BABE #1: DONNA IRENE, Freelance Photographer

Our very first featured Babe is Donna Irene. I met Donna when she happened to be the photographer for several of my dance team photo shoots in college. (She's responsible for my most-liked Facebook profile pictures to date and I'm forever indebted to her for it.) It’s worth noting that because our team was student-run, we couldn’t afford an expensive shoot, so Donna volunteered her services free of charge. We were so blown away by her generosity, ability to go with the flow, and of course beautiful talent and quality of work. I’ve enjoyed following (and living vicariously through) her adventures ever since. Donna perfectly exemplifies someone who is making a living by following her passions and taking her life into her own hands, and I'm honored she took the time to be here today! #YGG, Donna. 

The Basics:

Hometown: Miami, FL
Current city: Miami, FL
Alma mater: Florida State University
Degree: Entrepreneurship
Job title: Freelance Photographer

The Favorites:

Go-to coffee order:
Iced espresso with vanilla syrup. It’s bomb.

Must-have item in your bag:
Business cards ;) You never know who you might meet today!

Trip you’ve taken:
I recently spent 5 weeks visiting 11 countries in Europe including Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Malta, Greece, Belgium, Germany and Czech Republic. Phew!

Ways to spend your free time:
Cooking vegan food, drinking craft beer, attending local community events with friends, and cuddling my dog. 

The Hustle:

I'm a freelance photographer and travel blogger, but I like to call myself a storyteller. I use my camera to tell stories of love and purpose and use social media as a platform for spreading that message. When I’m home in Miami, I photograph weddings and shoot social media content for local brands under the name Donna Irene Photography. My part-time gig is The Sunny Traveler, a budget-focused travel blog I started a year ago where I share my travel tips and inspiration. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?
I wake up around 8:30a.m., enjoy a smoothie bowl, spend time with God, get a workout in, and work at my own pace throughout the day until my brain gets tired. I spend my evenings gathering inspiration for the following day, and always give myself an hour to relax before bed!
(Donna is #LivingTheDream.)

Favorite thing about your job?
I get to use my talents to impact and inspire people. Each time I receive a message from one of my followers about how I inspired them to get into photography or go on their first backpacking trip, I am reminded of why I do what I do!

What motivates you?
My faith in God, my desire to create meaningful things, my passion for the world and people, and my wonderful friends and family.

Babe you admire?
I have a girl crush on Promise Tangeman, the founder of Go Live HQ. She's a killer graphic and web designer and is the ultimate #girlboss. 

Any career advice for other women?
Don’t be afraid to “fake it till you make it.” You don’t need to have it all together, and failure is not to be feared but embraced because it makes you better!

What do you hope for your future? 
I hope to be a woman who uses my platform to make the world better than I left it and inspires and empowers people to walk in God’s calling for their life. 

Follow Donna!

Where can we find you on social media?
All things travel: @thesunnytraveler
Wedding photography: @donnaireneweddings

For business inquiries, email Donna at hello@thesunnytraveler.com 

All photos used in this post belong to Donna Irene Photography.
This interview has been condensed and edited.