QSTNS project origins - CONVERSATIONS

January 29, 2026 in Actors, Actress, Behind the Scenes, Black and White, Designer, Editorial, Interview, People, Portraits, Q&A

In my last post, I launched a new project called QSTNS where the people I photograph answer a set of questions. BUT - the project is not so much new as it is an evolution - here is the story :

Last year I started a long form interview project called CONVERSATIONS. It was born from my experience having countless conversations with friends, clients, and subjects during photo sessions. I felt compelled to hear from the people I interacted with first-hand who were and are making their art.

I completed two lovely interviews with creative powerhouses, Blake Shutterly & Charlotte Guerry - both of whom I had the privilege of making short films with.

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The experience was enriching and taught me so much about the format. I had the desire to continue sharing the thoughts and feelings of the people I work with and thus, QSTNS was born.

Shifting the format from a long form interview to short form Q&A project is a perfect pivot for the ever changing nature of creative and emotional opinions.

It allows for people to come as they are and share how they feel in the moment and I’m thrilled to have launched QSTNS earlier this week with actor, Olli Haaskivi.

production, creative direction, styling, makeup : david goddard

inquires : the studio is now open for new portrait sessions and select custom projects.

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all images are part of the permanent archive of david goddard photography. for commission inquiries or exhibition rights, please contact the studio.

QSTNS

January 27, 2026 in Actors, Actress, Editorial, Interview, People, Portraits

QSTNS is a short form Q&A project where people answer questions. It is a document of right now and a glimpse into the person in the photo. Olli Haaskivi is an actor, lover of film, and champion of fellow actors. You can see his work in everything from HBO’s Winning Time to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

See the full interview with the layout here. Read the full transcript below :)

Transcript :

OLLI Haaskivi

{QSTNS}

JAN.26

Q : WHO ARE YOU TODAY ?

A : A friend of mine once said I was the most pessimistic optimist she’d ever met and I think some version of that assessment is true today and also every other day.

There’s an awful lot to be downright miserable about at this juncture in human history but as I write this blurb three weeks into a brand new year, I’m really trying to keep some small but mighty flame of hope alive.

I’ve had enough misery the past few years -- personally / professionally / globally -- I’m really feeling the need to sprint fast in the opposite direction, even (or perhaps especially) in the face of seemingly never ending evidence to the contrary.

Q : What Are You Excited About ?

A : A great friend wrote to me the other day to tell me that he’d be in New York City for much of the summer and that news alone is enough to keep me going. There are also a couple work related possibilities that I’m extremely excited about and I’m not ultimately that superstitious but I still don’t want to jinx anything by being too specific here. And finally I want to add that I’m extremely excited about Zohran Mamdani and the people of Minneapolis.

Q : What Do You Do for Fun ?

A : New York City makes fun pretty easy. I love a museum // I love a long walk in a park (or a long walk pretty much anywhere in the city, really) // I love seeing an old film on the big screen at one of our many wonderful rep houses...

I particularly love going to Elbow Bread on Ludlow and sneaking one of their perfect pastries into the Metrograph with me. Solo or with a friend, that’s a pretty ideal

afternoon for me.

Q : Something Underrated ?

A : My Nivea lip balm is really helping me out this winter, I have one in the pocket of just about every jacket I own. I’d also love to give quick shout outs to :

long distance train travel //

ringing someone up just to say hi //

David Fincher’s 2007 masterpiece Zodiac.

Q : Something Overrated ?

A : I’m awfully tempted to just write a list of names...

Q : Unsolicited Advice ?

A : I can’t remember if a teacher once said to me “Enjoy yourself, it’s lighter than you think” or “Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think” but honestly both iterations make an important point. I also try to keep close that awesome line from The Philadelphia Story :

“The time to make up your mind about people is never.”

production, creative direction, styling : david goddard

inquires : the studio is now open for new portrait sessions and select custom projects.

book a session | sign up for newsletter

all images are part of the permanent archive of david goddard photography. for commission inquiries or exhibition rights, please contact the studio.

*texture studies by David Goddard, portrait by Jean Pierre Gensert*

I M P R I N T S : origins of adventure

January 15, 2026 in Behind the Scenes, Black and White, Documentary, Exhibition, Fine Art, Travel

Photographer David Goddard reflects on childhood soundtracks, getting lost in Mexico, and the innate love of adventure that led to his upcoming exhibition : IMPRINTS.

Gay, A Personal Essay

June 05, 2025 in Black and White, Editorial, Portraits, People, Gay, LGBTQIA+

Solid Gold at The Brooklyn Museum

January 27, 2025 in Black and White, Documentary, Designer, Editorial, Fashion, People

“ Solid Gold “ on view now - @brooklynmuseum
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My @industrycity studio is now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work 🙏

NATURE BREAK

January 16, 2025 in nature

Nature break 🍂
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production / creative direction by me ✨
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My @industrycity studio is now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work 🙏 sign up for my newsletter.

more with Cole Doman

October 18, 2024 in Actors, Actress, Black and White, Editorial, Portraits

actor @cole.doman ✨
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production / creative direction by me ✨

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My @industrycity studio is now open - email me (link in bio) for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work 🙏

Cole Doman

October 16, 2024 in Actors, Actress, Black and White, Editorial, Portraits

actor @cole.doman ✨
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production / creative direction by me ✨

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My @industrycity studio is now open - email me (link in bio) for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work 🙏

A Faded Summer Love

October 14, 2024 in Black and White, Editorial, People, Still Life, Travel

As the heat all but completely fades here in New York - I’m left with wistful memories from an eventful summer :)

Annabel O'Hagan

June 10, 2024

@annabelohagan ✨ production, creative direction, and makeup by me :)

My @industrycity studio is now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work 🙏

Candace Maxwell

June 10, 2024 in Actress, Actors, Black and White, Editorial, Fashion, People, Portraits

@candacemaxwell_ ✨ production, creative direction, and makeup by me :)

my @industrycity studio is now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work 🙏

Amandla Jahava

February 29, 2024

@_amandla ✨ dress by @houseofaama / jewelry by @chanluu / manicure by Marche Rue Dix with @vicsacrylics_
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My @industrycity studio is now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work, or if you want to collaborate 🙏

Amandla Jahava

February 16, 2024

@_amandla ✨ dress by @kadijuofficial / earrings by @eliou__ / necklace by @heronpreston
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My @industrycity studio is now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait sessions & documentary work, or if you want to collaborate 🙏

Kiley Reid, Come and Get It

December 27, 2023 in Author, People, Portraits

Kiley Reid, photographed by me in Brooklyn NY. Kiley’s new novel “Come and Get It,” comes out January 30th, 2024 :)

photographed at my @industrycity studio - now open - email me for current info / availability for portrait work & other commissions 🙏

Movember Self Portraits

November 10, 2023 in Editorial, Fashion, People, Portraits

The older I get, the clearer my confusion about life becomes :)

What is life?
Why is life?
Who am I?

The existentialism of it all!

It’s not always a melancholic confusion - sometimes it’s a simple / cheerful acknowledgment that I don’t really know that much. Other times, the confusion is oppressive and I feel like I’m living in The Matrix and like I can’t trust anyone or anything.

Today - I’m just doing my best with the tools I have to find a little bit of stillness and relief from the pressure of existing. I hope you are too :)

The Movember Foundation is an organization focused on men’s health - suicide prevention as well as prostate & testicular cancer. I connected to it 8 years ago while struggling with my own mental health and discomfort around expressing my emotions & embracing my sexuality 🏳️‍🌈 - an ongoing journey for me. This month, I will be supporting the efforts of @movember by maintaining my mustache, donating a portion of my earnings from any shoot booked this month, and focusing on managing my own mental health.

self portraits photographed at my @industrycity studio - now open - email me for current info / availability 🙏