Monday, May 31, 2010

SPLASH! | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Team and Individual Sports Photographer

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Took some practice shots today for an Ashburn Swim Team and Individual shoot I have coming up in a few weeks. My model was a gorgeous and lively nine year old. She looks like a champion swimmer, doesn't she?


And here is a natural light mother and daughter shot:

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Friday, May 28, 2010

MORE AWARDS!! | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Child Photographer

"Fine Feathers" "Fine Feathers"

The photo above took 3rd place in the Loudoun Photo Club Nature competition, Intermediate category. I took that photograph with a Coolpix S550, probably in program mode. And yes, there is some photoshopping going on to give it a bit of a glow.

My goal is to consistently use whatever tools are at my disposal to take memorable photographs. Whether it is a camera phone or a disposable film camera, or my pro canon gear with borrowed strobes. Whether there is fabulous or wretched ambient lighting. I want to understand photography and lighting so completely that I intuitively work with the limits or strengths of whatever I've got handy and make the best choices to achieve the photograph I am envisioning.

I saw Joe McNally at a lighting seminar last October, and that is what struck me the most about watching him work. He is a problem solver! He didn't walk into that room and nail the first model shot, but he was able to quickly assess the situation, make a few adjustments, and then create some memorable portraits. He started out as a National Geographic photographer, so he always had to be thinking on his feet and responding to different photographic demands out on the field. His books are fascinating reading because he leads you through his thought processes as he comes up with these fantastic images.

But I digress.

five b "Serenity"

This photograph was an honorable mention, and the photograph below was also an honorable mention.

"Symmetry"

Friday, May 21, 2010

KARLYN - CLASS OF 2011 | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia High School Senior Photographer

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I had a great time with this gorgeous junior. Such wonderful skin, and I love her curls! Ages ago I remember getting perms trying to achieve those "Flashdance" type curls, and ending up with waves and frizz.

Anyway, for this senior shoot we went to two locations in Loudoun County. One is a beautiful setting which you would typically expect to use in a portrait shoot, and the other was a shopping center!

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I really enjoyed scouting out the shopping center. It challenges you to look beyond the obvious to find interesting backdrops.

Here is one more portrait:

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I am currently seeking "Senior Ambassadors" from area high schools to promote Goodhart Photography. If you are class of 2011, or know of any rising juniors or seniors who might be interested, feel free to e-mail me for more information.

Friday, May 14, 2010

NEW WEBSITE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Child, Teen, and Family Photographer

Ancestral Homestead....

I've finally updated my website! You can check it out HERE. I own a few URLS, actually, and the next step is to get them to all link back to Goodhart Photography's new website.

My main reason for changing websites is that the new site allows me to easily create portrait galleries for my clients and to showcase my work. 
I am planning to add a testimonial page, so if you're a client and you have any feedback that I could use on a testimonial page, I'd love to hear from you!

The photo at the top of this blog was taken in Maine. It is my father's ancestral home. It is totally unrelated to this post, but it just seemed wrong to write a blog post without a photograph!

Monday, May 3, 2010

ANA | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia High School Senior Photographer

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What a gorgeous girl Ana is! It was so much fun to photograph her, she had a wonderful energy and wasn't at all self-conscious before the camera.

She had a great eye too, for interesting props and backdrops as we walked around downtown Herndon.

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Ana is a Senior Ambassador for Goodhart Photography and has the opportunity to earn free portraits and cool products by promoting my photography.  If you are interested in becoming a Senior Ambassador and are a rising junior or senior, e-mail me for more information!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

CELEBRATING A NEW ARRIVAL | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Event, Maternity, Newborn, and Family Photographer

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What a beautiful baby shower this was, starting with the beautiful mother to be, shown above, and the incredible cake, also shown above and made by a local cakemaker, Debra Mosely, owner of The Cake and Cookie Closet in Sterling, Virginia.

Then of course we have all of the special decorating touches by the hostess, as shown below:

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One more shot of the table:

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And my favorite item at the shower -- the chocolate covered strawberries!

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The hostess has her own home decorating business, and it certainly showed in the lovely, festive touches of her shower.