Georgina ‘GG’ Goodwin: The Multifaceted Photographer

Published by Paukwa on March 5, 2021

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Born in Kenya with a wanderlust spirit deeply etched within her, Georgina Goodwin’s first time truly away from home was at age 11 when she was sent off to boarding school in the UK. She stayed on until university, graduated with a degree in Geography in 2005, and was on the next flight back to Kenya.

Back home, she started looking for work. Her need to move around pushed her to a job that was further away than she expected, but one that she was curious about. GG took up the role of a yacht stewardess in Cape Town and readied herself to sail across the Indian Ocean from Cape Town to Malaysia. Knowing that this time at sea was worth capturing, she bought her first film camera – a Canon.

It was a worthwhile investment especially with the long days on the boat. GG found solace in photography and she took pictures of the ocean surrounding her, the different ports and even the crew members. Whenever the yacht docked at the different ports, she purposed to get her pictures developed. She went a step further and purchased second-hand photography books to educate herself and it was then that she realized photography was more than a pass time to her.

When her time at sea came to an end, GG was once again in Kenya, this time at the Maasai Mara to help a friend run a camp. Her new environment in the wild was also worth capturing and with some knowledge on photography, she knew what she needed to do. With her savings, she purchased a Canon 10D DSLR camera and got to photographing everyday, capturing some iconic wildlife and landscape images. She selected her best two of wildlife images and submitted them local photo contests – Kodak Photographer of the Year Award (Kenya, 2005) and Travel News Photographer of the Year. She won both competitions, reassuring her pursuit of photography as a chosen career path.

From then on GG worked as a freelance documentary photographer and built her portfolio through a number of projects. Though enjoyable, her work has sometimes placed her in difficult sites: In 2007-8 she covered Kenya’s post election violence for which her images were shortlisted for the Prix Bayeaux War Correspondence Award 2008, and in 2013 she was one of the first photographers on the scene at the Westgate Terror Attack. Her Westgate series won her Kenya News Photographer of the Year 2014. Climbing up the photography ladder was no easy feat, and after 15 years of hard work, dedication and passion GG has come to be known as a true professional with experience in all photography genres.

In 2015 for the Guardian, GG was one of the first photographers to capture daily life at the Umoja Women’s Village in Samburu, northern Kenya. The quality of her images and ability to professionally deliver the client briefs has continued to bring in more work. GG has expanded her company into a media agency Georgina Goodwin Images (aka @GGImagesMedia) which works with local media talent across Africa (and the world), elevating the next generation of photographers and media professionals. GG was recognized for her highlighting of under-reported issues such as fistula and FGM, and as a role model in the region she received an invitation to become the global Canon Ambassador. In 2018 she became the first Canon Ambassador from Kenya.

Despite her role as a Canon Ambassador ending in 2020, GG continues to work closely with Canon as a Canon Certified Trainer facilitating physical and online workshops. Her 15 years in the industry have earned her respect and reputation. She currently mentors photographers in Africa, Iran and India and personally manages all Georgina Goodwin Images media agency assignments covering sometimes many assignments simultaneously and mentoring her team as they work.

From GG’s journey we see how the boundaries of a self-driven person can be pushed, and how doing the thing you love can indeed fulfill your life and inspire others to fulfill theirs too. Thank you GG for the amazing work you do!