What do you get when you mix adventure with a love for storytelling?

You get Giselle Gonzales.

A Pacific Northwest native at heart, Giselle has made it her mission to travel the world, empowering and inspiring those she meets along the way. Lucky for you, she just so happens to chronicle those adventures beautifully on her Instagram and blog.

We caught up with the storyteller to learn more about her love for photography and whimsical style. Be sure to follow along on our Instagram feed as Giselle takes over for the week.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a girl who wears many different hats (not literally)! I’m a writer, reader, traveler, model, entrepreneur, advocate, and adventurer from the Pacific Northwest.

I’m passionate about empowering young women around the world and am a strong believer in the power of education to improve the lives of others. I work seasonally as an Adventure Guide with Disney (it’s my job to travel the world and be a storyteller!), and part-time as the Global Brand Ambassador for a nonprofit, Imbako Public Health, that works with women and children in rural Kenya.

When I’m not jetting off on some new adventure you can often find me in a coffee shop with a giant latte as I read, write, and catch up with friends. You can read more from me on my blog here.

What inspired you to start taking photos?

I actually started simply to capture memories! For a long time I was totally clueless when it came photography techniques. I didn’t have the right equipment and I probably murdered some of my earliest photos with bad editing. However, I used my Instagram feed like a digital scrapbook to remember the little moments in life that were slowly shaping who I was becoming, and as I captured life in little square frames, I slowly developed my own style and voice. I learned to use photography as a way to tell a story! Then when I started traveling internationally (around 2012), photography and videography became an even more important because it allowed me to capture my adventures (big and small) and share them with family and friends at home.

What’s your favorite thing to photograph?

It’s a tie between landscapes and travel! I’m an avid hiker, so I love capturing hidden treasures in nature, but I also love to tell quirky/noteworthy stories through my photos whenever I travel.

What are 5 words that describe your style on Instagram?

Adventurous

Audacious

Whimsical

Welcoming

Storytelling

How do you use about.me to promote yourself and your work?

It’s a beautifully simple “hub” for all my social media networks that I can easily direct others to if they want a synopsis of who I am and what I’m doing. Whether I add it to my social media profiles or show it to people I meet at networking events, I’ve been using it for years and absolutely love it.

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Zoë Björnson is an Editorial + Social Media Coordinator with about.me. She is a graduate of Tulane University. You can find her on Twitter @kzoeb.