2nd AND 3rd PLACE WINNERS| Goodhart Photography, Award Winning Family Photographer in Northern Virginia

This photo - or rather, a 5x7 cropped version, took second place for color photography in the Loudoun County Photography Club, Beginners Division. It was the first photographic competition I've ever entered, and many outstanding photographs were entered, so I was quite delighted!

And this one below, took 3rd place for black and white photography.  Entering competitions is an excellent way to push myself to constantly improve my photography -- both the composition and technical aspects of my work.  Plus it is really interesting to listen to the judges comment on the work.

TWO BEAUTIES | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Child Photographer

Love this photograph! She just learned to walk and is still a little unsteady on her feet.  I struggled a bit with the composition - a disembodied hand coming out of the corner of a photograph is technically a no-no, but I think it works here.  

Here's a couple more from yesterday's photography session....



This is all natural light, no fill-flash.  The reflection from the deck and sandbox lit up her face beautifully.  Love these gorgeous blue eyes...

Woodland Nymph | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

It was so unbelievably fun to take photographs of a dancer in the woods...
So many more to come!!

A LITTLE BLESSING | Goodhart Photography, Northern VA Baby Photographer

Today I had the opportunity to take photographs of this beautiful baby boy....he has huge, gorgeous eyes that just made me melt...


More to come! I just wanted to get a few up tonight....

JERSEY SHORE - Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

A few from our weekend at the Jersey Shore....

FAMILY - Goodhart Photography, family photographer in Northern VA

I had a great morning with this beautiful and energetic family of 5! I tried out "Mr. Peeper" today - a large-eyed finger puppet I purchased here and it seemed to work quite well for my family shot! I didn't even need to practice my newly learned head-swapping skills.

Then I did most of the shots indoors, as the children had light-sensitive glasses, and it was getting hot.

Is a photo ever finished?

I suppose at some point I will be too busy to go back and edit old photographs every time I learn a new photoshop technique or find a new favorite texture! But right now, I always manage to go back and edit a few...these are from a shoot in early July....

GIRL POWER! Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia

Or Flower Power! Or, Sun Flare! I think "Girl Power!" is most appropriate though, because these girls were troopers to dress up and play their violins in the August humidity.

Black and White

Experimenting with Black and White post processing effects...

A few more for Meredith....

This photograph just makes me melt. What a beautiful baby!

And Talia looks like such an angel here....