Goodhart Photography - On-location photographer of Babies Kids Teens Families in No. VA

CLASS OF 2012 | Goodhart Photograpy, Northern Virginia High School Senior Pictures

2011-11-14T19:46:00.001-08:00

Not your typical senior portrait, but I love this picture of Mo, Class of 2012. We were at Claude Moore park in Loudoun County early in the morning and it was just beautiful -- albeit rather chilly!

Here's another Dominion High School senior, Kristen:

I've been loving these overhead shots on the ground, the open sky puts amazing light in the girls eyes.

I've been asked which is my favorite time of year for portraits, and it always ends up being the season I'm in. Right now I can't get enough of the colors and textures of fall, even weeks after foliage has peaked. Here is Emily of Broad Run High School, sitting among the thistles and weeds.

The best is yet to come --- I'll be in touch in a week or so about setting up your appointments to see all of the proofs!

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Unhappy with the senior pictures taken by the school contract photographer? Goodhart Photography is offering a 2-for-1 special on Class of 2012 senior portraits! Bring a friend and you each pay half price for your session! Call/text 703 431 3508 or email goodhart photography @ gmail.com to schedule your appointments today!

PORTRAITS IN THE PARK | Northern Virginia Loudoun County Family Portraits

2011-10-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

I recently met several of my favorite clients at the lovely Claude Moore Park in Loudoun County for a day of mini-photography sessions. Claude Moore is a beautiful location in the fall, with the golden colors of grass and foliage. Here are a few of the results.

The park is also a great location for senior portraits:

Enjoy! The rest should be ready for viewing in a few days!

ALLY CLASS of 2012 | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-10-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous senior has a busy schedule, with school, soccer and the Dominion High School homecoming just around the corner, but she managed to find an afternoon for some senior pictures. And look at that light! Gorgeous, golden fall light that flatters Ally's natural beauty.

Here's a few more from our session:

I can't wait to show you all of your images next week!

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Unhappy with your senior pictures from your school's contract photographer? Why not get custom senior pictures that show the real you! Call/text 703- 43 1-3508 for more information or to schedule your own session today!

ITTY BITTY BABIES | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Newborn and Baby Portrait Photographer

2011-10-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

I've been having so much fun photographing precious sweet newborns. This post features some of the babies I've recently met, all beautiful and all with unique little personalities, even so fresh from God. Above is Adrienne. She was 5 days old and simpy refused to sleep! She could almost hold her head up, she was so alert and so absolutely calm. She didn't cry once, she was completely serene and content to just observe the world around her.

This is James. I love how curly and squnched up he is here:

Here he eyes his lovely mama...

So these busy boys (who happen to be my godchildren) just turned one! They were so playful and fun, look at these smiles!

This picture makes me smile, they look like they are telling secrets!

HAPPILY EVER AFTER | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Wedding Photographer

2011-09-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

I recently had the honor of photographing the marriage of Becca and Taylor at the gorgeous Rose River Farm in Syria, Virginia. While a little bit of a hike from Loudoun County, it was a magical place for a wedding! And it was truly a joy for me to bear witness to this young couple's love for each other, and to play a part in preserving the memories of their blessed and holy day.

A special thanks to Tim Pennington of Radiant View Photography for his excellent assistance in providing coverage for this wedding.

CLASS OF 2012 | Loudoun County and Northern Virginia High School Portraits

2011-09-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

I swear these girls should be contenders on America's Top Model. They're all gorgeous and talented and it was so much fun to photograph their senior pictures! Most of these girls came from Dominion High School, but a few other Loudoun County schools are represented as well.

Class of 2012, if you're not happy with your senior pictures from your high school contract photographer, don't settle! It's your senior year and you deserve awesome pictures. Some families call me the summer before their senior goes off to college, but I recommend trying to schedule me a little sooner than that :)

Winter is a great time, yes it's a bit chilly but the stark landscape will really make your own beauty and clothing pop if you're a girl or can make you look really cool and rugged if you're a guy. Or, we could do a session in the warmth and comfort of my studio if you prefer.

And spring, my favorite time of year, is another great time for portraits as everything outside comes to life and is fresh and beautiful.

So don't hestitate to call/text Angela at 703 404 3716 for more information or to schedule your appointment today!

KATE AND ALLIE | Goodhart Photography, Custom Family Portraiture in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia

2011-08-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

These gorgeous girls have an incredible bond. Enjoy!

KATE CLASS OF 2012 | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia High School Senior Pictures

2011-08-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Such a fresh, all American look! Kate is a gorgeous, athletic Broad Run high school senior with a bright future ahead of her. We met at one of my favorite places in Lansdowne to take her senior pictures. It looks beautiful any time of year.

Kate loves her little sis, Allie. They get along so well!

Interested in senior pictures? Check out my special offer on Facebook! Or call/text me at 703 431- 3508.

TAYLOR Class of 2012 | Goodhart Photography Loudoun County Senior Pictures

2011-08-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

This is Taylor, a senior at Dominion High School. She came in for a senior yearbook picture and additional portraits taken both in the studio and on location. I was thrilled she brought in her varsity lacrosse shirt and stick! After a few portraits in the studio, we went on location where she wore a super cute purple blouse that accentuated her eyes. The rest of your pictures will be ready in a week! Enjoy your sneak peek.

Are you class of 2012? If you'd like to have a custom portrait photography session for your senior pictures, call Angela at 703 431- 3508 to see just how affordable senior pictures can be! Visit my website, www.GoodhartPhotographyllc.com for more information.

ISO Photography Model | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia High School Senior Pictures

2011-08-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

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A couple of months ago I went to a fantastic Kirk VoClain training workshop. One of the coolest things he did was underwater shots with a senior in a prom dress and ever since I have been dying to do something similar. Since I don't have a pool in my yard, I purchased a kiddie pool which I think could work. But I need a model to help test it out! Models get 3-5 free pictures for FB and discretely logo'd files for printing.

If you are a high school student and willing to wear a prom dress in a kiddie pool, e-mail me at goodhart photography @ gmail.com (no spaces) and I'll send you the parental consent form and a few possible dates for the shoot!

VACATION | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Family Portraits

2011-08-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

A few Downeast Maine family vacation pictures! I was so glad to be out of Loudoun County for the record heat wave....

It was wonderful R & R, but now I'm ready to get back to work! Check out my website GoodhartPhotographyllc.com and consider me for your senior pictures or family portraits!

WHY | Goodhart Photography

2011-08-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

Life can be so unfair and full of terrible questions, like why does a mother die when she is in the prime of her life? I don't know the answer, and it is heartbreaking that some kids face that question. And yet, I am awed by the human spirit, and how people can and do go on in spite of such unspeakable loss. Life is wild and unpredictable, and yet it is beautiful and tender -- the curve of a baby's foot, a dew-covered spider's web, a single rosebud, the memory of a mother's embrace. May you find beauty, and comfort in that beauty, wherever life takes you. Peace Be with You.

HAYLEY - CLASS OF 2011 | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Senior Pictures

2011-08-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hayley is off to college in a few days, but she stopped by to have a few formal drape portraits taken. She wasn't completely satisfied with the senior pictures that the school photographer took, and it is your senior year, right, so shouldn't you love your pictures??

From now through September 30th, I am offering high school seniors a chance to experience custom photography for themselves! For just $99 plus VA sales tax, you get a senior yearbook session with drape (I have the drape, but sorry guys,you'll have to rent your own tux), 5-10 proofs to choose from, and a high resolution digital file of your favorite image. You can make prints for relatives, use the image for graduation cards, AND submit the image to your yearbook (although keep in mind that some schools, such as Dominion High School, charge students a $50 processing fee if you use an outside photographer).

My goal at Goodhart Photography is to make sure you LOVE your pictures! This is a very special time of life and I think all seniors deserve beautiful portraits, which is why I am offering this special deal through September 2011.

And, for an additional $45 we can go on location and capture your own unique spirit -- a savings of $30 on our regular one hour senior session.

And for my parting shot, one of my favorite images, although it isn't a very traditional drape portrait. For some reason, Hayley reminds me of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" -- even though Hayley isn't wearing a droopy earring and her lips aren't parted. But she is certainly as beautiful as Vermeer's subject!

So please check out my website and find me on FACEBOOK and then give me a call 703-431 - 3508 to schedule your appointment!

CAMP SUMMER MAGIC | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Event Photographer

2011-07-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

So it's been 20 years of Girl Scout Camp Summer Magic! Many girls who volunteer now were attendees years ago. What a wonderful, lively camp, fostering friendships and creating memories that will last well beyond the summer.

This year Camp Summer Magic was held at Algonkian Park, and the camp leaders thought it would be a great way to celebrate the 20th anniversary by having the participants stand in the shape of a 20. For a few minutes it was like herding cats as my original plan of organizing the girls had to be abandoned and we had to improvise, but then the shape came together and the girls showed their scouting spirit!!

Enjoy the photo -- I'll try to put up a short video later tonight or tomorrow.

GABRIEL and the INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Loudoun County Event Photographer

2011-07-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of listening to and photographing 10 year old Gabriel performing the second movement of Haydn's Piano Concerto in D major, accompanied by the International Youth Orchestra at Christ Redeemer church in Sterling.

The International Youth Orchestra includes over 100 young musicians from nearly a dozen different countries who gather together every year to share music and create cultural bridges between the participating countries.

Gabriel has only been playing for 4 years, but he obviously has a gift. He plays so fluently, his fingers just fly across the keyboard.

In addition to being talented, he is a very sweet, handsome boy.

Congratulations, Gabriel, for being selected to play with the International Youth Orchestra and doing such a wonderful job!

HAPPILY EVER AFTER | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Wedding Photography

2011-07-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Shelley Miller Photography asked me to join her photographing a beautiful wedding at Raspberry Plain in Leesburg. What a joy it was to be in such a lovely location, sharing in the excitement and happiness of this beautiful young couple's marriage.

It was an amazing setting for a wedding, with the bucolic scenery and the pink roses adorning the arbor. And look at the luscious cake below -- the flowers on the cake are actually made of sugar!

Raspberry Plains has a fantastic old fashioned fence that provides amazing leading lines for the portrait below.

Wishing this couple all the best as they embark on their journey of life together.

Goodhart Photography is now available to photograph weddings. For more information about packages, e-mail me at goodhart photography@gmail.com or visit Goodhart Photography's main website.

HAYLEY - CLASS OF 2011 | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Northern Virginia High School Senior Pictures

2011-07-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Hayley met me in Lansdowne for her senior pictures. She is incredibly photogenic and I had a great time working with her. Mom was a huge help holding scrims and reflectors to control the dappled afternoon light.

Hayley has a natural, easy smile, but I managed to get a few more pensive portraits as well. I really like the one below; it shows a different side to her personality. She's off to college this fall and I know she has a bright future ahead of her. Congratulations Haley!

If you've stopped by to check out Hayley's sneak peek, feel free to leave a comment so we know you were here!

To learn more about Goodhart Photography or schedule your own appointment, visit
Goodhart Photography's full website or email me at goodhart photography@gmail.com.

Alyssa - Class of 2011 | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-05-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day for senior pictures! It was impossible to take a bad photograph of Alyssa, with her gorgeous eyes and beautiful skin and blonde curls.

I can't wait to show you the rest Alyssa! They'll be ready in 7-10 days.

ALL ABOARD FOR BROADWAY -- ReMix!! | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Event Photographer

2011-05-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

So a month or so I ago I was able to photograph Seneca Ridge Middle School's drama club -- studio portraits as well as performance photographs.

Eli, one of the show's leads, is a singer-songwriter and his music accompanies the slideshow below. This is a low-res video, I will include a link to the hi res video once I upgrade it. In the meantime, enjoy!!

It's not too late to order prints from the show! If you've lost your access to the gallery, please e-mail me at goodhart photography @ gmail.com (no spaces). 50% of proceeds benefit the Seneca Ridge Drama Club.

FASHION AND BEAUTY | Loudoun County and Northern Virginia High School Senior Portraits by Goodhart Photography

2011-05-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

Isn't she stunning? Gorgeous Taylor had a full studio senior portrait session with hair, make-up and styling by Meredith Ehler.

Taylor has some modeling experience, and loves fashion as much as Meredith! Here she is above and below in some vintage Channel clothing and accessories.

We had a great time working together to accentuate Taylor's beauty.

For more information about having your senior pictures taken by Goodhart Photography in northern Virginia, please visit my website.

SARAH'S SENIOR PICTURES | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-05-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

This beautiful girl is a homeschooled high school senior. Why shouldn't homeschool graduates get gorgeous senior pictures too? Sarah's mom treated her to the "Ultimate Senior Session", with hair, makeup, a personal stylist in studio, as well as an on-location session. We had a great time! We got a variety of wonderful looks.

Then we went on location in downtown Herndon.

Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek, Sarah! So many more to come.

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CLASS OF 2011 -- ITS NOT TOO LATE FOR SENIOR PICTURES!

Email goodhart photography@ gmail.com to schedule your appointment!

Or visit Goodhart Photography for more information.

Hair, make-up and styling by Meredith Ehler of StyleMe.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS - BFF | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Loudoun County High School Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

What a bevy of beauties -- best friends for over a decade. They were adventurous and playful and a photographer's dream!

This photograph demanded some dreamy photoshop processing...I love it. Would love to do a theme of dancers in fields and in the woods, so if you have long flowy dance costumes and are interested in modeling for me, shoot me an e-mail at goodhart photography @ gmail.com (no spaces).

Katie turned 18 -- this was a birthday shoot for her, our dearly loved long time babysitter. She's got such a bright future ahead of her -- I'm looking forward to hearing about her accomplishments in the years to come.

And yes, this is a dumpster behind this gorgeous girl, but the brilliant blue really struck me and I love the way the sunlight looks hitting her hair.

No reflectors here, this is natural light at our local Starbucks.

And my parting shot.

SHANNON - FACES OF AUTISM | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Portrait Photographer

2011-04-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is Shannon.

Shannon is an adorable little girl, with dark eyes and braids and a fleeting smile that lights up her face. She loves to swing, to jump on her trampoline, to climb her play equipment and go down her slide, to listen to Beyonce's, and be around her family.

Shannon has autism, specifically Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, which has a specific known genetic cause. Her symptoms present as a child with low functioning autism. She is non-verbal, still in diapers, and engages in "inappropriate" behavior such as mouthing and eloping.

Shannon is capable of learning, although she is on a much different developmental path than most people. Every milestone she has reached -- rolling over, walking, signing a few words -- has been hard won, through determined and repeated instruction by her family who never gives up on her and advocates so successfully for her, by the private therapists who work with her daily, and by the special school, Alternative Paths, she attends and will attend until she turns twenty-one.

Shannon's parents try to give Shannon's siblings as normal a life as possible, complete with beach vacations. However, Shannon has no sense of danger, and can disappear in the second it takes to add sugar to your coffee. So they acquired a specially trained dog, Brutus, to help them keep track of her when they go out. Brutus is tethered to Shannon, enabling the family to enjoy outtings.

While Shannon can't speak, she can presently sign about seven words. Improving her communication skills is one of the family's major objectives, and several hours every day are spent patiently reviewing the words she knows and teaching new ones.

In spite of how differently from most of us Shannon perceives and understands the world around her, she is a happy, easy-going child. She loves her family and they love her, and they appreciate how Shannon has helped them be more patient and compassionate. Her family doesn't know what the future has in store for her, but they take it one day at a time.

To see my other posts highlighting faces of autism, click here and here.

OLIVIA - FACES OF AUTISM | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Family and Portrait Photographer

2011-04-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is Olivia. She's beautiful.

Curious.

Independent.

Affectionate.

Playful.

She's also intelligent, emotional, and kind. She loves nature, animals, and singing. Listen to her sing the Star Spangled Banner below.

Olivia is also autistic.

She has many gifts, but her autism does make some things much more difficult for her, such as friendship. The negotiating, the give-and-take, the body language, the way inflections change the meaning of words -- much of this is beyond Olivia's abilities right now.

Her intelligence serves her well, however. One day at school a group of girls were playing, and Olivia wanted to join in. So she went to the nicest girl in the group and asked if she could play with them, and the girl said yes. Later that evening, Olivia drew a picture in her diary of a group of girls, and she wrote, "I'm part of the group". As her mother questioned her, she realized how extraordinary this was, all of the complex steps Olivia had taken to achieve her objective:

1. She realized she wasn't part of the group
2. She wanted to be part of the group
3. There was an impediment, one or more of the girls were likely to say "No" to Olivia if she asked to play
4. She choose the nicest girl to ask, thereby increasing the likelihood of success.

Other challenges Olivia faces include remaining calm when her expectations don't meet reality. She can cry easily at school when, for example, a substitute teacher makes a new request or changes a routine that the regular classroom teacher has established.

And she also has anxiety, not just about routines being changed, but sometimes about ideas or images that she can't help perseverating on.

She knows some people in school think she is "weird", but she also knows she isn't "weird", she just has autism. Listen below to hear her message about autism:

To learn more about autism, visit The American Autism Society

SMRS ALL ABOARD FOR BROADWAY | Goodhart Photography, Northern VA and Loudoun County Professional Portrait Artist

2011-04-06T08:32:00.001-07:00

Enjoy your sneak preview! You guys were all amazing. Your gallery for ordering prints will be available sometime next week. E-mail me at goodhartphotography @ gmail.com if you don't receive the password before spring break.

For high resolution version, click HERE

Hair and make-up by Meredith Ehler.

Feel free to leave a comment so I know you stopped by!

SPRING PIX WITH BABY CHICKS | Goodhart Photography, Northern VA and Loudoun County Family and Child Professional Portrait Photographer

2011-04-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

So the baby chicks have been a huge hit, with my family and clients. They are all ready to go back to the farm on Friday, to Melinda Moh's Pasture Raised Eggs. Don't worry if you missed the chicks this year, I'll be getting them next year too!

FACES OF AUTISM -- MICHAEL | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family and Child Portrait Professional Photographer

2011-04-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I am offering four families with autistic children complimentary photojournalistic sessions, in exchange for being featured on my blog.

This is Michael. He's 7 years old. He loves the movies Cars, Ice Age, and Spongebob. He enjoys riding his bike and playing video games. He love his Mom, Dad, sister and grandparents. Sounds like the description of any typical 7 year old boy. There is one major difference -- Michael is autistic.

When Michael was about 22 months old, he stopped pointing to things, and he lost any sense of purposeful play. Whereas other children might move a car across a floor and play with it, an autistic child can spend 20 or more minutes just spinning the wheels.

Because his parents were familiar with autism, they quickly assembled a team composed of a psychologist, an Occupational Therapist, a Speech Language Therapist, a Physical Therapist, among others. They ran a battery of tests before diagnosing Michael with autism. The family immediately began a variety of therapeutic programs, including ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis), a very popular program for teaching language.

One of Michael's parents' favorite memory is when Michael spoke his first spontaneous words at around 26 months. The family had stopped at Vacarros in Baltimore, hungry for canoli and coffee. Michael was staring intently at a plate of cookies. The woman behind the counter smiled at him and offered him one. He accepted happily. As the family left the restaurant, the woman called out, "Goodbye!" and Michael responded, "Bye bye".

Michael has learned a lot over the years, he's learned to speak and has good manners. When we met, he extended a hand to greet me, his eyes flickering up to mine for brief contact before darting away.

Yet some things are still hard for him. "There's a lot of similarities between autism and Alzheimers Disease," noted his father. Michael can't read yet, because he has trouble remembering the sounds letters make from day to day. He craves routine and can get very upset when his routines are changed. He often repeats himself, and his stories.

On the other hand, Michael is a beautiful little boy with a playful spirit who is capable of learning and communicating. "People just need to have a little patience," says his father, and they need to drop their preconceptions at the door because "autism presents itself differently in every child".

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Autism rates are on the rise. It is 10 times more prevalent today than it was thirty years ago. Part of the increase can be explained by better diagnostic tools. Most children will show some signs of disrupted development by 12 months of age, and pediatricians are on the lookout for it. The sooner intervention can be started, the earlier adaptive and behavioral skills can be taught, the better the outcomes for most children.

Autism is widely believed to have a genetic root. If one child is autistic, there is a 5-10% chance siblings will also be on the autistic spectrum. For identical twins, the rate jumps to 60%. The fact it is not 100% with genetic twins seems to indicate that environmental factors may also be at play.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that those affected can exhibit a wide range of symptoms. But the hallmark of autism is impaired communication and social engagement. Many autistic children have delayed or echolalic speech, limited eye contact, and impaired abilities to initiate or sustain conversations once they learn to speak. They also frequently have sensory issues, a preoccupation with objects or subjects, and a rigid adherence to routines and/or rituals.

Autistic children can learn, however, and with regular, intensive intervention continue to make progress. They need understanding and patience. They simply are not on the same developmental trajectory as other children.

To learn more about autism, visit The American Austism Society

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Family and Portrait Photographer

2011-04-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

What a pleasure to photograph this lovely child! Dressed in white to symbolize purity, R is preparing to go through a special rite of passage for Catholic children, First Holy Communion.

Commemorate this landmark in your child's life with classic portraiture by Goodhart Photography. Call 703 431 350 8 today and mention this post to receive a special First Holy Communion offer.

WHY CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY? | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Family and Baby Portrait Photographer

2011-03-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dressed your kids, strapped them into the car, driven to a studio in a shopping mall or big-box store, loaded everyone into a stroller, arrived at the studio, waited for a room to be free, and then watched your kids melt down in front of the camera due to sensory overload?

You can avoid that scenario with custom photography!

A custom photography session at Goodhart Photography gives you the option of outdoor portraits at a location where your children are comfortable, or that has special meaning for your family. Or, we can take portraits in my home studio, where your children can enjoy a fun photography session in a calm, comfortable environment. Our photography session will progress at a pace that is comfortable for your children, and not dictated by the crowd in the waiting room.

You can experience custom photography today by taking advantage of my current special, "Spring Pics with Baby Chicks". It will be a memorable session for your children, and I promise you'll get portraits you'll treasure for a lifetime.

SRMS All Aboard for Broadway | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family, High School Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-03-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

This is a sneak preview of some portraits I took for Seneca Ridge's spring musical. Mom authorized me to post a few on my blog so here they are! There will be a password protected gallery for all of the portraits and the show photographs available around April 9th.

SENIOR PICTURES - Chandler and Emma | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern VA senior portrait photographer

2011-03-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

This session was such a treat, being able to reconnect with friends from high school and their absolutely stunning daughters. This is Emma, who has a beautiful, distinctive voice, writes her own music, and has performed on Broadway in Gypsy and other productions. You can visit her site here or find her on Facebook.

This is Emma's cousin, Chandler. She's a gorgeous high school senior who is off to college this fall with a bright future ahead of her.

And here's a few more in prom/homecoming clothes. Hair and makeup by Meredith Ehler.

Goodhart Photography is also teaming with Meredith Ehler to offer "prom parties", where Meredith will make you and your friends look AMAZING and Goodhart Photography will capture your spirit and beauty in portraits that will be treasured for years to come.

SENIOR PICTURES - ALEX | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County and Northern VA Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-03-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

I had a great time photographing Alex this weekend, a gorgeous high school senior who runs track and is an active community volunteer. Her easy smile and clear bright eyes photograph so well!

Hair and make-up by Meredith Ehler.

Scheduling Class of 2011 Seniors today! It's not too late!

PUPPY PORTRAITS | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Northern Virginia Leesburg Child and Family Portrait Photographer

2011-03-09T15:55:00.000-08:00

Aren't these the cutest little puppies ever? And such great dispositions too! Playful and curious and very alert. While I've photographed several families with their dogs, this was the first time I've photographed dogs solo.

Here I tried a low key backdrop.

And for my parting shot....

SPECIAL DEAL FOR CLASS OF 2011 | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Northern Virginia High School Senior Pictures Photographer

2011-03-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

Make-up by Meredith Ehler.

Book your senior session by March 31st and I'll pay for make-up artist/stylist Meredith Ehler to be on hand to make sure you look your best!

Plus, you'll get $45 off your session fee!

E-mail goodhartphotography @gmail.com, or call/text 703 4313508 to book your session today! Click here for more.

VARIETY SHOW | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2011-03-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

A seriously talented group of children! Enjoy!

FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Loudoun County Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2011-03-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

I was asked to take portraits of a local Loudoun County Father-Daughter dance -- what a pleasure it was to do this project! I love seeing beautifully dressed girls enjoying the evening with their fathers. It reminds me of when my own daughter used to attend these events -- it goes so quickly, cherish these moments! Here are just a few of the beautiful pictures I captured....

FACES OF AUTISM PROJECT | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family Portrait Child Photographer

2011-03-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

Isn't she gorgeous? Her eyes just draw you in, with their dark beauty and sweet expressiveness. This lovely girl has autism.

April is Autism awareness month, and I will be featuring a Loudoun County Face of Autism each week on my blog, with my photographs and commentary from families documenting life with autism. Stay tuned!

FRIENDSHIP | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Loudoun County Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2011-02-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

"Friendship"

I love having a permanent studio in my basement! Beautiful light + lots of backdrops + great subjects = gorgeous portraits! Especially when friends come to visit.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Portrait and Wedding Photographer

2011-02-17T05:27:00.000-08:00

These photographs are some of my favorites from a gorgeous wedding in October 2011 at the Evergreen County Club in Haymarket, Virginia.

I have been shooting weddings for Shelley Miller Photography (and other local photographers) for almost a year now. I'm ready to book some of own, and to that end, I am developing some of the images I took and working on sample albums. For more information about booking Goodhart Photography for your wedding, email goodhart photography @ gmail.com or visit my website, Goodhart Photography.

KATIE'S SENIOR SESSION | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Loudoun County High School Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-02-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

It is rediculous how beautiful this girl is. We've had the pleasure of knowing her for years, since she was thirteen, and now she is a senior in high school! Time flies.

I enlisted the services of Meredith Ehler, a personal stylist serving Loudoun County and Northern Virginia, to do Katie's hair and make-up. She has years of experience in the fashion and beauty industry, and currently moonlights as a MAC make-up artist.

I was dying to try out my new backdrop, and Katie's pale skin and stunning eyes were just perfect.

Then we had a little bit of touch up from our stylist extraordinaire. It was really wonderful having a stylist on hand, post-processing is practically non-existent when a client has flawless make-up and hair.

And here she is, fresh and gorgeous...

And then we had another clothing/accessory change, and took some of these more dramatic portraits...

I think these photographs speak for themselves -- Meredith and I make a great team! If you want amazing senior portraits, give Goodhart Photography a call!

BE MY VALENTINE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia and Loudoun County Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2011-02-09T17:06:00.000-08:00

I recently photographed these playful boys with Valentines and flowers for a Vintage Valentine photography session.

I had a little trouble getting ties tied properly -- my husband leaves well before I wake to get the kids to school and I haven't tied a tie in years. I've added tying ties to my to do list! But how sweet does this boy look with Mr. Bear?

Your proofs should be ready within two weeks!

American Ballet Theater Intensive Summer Camp | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Northern Virginia Family Photographer

2011-02-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

This lovely ballerina needed a headshot and full length body shot for her audition for the ABT Intensive Summer Camp. She's been dancing for almost 10 years, and has been on my blog before as a dancer in the woods. Let me see if I can find some of those older photographs....

Here we go, Dancer in the Woods. This was taken 18 months ago when I was just starting my business.

And here is her headshot. She has such beautiful, intelligent eyes.

Best of luck to you!

BABY'S FIRST YEAR | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Newborn and Baby Photography

2011-02-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

How fast they grow! I photographed the mothers of these babies when they were pregnant,and now their sweet little babies are 1 year old. How much they've grown and changed in this year! From fragile and new, to strudy and energetic, these little babies are ready to take on the world.

If you know someone who is pregnant, a "Baby's First Year" certificate would be the perfect gift. It gives the mother-to-be three photography sessions, a 5x7 print from each session, and a beautiful storyboard like these to commemorate the year. See my website or contact me on Facebook for more details.

TRAVELS TO THAILAND | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2011-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

In early January, my husband and I left our three children in the care of Grampy and took off for a short getaway to Thailand to visit my mother! It is a beautiful country, and I really enjoyed photographing it.

My mom has ten pet turtles, one parrot, one dog, and one cat. Here is one of her turtles:

The food in Thailand is so delicious! These are some of my favorite dishes, laab (a minced pork with spices) and crispy pork).

So when I came back from Thailand, I basically slept for 5 days -- no jet lag in Thailand as I guess adrenaline kept me going, but it hit with a vengeance once I returned. Now I am refreshed and energized and ready to create some beautiful portraits for my clients!

Parting shot -- windows on a Buddhist temple grounds.

VINTAGE VALENTINES | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Child and Family Portrait Photographer

2011-01-22T07:12:00.000-08:00

Isn't she precious? I took these portraits in my Loudoun County studio, which is still a work in progress but at least my backdrops and lights and myriad props have a more permanent home.

Here's another little beauty.

Right now I haven't done any Vintage Valentines with boys, but I think they'll look adorable in Daddy's jacket and a tie, holding out a bouquet of roses.

Anyway, if you are interested in the promotion, please "like" my FB page so you'll get all of the details when they come out.

Planning to run a Vintage Valentine promotion in the next few weeks.

1 YEAR OLD! | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County newborn and baby photographer

2011-01-17T12:19:00.000-08:00

It is so hard to believe I have been photographing this baby sweetheart since he was in his mother's belly! You can sneak a peak back to those days by clicking here.

This was my first shoot of the year, and my first shoot in my under-construction basement studio. Baby J was totally on the go, and very interested in what was in the basement (toys and more toys) as well as my children who popped down a few times to say hello.

Here is a more pensive look:

We also took Baby J outside for a few natural light photographs in the snow. While Loudoun County didn't get very much snow this week, there was enough left to create the environmental portraits we wanted.

I hope you enjoyed your sneak preview!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Portrait and Family Photographer

2011-01-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

So for Christmas my husband bought me Business Plan Pro software. I had so many plans to get that baby installed on my laptop and to have an epic plan in place to launch 2011.

But then I realized that in between a kitchen remodel, the holidays, and my recent trip to Thailand:

that my epic plan was just going to have to wait. I spent the last week in a jet-lag coma (12 hours time differential for Thailand) and only yesterday felt fully refreshed. That's when I realized that I can't actually find my business plan software, as I tossed it into a box with Lightroom 3 when the hardwood floors were being installed -- or maybe cleaning up for dinner Christmas Eve. But regardless, I still want to take this time to map out some broad, general business goals for 2011.

1. I resolve to pay my monthly sales tax on time. This goal actually encompasses a larger goal of business organization, because in order to pay my sales tax on time, I will have to have systems in place to track clients and payments.

2. I resolve to launch my wedding photography business.

I've spent almost a year second shooting weddings, and I just love it. Wedding photography encompasses all types of photography -- portrait, photojournalism, landscape/environmental, detail/macro -- and I get to do all this in beautiful settings surrounded by happy people.

3. I resolve to establish a permanent studio in my basement, rather than a make-shift one in my living room.

This will allow me to take clients in the winter, and offer my clients another option besides on-location portraiture.

4. I resolve to market my senior portrait photography business.

I love to photography high school seniors, as they are so creative and energetic and they want to look good.

5. I resolve to get a business plan written by February 4th. That gives me a few days to track down the software!

6. I resolve to blog at least 3 times a week. This also encompasses a goal of updating my blog and revising my website, combining the two into a blogsite.

So that's all for now. Hope all of your own dreams and resolutions come true in 2011!

SISTERS | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family Portrait Photographer

2010-11-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

If you know these three beautiful girls, PLEASE do not say anything to their mother about this session! It is a Christmas surprise for her, as she has been wanting them to have their portraits taken for quite a while.

Anyway, it was a perfect afternoon for a portrait session, and these girls were a photographer's dream -- the camera loved them, they had perfect smiles and great personalities and got along very well.

Here are some individual portraits:

I think they would look great in a storyboard. Let me see if I can mock a few up really quickly. Ignore the white border around the story boards -- it is not part of the storyboard, it is the blog template.

Or here is something a little different:

And my parting shot, with the beloved family dog:

There are TONS of gorgeous photos yet to come! I'll let you know when they're finished - it should be no later than two weeks.

Family Portrait Mini-Sessions | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family Photographer

2010-11-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day! The weather was perfect, the location gorgeous, and my clients beautiful. Look at this little girl, with her creamy skin and deep brown eyes. She was just as lovely inside as she is on the outside, and a very good singer too!

This family was next -- I really enjoyed spending time with them. They looked fantastic next to the flaming yellow of the willow tree.

Below the boys engaged in a bit of playful rough housing, which resulted in some great expressions!

Below, a serious expression highlights his beautiful eyes.

Next up is this amazingly gorgeous tween.

It was impossible to take a bad photograph of her!

She and her mother had a close bond, which I think comes out in the playful portrait below.

My final shoot of the day was this repeat client -- one of my favorite kinds! Dad missed some of his football game to be part of this shoot, so I thought I'd put up one of him with his boys.

Even though the rocks on the ground were apparently very interesting, the three lively spirits sat briefly on the bench and smiled.

And does she have the makings of a heartbreaker or what?

So that's it for sneak previews! Your proofs will be ready in two weeks, and I will e-mail you with instructions for accessing your password protected, on-line galleries.

FAMILY PORTRAITS | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Portrait Photographer

2010-11-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

Isn't he a little love bug?

And here is another:

We've had beautiful portrait weather these last few weeks in northern Virginia, and I met these two wonderful families at Claude Moore park in Loudoun County to create some photographs for Christmas. I noticed that the park is hosting its Old Fashioned Holiday on December 4th at 3:30 ; it is a nice low-key event that my kids used to enjoy years ago. It is free of charge, but you are encouraged to bring mittens to hang on the mitten tree.

Anyway, these clients were repeat customers too, which is very gratifying, both from a business perspective as well as a personal perspective -- I love to see how families and children change and grow over time.

Look at these eyes!

Here is Mr. All American Boy from family number two - I love the impish grin and the smattering of freckles:

The rest of your proofs will be up in two weeks!

FAMILY PORTRAITS | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County family and child portrait photography

2010-11-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

Fall is currently my busiest time of year, as families want photographs with some of the gorgeous fall color for their Christmas and holiday cards. I met this beautiful family after school for a weekday session, which is much easier to schedule than weekends but often means portraits without parents. They were friendly and personable children, and quite helpful too, carrying my gear and dragging my wagon.

Mom was just as helpful, cleaning off my coat and hair with a stick when a passing bird left me a present! I am not making that up! It made for some natural giggles though, which I captured -- the show must go on, no matter how badly the photographer wants to go home and take a shower! So when you see me with my "First Aid Kit" in my wagon from now on, you'll know why. Anything can happen on a photoshoot and I will now be prepared with tissues/anti-bacterial wipes, etc..

Anyway, in spite of high spirits and a rapidly setting sun, we managed to get some lovely portraits! The rest of the proofs will be available in two weeks.

PLAYFUL | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2010-11-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

So I met this beautiful little bundle of energy and her father for a photoshoot at Meadowlark park in Fairfax County. You can see the lively sparkle in her eye in the portrait above. It was such a pleasure to meet and photograph this family.

I pulled out my princess chair and was able to get a few seated portraits,
including this one, which I love for the way the sun lights up her hair.

But then she was off and running, eager to explore the paths and beautiful features of the gardens.

Hope you enjoyed your sneak preview -- it will be two weeks before the proofs are up.

FAMILIES AND FALL COLOR | Goodhart Photography, Family and Child Portrait Photographer serving Fairfax and Loudoun County

2010-11-08T04:35:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day for photography sessions! Sometimes I donate packages for various fundraisers, such as to support my local public schools, the "First Book" program, and the summer work camp at my church. It is a win-win situation, the organization keeps any proceeds it earns from my donation, and I get to meet and photograph wonderful families I might otherwise not have met!

While I often meet families at public locations in the area, this session was done at the family's home in Reston. There are usually several locations around a home that are suitable for family portraits, and this was no exception. Plus there is the added advantage of being able to go inside for a few minutes between locations to warm up and grab a cup of coffee!

Anyway, I will close with a few more sneak preview images. Your complete set of proofs will be available in two weeks!

FAMILIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2010-11-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I met these adorable early risers at the beautiful, but rather chilly, Claude Moore park in Loudoun County. Above they keep each other warm and create a charming portrait in the process!

This is how the younger boy wanted to be dressed, however:

Then I bought groceries, put a load of laundry in, and headed out for another photoshoot in Lansdowne. Here are three of the six children, waiting patiently while the others get settled. Little M on the left wasn't going to smile initially, but she ended up being one of my best subjects! And look at the eyes and lashes on Q on the right, what a dear expressive face. Big sister C keeps them warm with a big hug.

I was able to get a few individual portraits of each child, and here E smiles beautifully for the camera.

And here is a photograph of all six children together.

Then it was back home to get dinner started, another load of laundry, the polls, and back down to Lansdowne for my last shoot of the day in the "golden hour" before sunset.

These boys were as angelic as they look!! Beautiful eyes, big smiles, and gorgeous portraits.

CHRISTMAS BABIES | Goodhart Photography, Fairfax County Newborn and Baby Portrait Photographer

2010-11-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

These were the most precious, cherubic little babies! It's been a real joy documenting their growth this year. They are still little enough to be content to sit for a few minutes if they are surrounded by interesting things. Although it appears one cherub was less than pleased by the tinsel in his lap and his mother being just out of reach!

So then there was one!

Then there was a clothing change!

I love this photograph, with the babies busy exploring the tree, and the sweet little feet sticking out.

And my parting shot:

CAKE SMASH! | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Newborn and Baby Photographer

2010-10-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

Look who's one! This adorable baby with the bright eyes, toothy grin, and yes, those are rosary beads -- has been featured on the pages of this blog three times already! Including his mother's family portrait session when she was still pregnant. Anyway, it is a delight for me as a photographer to watch little ones get bigger, see their faces change, their personalities emerge...

We did a cake smash session, my first one and it was soooo much fun! Looks like baby B thought so too!

Here he's checking it out, he's already stuck his fingers in it and you can see the wheels in his mind turning.

And here he gives it the trusty taste test. Delicious!!

Happy Birthday, baby B.

"C" YOU'RE A CUTIE FULL OF CHARM | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Portrait Photographer

2010-10-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Look at the eyes on this boy! Absolutely beautiful. The whole family has amazing blue eyes.

It was a joy to photograph this family, as I've known the parents for -- well, before they were dating! We all worked together on Capitol Hill, they were fresh out of college. What I remember most about them is their energy and the way they used to laugh -- very infectious! They managed to be so much fun even as they worked extremely hard and long hours.

And here they are with four energetic boys! They tumbled out of the house with their nerf guns, busy firing at each other and various targets in the yard (it is a testament to their upbringing that my light stand and I were not targets!).

And yet, a few minutes later, nerf wars were forgotten as the oldest held his baby brother and made him smile for the camera.

And my parting shot, which will never make it onto anyone's wall, but is still one of my favorites...

DAWNS EARLY LIGHT | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Portrait Photographer

2010-10-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

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I've written about the photographer's golden hour in the evening, but dawn's early light can also be magical, albeit a bit cool and dewy. I met two siblings and their families bright and early to take portraits as a gift for their father. I love how beautifully they are dressed.

Apparently Grandfather's most recent photograph of this family does not include the adorable younger child! This is definitely a perfect time to give him an updated family portrait.

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I asked this family to traipse through wet grass to pose by this fence. The lines of the fence, the sun peeking through the trees, and the rustic barn seemed a perfect backdrop.

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Thank you everyone for meeting me so bright and early! I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek. There are many more photographs to come, and they should be ready within two weeks!

RACHAEL | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family and Teen Portrait Photographer

2010-10-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

I met Rachael and her mother at dawn's early light for a senior portrait session! She is class of 2010, but it is never too late to get the senior portraits you wish you had!

While it was a little early for fall color, we managed to find a red maple next to this pond.

And I brought this black chair as a prop. In my mind, I see the chair in a field of grass, but the problem with that is ticks!! So instead we put the chair against a backdrop of wildflowers.

And just for fun, this last photograph of Rachael adjusting her shoe!

Okay, one more of Rachael looking over her shoulder at me.

There are so many more to come! They should be done in 1-2 weeks.

WATER DAMAGE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

2010-10-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

So the above is the way my kitchen has looked for....I guess about a month now! We had water damage caused by both our dishwasher and our sink. Insuranced denied our claim :( citing repeated seepage etc... Getting quotes from various contractors and making decisions about cabinets and flooring has moved a little more slowly than I would like, but I am trying to be patient and keep my eye on the prize -- a beautiful new kitchen!

So in the meantime, our downstairs bathroom is doing double duty as a dishwashing staging area, our family room and garage hold the contents of our kitchen, and -- we eat out a lot.

Here are some pics from a recent outting in search of food:

Have a wonderful fall!

LOVE AND MARRIAGE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Event and Wedding Photography

2010-10-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was a second shooter for Dancer Burns of Moxie Photos in downtown Winchester. What a beautiful wedding! The couple, A and R were a dream, so in love, so comfortable, so happy and relaxed.

The ceremony took place at the historic Frances Barton Event Center in the heart of Winchester.

They were married outside, against a backdrop of ivy and sunshine.

They were surrounded by friends, family, and man's best friend (the dog, not the beer).

Then after the ceremony, the newlyweds walked through downtown Winchester to the reception hall.

And here are a few miscellaneous shots....

And my parting shot, I love the way they are gazing at each other! Best of luck to both A and R as they embark on their journey together.

A PRINCESS IN A TUTU | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Child and Family Portraiture

2010-09-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

Isn't she lovely? Little Miss A is three years old and full of spirit and energy. She is modeling a tutu for me because I am considering putting together a portfolio to show to some of the small local dance schools in Loudoun and Fairfax County. And perhaps preschools. Last year I did the Team and Individual photographs for a local swim team, and I really enjoyed it! So I am interested in exploring other opportunities in the same genre.

I know dance photographs are typically done with a studio look, and I do in fact have a session lined up in my living-room-doubling-as-a-studio for later this month. But I just love to take these kinds of portraits out doors! There is just something particularly magical about that. This is another photo I did over a year ago...

And here are some more of beautiful little A.

ENGAGED! | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Portrait Photographer

2010-09-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

So I've been second shooting weddings for a few months now, and loving every minute of it! In fact, I will be second shooting for another local photographer on Saturday in downtown Winchester, VA.

Anyway, I had the honor of photographing engagement photographs for this lovely young couple in Fredrick County. The setting was idyllic!

Laura and Mike were so playful and natural in front of the camera.

I am sure they have a wonderful future together!!

"C" YOU'RE A CUTIE FULL OF CHARM | Goodhart Photography, Fairfax County Newborn and Child Photography

2010-09-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I was delighted to photograph this little sweetheart's baby shower, a gorgeous event hosted by my good friend Meredith of Home Fashion Beauty.

Yesterday I had the honor of photographing the much anticipated and much loved Baby W! It brought back so many memories to hear Mama J cooing and chatting to her sweet little baby, eliciting the beautiful expression above.

How precious is he here, with his gorgeous little smile and bright eyes?

I love this expression too! He looks so thoughtful, so intent.

There are tons more to come! They should be ready in 2 weeks!

THE GOLDEN HOUR BEFORE SUNSET | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Portrait Photographer

2010-09-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

It's fairly common knowledge that light is at its most beautiful around sunrise and sunset. In fact, photographers call an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise the "Golden Hour". Lighting is warmer, and softer, and the contrast between highlight and shadow is much less intense than in the middle of the day. Even though these family portraits were taken a little before the "Golden Hour", they still have some of that golden quality, particularly in the water behind the family in the portrait above.

You do have to work fast, though, if you are trying to use the "Golden Hour", because once the sun sets, light has a much cooler tone, as below, in this portrait I took as a second wedding photographer on behalf of Shelley Miller of Shellpix Studios:

Which still can be lovely, but definitely isn't golden!

"A" YOU'RE ADORABLE | Goodhart Photography, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Portrait Photographer

2010-08-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, this was an absolutely adorable little girl! Those eyes just melt my heart. She had her own agenda yesterday, as sometimes three year olds do, so we just went with the flow and still got some beautiful portraits. I did get a few lovely photographs of her smiling, but this serious expression shows her eyes in their full wide-eyed glory.

Here are her parents and her equally adorable sister, baby E:

And yesterday, my baby turned eight! How time flies, it seems like just yesterday you were as wee and jolly as baby E, and now you are such a little man. So I took celebrated the occasion by setting up my new studio strobe and softbox and bribing him to sit for a quick portrait.

I was delighted with the soft, gorgeous light and can't wait to start using this set-up with my clients who want a studio with or instead of an on-location look.

MUSINGS | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Portrait Photographer

2010-08-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

So I was up early yesterday with insomnia, and drove to Baltimore to meet one of my dearest friends who sadly moved to Pennsylvania two years ago. I had such a wonderful time! Some friends make you feel so comfortable, there isn't anything you can't share, you have the same sense of humor, you love the way they look at the world, you are energized by talking with them - that is the kind of friend L is. Unfortunately I did NOT bring my camera so I am posing a few sunflower photographs I took in July at the McKee-Besher Wildlife Management Area because that is how I felt after my trip to Baltimore - bright and cheerful.

I have a busy weekend ahead, a portrait session on Saturday, a wedding back up in Baltimore on Saturday evening, a session on Sunday, and a session on Monday!

For the wedding, I will be second shooting for Paula Lockhart of Four Seasons Photography , and it will be my first time working with her! I can't wait -- I love weddings, for their fairy tale nature, but also the way a wedding allows a photographer to do it all -- weddings combine portraiture with photojournalism and storytelling, macro photography, environmental portraiture, etc....

On that note I'll close with a few images I took at a wedding in Baltimore earlier this year, as a second shooter for Shelley Miller of Shellpix Studios.

BEAUTIFUL DAY | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family and Senior Portrait Photographer

2010-08-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening, after days of blistering heat and torrential downpours. We did the entire photoshoot in this family's yard and a location a short walking distance away! I had a wonderful time photographing this fantastic family. Here are mom and dad alone:

And here is the oldest son, a rising high school senior.

The middle son:

And last but not least, the youngest:

A very photogenic family and a delight to work with!

FAMILY | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Teen Portrait Photographer

2010-08-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Well it's been incredibly hot around here, but this beautiful family geared up for a photography session at the Lansdowne Golf Course regardless. And they were rewarded by breezes and golden sunshine, and some wonderful portraits!

I had a great time with this highly photogenic family!

ANGEL OF THE MORNING | Goodhart Photography, Fairfax County Family and Child Portrait Photographer

2010-08-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

I had such a wonderful afternoon photographing this gorgeous fairy princess. With her dark curls and rosy cheeks, she was like a little Snow White with wings.

Here's another close-up...

I love her attentiveness here, as she waits for more bubbles to be blown into the air for her to chase and pop...

And this was my last photograph of the shoot, a beautiful mother and daughter momment.

SIBLING REVELRY | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Teen Photographer

2010-08-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

I recently met this gorgeous family for some portraits at Claude Moore Park in Loudoun County. I had a wonderful time -- they got along fabulously and laughed constantly.

They were game for anything - they sprayed for ticks (a must at Claude Moore) and plunged into waist high grass for this portrait:

Then I took a few individual portraits of J. She reminds me a bit of a young Kate Winslet/Helen Bonham Carter.

Stay tuned -- the best is yet to come!

VACATION | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

2010-08-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

So I've been on vacation for most of July, and have just returned.

We went to a beautiful family wedding in New Jersey:

We spent some time in York, Maine on our way to the ancestral farm:

We took in the sights around Gouldsboro, Maine:

We drove into Campobello Island and St. Andrews, both in Canada:

And I learned how to use Corel Painter:

A very productive and happy three weeks!

I am refreshed and energized, and looking forward to creating portraits for you and your family. Fall is a busy time for family portraits, so schedule your appointment today!

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR! | Loudoun County Photo Club Photographer of the Year, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

2010-06-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

So the other night I attended a Loudoun County Photography Club meeting and was awarded Photographer of the Year! The award is based on performance in competitions over the year, and I am amazed and honored that my photographs did so well!

I joined the Loudoun Club over a year and a half ago, not really knowing a soul, and feeling very out of place ininitially. But my love of photography, and my desire to improve as a photographer saw me through those initial awkward few meetings. And over time, through the field trips, competitions, and speaker series, I started to make friends and enjoy the social aspects of the club as well. I cannot say enough good things about photography clubs.

Well anyway, yesterday at dawn's early light, a group of club members went down to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a truly beautiful and impressive display of lotus blossoms. My initial thought was, as I was surrounded by so much beauty, that if everyone was required to grow lotus in their back yards we would have world peace! But then I remembered ponds attract mosquitos, etc..., so I suppose world peace would not be guaranteed.

Well anyway, here are some more of my photographs. The lotus are at their peak now, and they close up during the heat of the day, so if you want to see them yourself you will need to get down there one morning in the next week or so.

To see more, I am going to send you to my flickr stream here.

Enjoy!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY! | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

2010-06-20T04:53:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a busy few weeks lately, with photo shoots and the school year ending and having maintenance done on the exterior of our home. Here are some sneak previews from a few recent shoots,just in time for Father's Day!

Above and below we have Joshua, a complete Gerber baby all of 6 months old. He is reaching for Daddy in the photo below, so I thought it very appropriate to include here today. Isn't he just adorable? I had the pleasure of photographing a newborn and maternity session for this family, and it is a joy to see Joshua grow!

Here we have the precious newborn 4th son of friends I've known for years, when they were fresh out of college! Wyatt was such a sweetie, so sleepy and curly and adorable.

I just love his lower lip here, and his adorable, kissable cheeks!

And here he is all curly and peaceful.

Lots more to come, I'll try to have them done by the end of the week!

Finally, here is a video I made for Father's Day for another friend and client. Her sons have the most beautiful, amazing eyes!

Again, Happy Fathers Day to all you fathers out there!

KARLYN - SENIOR AMBASSADOR 2011 | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and High School Senior Photography

2010-06-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

Karlyn is a beautiful and lively rising senior who is going to have a GREAT year ahead of her! I thoroughly enjoyed our senior portrait session. Karlyn is one of my original Senior Ambassadors, and she has the opportunity to earn lots of great products. If you are a rising junior or senior who is interested in becoming a Senior Ambassador, please contact me for more details.

FAMILY SLIDESHOW | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family Photographer

2010-06-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

This beautiful family invited me to take portraits at their home in Loudoun County. It was so much fun working with them, they had a great relationship which comes through in their portraits.

LITTLE KEWPIE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Baby and Family Portrait Photographer

2010-06-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

Look at this little Kewpie doll! She was just the most precious little thing, I love her huge blue eyes and her little tuft of reddish hair.

She is the newest addition to this family of eight! They were so easy to photograph, cheerful and sweet and helpful.

I posed the family in a couple of locations around the yard, and then took individual portraits of each child, like the one below.

Hope you enjoyed your sneak preview! There are so many more to come!

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

2010-05-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

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:

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

2010-05-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

"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.

"Serenity"

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

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

2010-05-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

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!

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:

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.

ISN'T SHE LOVELY | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia High School Senior Photographer

2010-05-20T13:20:00.001-07:00

This is Brittany, Class of 2010. She is one of my Senior Ambassadors for 2010. Isn't she lovely?

Senior Ambassadors have the opportunity to earn portraits and cool products by promoting Goodhart Photography to their friends and family. If you are a rising junior or senior who is interested in becoming a Senior Ambassador, e-mail me for more information.

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

2010-05-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

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!

MOTHER'S DAY | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family and Baby Portrait Photographer

2010-05-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

So it turns out that my family needed me out of the house so they could tidy and make dinner, and this lovely Loudoun County mother wanted a family portrait on Mother's Day. That worked out perfectly! Even better, the family dog cooperated for many shots, including the one above.

And here is one of the three children together. They were so cooperative and photogenic!

And for my parting shot - a drooly grin over Mother's shoulder...

TORI | Goodhart Photography, Washington DC Metropolitan area photographer

2010-05-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

I made this slide show video to showcase some amazing senior portraits! Tori is absolutely gorgeous, and the Capitol and Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. are a wonderful backdrop.

Take a look!

THOSE EYES | Goodhart Photography, First Holy Communion Portrait Loudoun County Fairfax County Photographer

2010-05-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

It was a dreary, rainy day, but I still managed to get these beautiful portraits of this lovely child in her First Holy Communion finery. I've photographed her before, and I am just smitten by her eyes and the sweetness that shines from them.

I love her blue nails, too, which match her bracelet and the flowers sprinkled on her dress. Not traditional perhaps, but her veil certainly is - it is a family heirloom.

And here is a parting shot.

ANA | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia High School Senior Photographer

2010-05-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

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. She saw this fantastic vintage pick-up truck in parking lot, for example.

And my parting shot:

There are a lot more to come! I tend to take a lot of images on photoshoots, and usually toss over 60% because of closed eyes or unflattering expressions, but I kept almost every photograph I took yesterday.

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!

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

2010-05-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

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:

One more shot of the table:

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

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

And last but not least, another group portrait of longtime friends.

LOUDOUN COUNTY PHOTO CLUB AWARDS | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family and Child Photographer

2010-04-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Heart of a Clematis

I entered these prints in the Loudoun County Photography Club's 'Close Up and Macro' print competition, Intermediate division. The print above received an honorable mention, as did the print below:

Bleeding Heart

The flowers in my garden provide me with endless inspiration! But so do other random things I find, such as my children's scooter blocking my path to the front door:

Razor Scooter in the Rain.

My last entry, which also didn't place, was the photograph below, titled "Love's Promise Fulfilled". My husband came up with the title! He surprises me sometimes - there is a poet hiding behind all the bits and bytes which make him such a kindred spirit with computers.

There is one more competition coming up this year in May - the subject is Nature. So many possibilities....

BEAUTY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL CITY | Goodhart Photography, Washington DC Metropolitan Area Teen and Family portraiture

2010-04-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

I spent an amazing day in Washington D.C. with two gorgeous ladies - one a friend from college who could still pass for 18, and her lovely daughter.

Even though the forecast threatened storms,and the sky was dismal and grey, we took lots of photographs outside around the Capitol building before heading indoors to the beautiful Botanical Gardens. There are so many more to come, and they'll be ready in about two weeks.

SIX MONTHS OLD | Goodhart Photography, Newborn and Family Photographer serving the Northern Virginia area

2010-04-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't he just gorgeous? I love this portrait, his smushy little mouth and his yummy chunkiness. I photographed him more than 5 months ago - he is growing so fast!

We worked so hard for this smile - the secret apparently being to sing "The Ants Go Marching One By One" over and over. He loves that song!! Too funny. Years ago I used to sing it to my oldest, we'd take turns singing stanzas, and he actually fell asleep in the middle of singing it - the droning repetition knocking him out. So to have it work completely in reverse for this little cutie made me laugh.

Below we have a little motion blur on his hands -- I think he was trying to conduct his sister (yes, we were still singing!)

Many more to come, as always, in 1-2 weeks.

THE BLUE DREAM OF SKY | Goodhart Photography, Fairfax County and Washington D.C. portrait and family photographer (and lover of e.e. cummings)

2010-04-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

What an amazing weekend! Fantastic photography sessions at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Fairfax County, gorgeous saturated colors everywhere I looked. It was rather breezy and cool, but those beautiful children gamely threw off their jackets for the above portrait, which is one of my favorites of the session.

Below, you can see how the sky teased us all afternoon, with grey storm clouds that would suddenly part and reveal a slip of "the blue dream of sky". I did not exactly succeed in getting all 21 pairs of eyes on me in this portrait, but I love it anyway, as it shows kids being kids.

Before I photographed the large family above, I spent a few hours this afternoon with this gorgeous young couple, who has a very special place in my heart.

And yesterday, I had the pleasure of going on one of David Luria's "Washington Photo Safaris", which I will blog about in more detail another time, but I highly recommend it, and had a fantastic time! Below are two photographs from my day in Washington DC.

This little girl was playing at the feet of Einstein's memorial, so I zoomed in for a closer look at her expressive little face and played around with the photo processing a bit. I got permission from her parents first, and it turns out they are from Maine, one of my favorite states and where I've vacationed every summer since I was born, excepting the three summers I was hugely pregnant.

Last but not least, below is a "cliche" photograph of the Capitol, my old stomping grounds. These monuments and buildings have been photographed so much I'm not overly concerned with avoiding "cliche" photographs, as that would pretty much eliminate every photography angle available to the average citizen like me. Sometimes cliches make me happy. What can I say. I also cried when I saw "How to Train Your Dragon" so I guess that means I am pretty easily moved emotionally.

There are so many more photographs to come! If only my kids didn't need three meals a day, the groceries just showed up at my door step, and the laundry would do itself. Then I would be able to finish everyone's proofs in a week. However, given the way the world works, it will be at least 2 weeks before the proofs are ready. But it will be worth the wait as the best is yet to come!

SUGAR AND SPICE | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Baby Newborn Photographer

2010-04-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Isn't she adorable? Such an incredibly sweet face, and those blue eyes just make me melt.

She was wide awake almost the entire session, which is supposed to be a big no-no for newborn photography, but she was cheerful and serene and photographed beautifully.

Here is big brother holding her for my parting shot:

Much more to come, in about 2 weeks....

I DO | Goodhart Photography, DC Metropolitan Family Portrait Photographer

2010-04-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I shot my first wedding! I was a second shooter to Shelley Miller , a wonderful person and photographer. She worked at ACE Photo for ten years, and has been shooting professionally for seven. It was such a pleasure to be her second shooter!

This was such a beautiful bride -- she reminded me an Arabian princess straight out of a fairy tale. She and her husband were so in love -- it really was a joyful celebration.

I hope to have the rest done in two weeks or so. Here is one last parting shot...

TIDAL BASIN AT DAWN | Goodhart Photography, D.C. Metropolitan area family photographer

2010-04-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

I got up at 5am last weekend to take these photographs! I drove down to Washington DC with a fellow photo club member. Unfortunately, I didn't have my tripod, but at least I had patience, fast lenses, and the willingness to sit on the wet ground and steady my elbows on my knees - turning myself into a tripod of sorts. I probably ruined my jeans but such is the pursuit of artistic photography....

I didn't get many photographs of the blossoms, as my fellow photo club member had just gotten out of the hospital after three months (pneumonia and a sepsis infection) and still tired easily. So he was ready to go by 7, and it wasn't quite light enough to really capture the blossoms in all of their translucent white glory. As you can see, the sun's rays haven't really illuminated the branch below.

However, as I walked back to the car I noticed the beautiful forsythia and magnolias seeming to glow...

And this traditionally dressed couple apparently texting...

My favorite shot of the morning is below...the colors in the sky were spectacular!

FAMILY REUNION | Goodhart Photography, Fairfax County Family Portrait Photographer

2010-04-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening for spending time with family!

There are so many more to come, and I will try to get them up in two weeks. Stay tuned....

HAND OF MAN | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Award Winning Photographer, Northern Virginia

2010-03-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a Loudoun Photo Club competition; the subject was "The Hand of Man" (meaning any subject that was created by humans.) I entered four images and I am thrilled to report I won a first place ribbon in two categories! And these are all images I took with a Nikon Coolpix 5700, a point-and-shoot camera that is at least 5 years old. So it just goes to show that while I do love having the Canon SLR and lenses I have these days, photography is so much more than the equipment.

Anyway, the photo above (of the light installation in the walkway of the National Gallery of Art) took first place in Intermediate Color, and the one below took first place in Intermediate Monochrome.

Do you recognize this photograph? Next time you are at the Dulles Towncenter mall in the food court, look up!

Below is an image which did not place.

The judge said this one was a strong graphic composition with good clarity and tone, but I had nipped the tip off of the steel sculpture and didn't give the sculpture enough breathing room (I had to mat this photo as an 8x10, so the crop was a little different from the photo below).

Well anyway. It is rather nerve wracking to submit photographs for evaluation! But it is so helpful, too, to listen to the feedback of long-time pros -- not just about your own work, but about the other photographs that other photographers submit.

If you are interested in photography, I highly recomment joining a photography club in your area. I have learned so much from the Loudoun Photo Club. And in addition to having the opportunity to go on field trips, listen to interesting guest speakers, participate in competitions, and make friends, I have also acquired photography equipment from other members at good prices. So definitely check out your local club!

EASTER AND BABY CHICKS | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County family and child portrait photographer

2010-03-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

I am in heaven, photographing such incredibly precious subjects! Baby chicks and bare-footed children all dressed up - so much fun. Here are a few sample photographs from today:

I love the angel wing motif - when I purchased these wings a few years ago for a Christmas pageant, I had no idea they'd live a second life as a photography prop!

The expressions in this portrait are fantastic - little C is laughing and the baby chick is inspecting the rose on her dress...speaking of props, my parents bought that desk for me over 40 years ago! And the pillar behind little C was a gift from one of my summer house guests. And the glass vase was a wedding present.

Isn't this adorable? I brought the wagon out thinking L could push the chicks in it, but he wanted to sit in it! So we let the chicks run around on the ground.

I will be sending the baby chicks back to the farm this weekend, where they will continue to grow feathers and prepare for their future careers as egg-layers.

HELLO SPRING | Goodhart Photography, Loudoun County Family Portrait Photographer

2010-03-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

The little chicks are quickly growing and will be hens before we know it. Therefore, I am running my special for this week only.

And of course we can take some portraits without the chicks too...

INTRODUCING THE NEWEST NA'VI| Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Family Photographer

2010-03-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

That's my daughter above as a Na'vi. She hasn't even seen Avatar, but I did, and I just loved the beautiful imaginary world that the Na'vi inhabited. I think she would, too. Pandora sort of reminded me of that Disney movie without words....Fantasia. I had to google that, my mind couldn't pull it out of my memory!

Anyway, below is the Na'vi image superimposed on the original. Isn't photoshop amazing?

And no, I did not figure out how to do this on my own! There is a tutorial in March 2010 Photoshop User, the official magazine of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. I highly recommend subscribing to Photoshop User if you are interested in the post-processing end of photography. It has really helped me improve my abilities! And it always has fun projects to practice.

So now I must put away my computer and think about getting dinner on the table...

SPRING CHICKS | Goodhart Photography, Northern Virginia Infant, Child, Tween, Teen, and Family Portrait Photographer

2010-03-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

Isn't he adorable? We are taking care of three chicks for a few weeks. I am hoping to have some sample spring/Easter portraits up soon, and will arrange a day of mini-sessions for interested families at my home with the sweet little puff balls.

The chicks came from Pasture Raised Eggs. I know the owner, Belinda Moh, and she delivers eggs weekly/biweekly to various communities in the northern Virginia area. Her eggs are delicious! The little chicks we are caring for will one day return to her farm to lay eggs for families to enjoy.