Kirsten Alana

Kirsten Alana is a professional photographer, writer, teacher and social media consultant. She has been a speaker at TBE, TBEX and TBU in more than half a dozen countries. She has worked with brands like Gadventures, AOL, Expedia, San Pellegrino and Beck’s Beer. Previously she’s co-hosted #ExpChat, #TNI and #FriFotos on Twitter and enjoys consulting with brands on how to establish successful chats.

With aspirations to one day host a show, she has been on-air talent for commercials and travel episodes on television networks like CNN and AMC. Kirsten enjoys teaching at conferences and reporting from far-flung destinations all over the globe but her true passion is simply inspiring people to see and know more of the world for themselves.

Her favorite meal was at Cumulus, Inc in Melbourne and the best beach she’s ever been to is Pink Beach in Indonesia; if she could, she’d spend the end of every year on holiday with friends in Scotland.

You can work pretty much where you want to – on the road, do you find it hard to work or do you just have fun and work when you come back home?

I find it very hard to work while I'm traveling, primarily because I am so often on press or sponsored trips instead of personal time away which leaves little time for working and only time for experiencing.

If I could, I would stay on for an extra week to two weeks in every single location I visit to then report on the location before I have to leave it, yet after I have finished my press obligations.

Do you feel many people are envious of your lifestyle?

I seem to get a lot of comments that use the word, 'jealous' so yes - I guess so. But it sounds awfully vain to say that and I'm uncomfortable with that. I do what I do to try and inspire people, I would hope that's what is happening. Instead of jealousy [which strikes me as a negative, not a positive].

In which countries have people recognised you, even when you thought nobody would?

That's never happened to me!

Which three items would you never travel without?

iPhone, aviator sunglasses and an easy-going attitude.

Are there any specific souvenirs or other things you collect from the places you go to?

Other than the photographs I take, I seem to always be drawn to scarves. I have far too many of them!

Tagged as: United Kingdom

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