged photos. So instead we bought disposable cameras and placed several on every table. My friend, Roshawn, must have gone through about seven of the cheap cameras. And she captured this moment immediately after our good friend, Greg, pronounced us husband and wife.
The photo is underexposed and out of focus, the greens are terrible, and my bridesmaids are too shadowed to see - but Dan and I are both so happy and everytime I look at it I remember the joy of that day. (We would then go on to have three children in the next four point five years and lead a wonderful but exhausting life together).
(RANDOM SHOUT OUT - HAPPY 16 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, DAN, I LOVE GETTING OLD WITH YOU!!)
THE NEXT THREE PHOTOS ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER (IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO RANK THEM).
#3
We spent the summer of 2015 traveling through Europe with the kids (ages 6, 8, and 9). Everyone had to carry their belongings for four weeks (maybe five? I can’t remember) in their own backpack. The trip was my idea, Dan thought we were crazy for eurorailing around multiple countries with grade-school aged kids, but it ended up being the best vacation of my life (and I go on a LOT of vacations). I took this photo outside our airbnb on Lake Como (remember the old days when airbnbs were ridiculously cheap?).
I love how you can bring kids anywhere and they’ll easily adapt. We all went swimming and then, later in the afternoon, Trout and Parker built sand castles (or tried). At dinner, Freya convinced me to to try the local specialty, which involved fish with their heads still on. And how could I say no to a fourth grade foodie? A perfect day.
#4
In the spring of 2007 I decided to quit my job as a lawyer to stay home with my kids. I had never planned on being a stay at home mom and was, predictably, nervous about the future.
One day, I took the girls to Huntley Meadows and watched them explore everything around us, so fascinated by it all, and I knew, somehow, that I’d be okay. We’d all be okay.
(Oh yeah, and then I became a photographer. Also, if I'm being totally honest - I love the catchlight in Freya's eye).
#5
My mom took this shot of us on our front porch. We wanted a family photo but nobody dressed up or anything. Then one of the kids found the Santa and Elf hats. We sat there for about five minutes max, and, luckily, this magic occurred.
NONE OF THESE ARE POSED, PERFECT PHOTOS. IN FACT, SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY BAD STYLISTICALLY.
SO WHY AM I SHARING THIS?
BECAUSE CHANCES ARE THAT YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOS ARE NOT OF FAKE, CONTRIVED SITUATIONS, RATHER THEY MEMORIALIZED MOMENTS (AND PEOPLE) THAT MATTERED.
We’ll soon be going into holiday card season and I know (trust me I KNOW!!) that you’ll want a beautiful, staged photo where everyone smiles and looks at the camera. But take a second, PLEASE, play with your kids - put your cell phones down and appreciate the chance to spend some time together.
And if you’re a bride, PLEASE immerse yourself in the fun of the day and trust me to capture it all. Really immerse. You may never again be in a room with this many people you love.
Okay, thanks for this temporary rant. I’ll be back in the next few weeks with a new list of 10 happy things.
In the meantime, keep reading for business and scheduling updates, plus more photos I love.
BUSINESS UPDATE
FOR FAMILY SESSIONS & COUPLES SESSIONS, I AM NOW SCHEDULING INTO FALL!!
I have A LOT Of weddings this autumn, so weekend availability is EXTREMELY limited , but I still have the following weekend dates available through October.
Sunday, June 6
Sunday, July 4 (morning only)
Sunday, August 8
Sunday, August 15
Sunday, August 29
Sunday, September 5
Sunday, September 26
Sunday, October 10
Sunday, October 31 (morning only)
* Weekends and weekdays are priced differently. Please click here for family pricing info.
I am taking July 8th - August 7th off for summer vacation. Unless you are already on my schedule, I will not be available during this time.
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FOR WEDDINGS - I'M BOOKING INTO 2022!
Also, if you're thinking of eloping or planning a mirco-wedding, please get in touch - I have lots of advice/suggestions!
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REGARDING COVID
In mid-May I received my second dose of the Moderna vaccine (yay!!)
Regarding your safety during sessions,
I wear a mask inside and sanitize myself (so. much. hand. sanitizer.) and my gear.
I also try to keep a distance between myself and others.
If you have any questions and/or if there's anything I can do to make you feel safer - please let me know!!
PLEASE GET VACCINATED (IF YOU CAN) AND HAVE A GREAT MONTH!!!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE FAMILY SESSIONS? Then please click below.
AND/OR FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
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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.