Meet Darrian Mouton

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darrian Mouton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darrian, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
My happiness has always been rooted in others… making a stranger feel a little less alone, giving a child the space to feel safe, seen, and confident, offering someone a moment of laughter on a hard day. That’s why photography speaks to me so deeply. It lets me capture the beauty of those moments exactly as they felt, like taking a snapshot of love, connection, and the magic of being human. Every click of the shutter feels like preserving a piece of warmth in the world, and that’s what melts my heart and keeps me doing what I do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My photography has always been about capturing emotion… the small, fleeting moments that tell the biggest stories. What sets me apart isn’t just the technical side of things; it’s the heart behind the lens. I don’t just want to take pictures, I want people to feel something when they look at them. Whether it’s a child’s laugh frozen in time or the quiet tenderness between loved ones, I want my work to carry the same warmth and magic the moment held in real life.

A big part of that comes from my grandpa. Growing up, he was the one always behind the camera, quietly capturing the love and life unfolding around us. Weekends were spent digging through boxes of his photos, each one a doorway back in time. I remember the way those pictures felt—how they held laughter, love, and little glimpses of our family’s story. That’s what made me fall in love with photography: the way a single frame could hold so much life inside it. I wanted to create that same magic for others—the kind that makes you stop, smile, and feel the love in the moment all over again.

Getting here hasn’t been easy. Like many artists, I’ve wrestled with self-doubt, comparison, and the fear of not being ‘good enough.’ But every challenge pushed me to grow, not only as a photographer but as a person. I’ve learned to embrace the imperfections, to find beauty in the ordinary, and to trust my own eye for the extraordinary.

What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is this: photography, for me, is about connection. It’s about seeing people as they truly are and giving them a piece of time they can hold on to forever. My hope is that every photo tells a story that words never could.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh, this is such a hard one because I love so many things about Houston! But if my best friend came to visit, here’s what our week would look like:

We’d start every morning with coffee—because that’s a love language in itself. La La Land Kind Cafe for the banana foam latte that tastes like sunshine, BHBG Coffee for the dreamy blueberry lavender latte, and New Heights Coffee Roasters for the perfect cup crafted with so much care.

For food, we’d balance cheap and cheerful with the unforgettable: Chapultepec Lupita for a late-night, no-frills Tex-Mex fix, Snooze for my favorite breakfast in the city, and then we’d splurge on Mussafer, where every bite feels like a work of art—absolutely worth it.

We’d fill our days exploring: wandering through the Bayou Bend Collections & Gardens with its historic home and blooming gardens, sipping lattes while cuddling cats at El Gato Cat Café (my dream spot!), and admiring the quirky beauty of Smither Park and The Orange Show, where art meets imagination in the most unexpected ways.

And of course, a little shopping: Rocket Fizz—I have to shout it out because it’s my dad’s candy shop—then AG Antiques on 19th, my favorite treasure trove, and Kaboom Books, the sweetest little bookshop with owners who make you feel like family.

That, to me, is the heart of Houston: coffee, food, art, and the people and places that make it feel like home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would dedicate my shoutout to Kylee Gilmore of Inerra Marketing. From the very beginning, she has been my steady source of encouragement, always lifting me up and believing in me even on the days I doubted myself. Kylee isn’t just a friend or a business partner—she’s the kind of person whose support shapes your path and reminds you what’s possible. So much of where I am today is because she chose to cheer me on, and I’m endlessly grateful for her heart, her guidance, and her unwavering faith in me.

Instagram: @violetmoonportraits

Facebook: Violet Moon Photography

Image Credits
Personal Photo: @jordynrenphoto on Instagram

Non-personal Photos: @violetmoonportraits on instagram