50 Questions with Renee Roaming's Renee Hahnel

She’s been featured by the likes of the New York Post, Condé Nast, Travel+Leisure, Cosmopolitan, TODAY, Lonely Planet (and now obviously – Husskie), with publications taking notice of Renee Roaming content creator Renee Hahnel thanks to her inspirational travel content located on both her Instagram and blog.

And it’s not just aspirational adventure showreels that can be found on the Renee Roaming blog, with Renee also using her platform to provide photography and social media tips and trips to her audience of 320,000+ (like how she grew her Instagram by 200K in 12 months, night photography info, and couple photography advice ??).

While Renee is constantly on the move, we were thrilled to catch her in between trips to take part in our latest Fast 50. Here we talk picture editing, being a full-time travel photographer, career highlights/lowlights and lots, lots more…

Missed the last articles in the 50 Questions series? Click the links to read interviews with Murielle Magazine’s Muriëlle van Schaik, Mel Vandersluis, and Zoe Hoad.

1. Best beauty product of all time? Laneige Sleeping Mask for long-haul flights and during winter
2. Five beauty products you can’t live without? Concealer, blush, bronzer, mascara and eyebrow pencil
3. Hair “done” or messy? A combination for that “effortless” look
4. Favourite fragrance? I typically reach for essential oils
5. Favourite item of clothing? A comfy sweater or workout leggings
6. Favourite fashion brand? Madewell
7. Gym or exercising outdoors? Definitely outdoors
8. Healthy eating or treating yourself? Both, all things in moderation!
9. Can you cook? Yep!
10. Favourite food to indulge in? Ice cream

11. First thing you pick from the mini-bar? Water (boring!) but I would usually bring my own to reduce plastic
12. Best place to eat out? Any Thai restaurant
13. Happiest moment? Always when I’m traveling somewhere beautiful with my husband by my side
14. Saddest moment? Losing a family member or pet
15. Blog or YouTube? I’m addicted to both!
16. Iphone or camera? Camera (being a professional photographer) – but I also love my iPhone X
17. Type of camera? Sony A7Riii
18. Facetune or untouched? Untouched or distractions removed in Adobe Photoshop
19. Lightroom or VSCO? Lightroom or Snapseed
20. Favourite filter? I use my own Lightroom presets if applying a filter

21. Favourite way to edit pics? Bright, vibrant, warm and dreamy
22. 9-5 job or full-time influencer? Full-time travel photographer and blogger
23. How did you first get your start in Instablogging? It happened very naturally as I was already doing it as a hobby before paid work started coming in
24. How much time goes into a normal picture found on your Instagram account? It varies a lot, but typically at least a few hours when you factor in shooting and editing time
25. What’s your top Instagram tip? Be you, be consistent, and focus on high-quality content
26. Who takes your pics? Myself or my husband, @MatthewHahnel
27. Career highlight since being an influencer? Working with some of my favourite brands and destinations, plus being featured on the cover of Lonely Planet magazine
28. Career lowlight since being an influencer? Not really a lowlight as such, but probably all the long days and lack of sleep when traveling
29. Best campaign you’ve ever worked on? I really loved working with Travel Alberta this past winter, Visit Reno Tahoe this spring, and it’s always a pleasure to collaborate with Nature Valley on their giving-back campaigns
30. Worst thing that’s happened to you on a photo shoot? Missing an epic sunset/sunrise by minutes and then having to hear from everyone else how amazing it was

31. The best gift you’ve ever received as an influencer? The gift of getting to travel to beautiful destinations and experience incredible local activities
32. Last thing you googled? A synonym for “interesting” hahaha
33. Favourite film? The Harry Potter movies (nerd alert!)
34. Favourite book? Same as above, haha. I also love ‘The Bronze Horseman’ series, ‘Big Magic’, the ‘Twilight’ series, and Jane Austen classics
35. Favourite song? I couldn’t pick an absolute favourite, but I adore ‘Hoppípolla’ by Icelandic band Sigur Rós. My husband and I are big fans of their work and got married to that song
36. Living in the city or living by the beach? The mountains? 😛
37. Favourite travel destination? That is way too hard to answer! I would have to say Iceland, Canada, New Zealand and Italy
38. Most Instagram-worthy spot? Anywhere in the above countries, haha
39. Top three essentials to pack when traveling? Camera, water bottle, warm jacket
40. Going out clubbing or quiet dinner with friends? Definitely a quiet dinner with friends

41. Partner or single? Married
42. Siblings? One sister
43. What city are you currently living in? Seattle
44. Celebrity crush? Always Mr Darcy
45. Pets? None, sadly (we travel too much!)
46. What is your best asset? Probably my drive and willingness to reach my goals
47. Biggest misconception about you and your job? That it’s all a vacation and not “real work”
48. Top five Instagram accounts to follow? So many! I will name some other rad female influencers: @HelloEmilie, @Alliemtaylor, @ChelseaKauai, @JessWandering, @ChristianSchaffer
49. Favourite quote you live by? I have quite a few that I love, but this is one of my favourites: “There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky, and you ask ‘What if I fall?’ Oh but darling, what if you fly?” Erin Hanson
50. Top career tip? To focus on your own goals and unique situation. Never forget: don’t compare your behind the scenes to their highlight reel.