We recently had the chance to connect with Donna Muccio and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Donna, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, I have been learning how to DJ. Not to pursue it professionally but simply for my own enjoyment and to be able to create house music sets to share online or play for friends.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Donna Irene and I’m a portrait and lifestyle photographer from Miami, FL. I was born and raised in South Florida, but as soon as I had the opportunity to leave and see more of the world, I took it. I spent my twenties pursuing wedding and commercial photography while traveling as often as I could. During that time, I traveled to 40 countries and 5 continents, lived in a van, lived abroad in Mexico, and grew in my craft along the way.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Living abroad in Mexico City from 2018-2020 really changed how I view the world and the type of lifestyle I want. The way the media portrays Mexico is often wildly inaccurate and it’s a place where I felt safe, so welcomed, and creative. The architecture, food scene, art, greenery, and people were a constant source of inspiration for me. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, learn a new language, and step outside of my comfort zone.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that it’s okay to feel so deeply. I have always been very high empathy and highly sensitive and that has made navigating this world very challenging at times. In the past, I would often feel like I’m “too much” simply for being who I was. But now, I recognize that my empathy is a superpower and it is what fuels me to capture the beauty I see in the world through my lens.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say the public version of me is the real me but there is also a lot of pain and suffering that I endure on a daily basis that no one will ever be able to understand without living in my body. In 2022, I was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which I went 21 years living with undiagnosed. I suffer from chronic pain and fatigue and trying to live in a world built for able-bodied people in a disabled body is a daily struggle but it motivates me to find ways to adapt and help others do the same.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people tell about my relentless passion for the environment and leaving the world better than we found it. I believe that life is worth living when you don’t live just for yourself but live for something bigger than yourself, whatever that thing may be for you. I have always been deeply drawn to nature and animals and getting to use my work to help protect it is very important to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.donnairenephotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnairenephotos
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnairenephotography/
Image Credits
Donna Muccio
