Nonahood News: What is your job?
Dana Trabucco: I am a lifestyle photographer, a stay-at-home mom, and a recently published author. I started doing photography back in 2010, and I started photographing people in 2013. I did wedding photography from 2015 to present. I recently published a children’s book called Threads to Gigi. It’s about a little girl that loses her grandmother and how they can stay connected to each other, even though the grandmother has passed.
NHN: What inspired you to write Threads to Gigi?
DT: Back in 2015, my husband and I had our daughter, Riley, and soon after that, his mom got sick. His mom always wanted to be a grandmother, and that was her motivation to get through her treatments. We lost his mom in 2017 and she and Riley were really close, so it was hard for her to understand at a year-and-a-half why she lost her grandmother. I feel like there’s not a lot of great tools to help kids with grief.
NHN: What does your day-to-day schedule look like?
DT: My day-to-day schedule is usually taking Riley to school in the morning. The afternoons consist of me and my son exploring the neighborhood. Once he goes down for his nap, I get to work on me. That’s when I’ll edit photos, work on a craft, or do something creative.
NHN: What would you say are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your job?
DT: The most challenging aspect is trying to be an entrepreneur and a stay-at-home mom. I think moms don’t get enough credit. They work really hard; it’s a tough job, especially when your children are young. Over time, I’ve learned that it’s important to still know who I am and not just be a mom, though. It’s rewarding to have two great children, but I think it’s important to still find the balance and what makes me happy. For me, it’s being creative.
NHN: What got you interested in doing your current jobs in this area?
DT: I mean, with the lifestyle photography, there’s hardly any rain here. I know we’ve had a lot of rain recently, but every evening here just has the most magical golden light – and that is my favorite thing to shoot. I like to work with natural light, and I like visual storytelling. I just did some lifestyle sessions at Southern Hill Farms. That was my first time putting myself out there and restarting the business. I got such a great response from the community.
NHN: Do you have any interesting hobbies, collections, or interests?
DT: Right now, my husband and I are restoring a vintage 1984 camper. We’re hoping to use that in our photography business and, now that we’re in a pandemic, to get the kids out and enjoy nature. The camper already has its own fan club in the neighborhood. We got it last year and gutted it and are just slowly remodeling it now.
NHN: Where are you from originally, and what brought you to Lake Nona?
DT: We moved from Pennsylvania last May. My husband and I were exploring areas that we saw that we liked online. When my husband came to interview, one of his coworkers told him to check out Lake Nona. So, we drove over and fell in love with Laureate Park. I didn’t want to have a huge yard; I wanted the closeness and the smaller house. I love that it’s not a full-blown city, but it’s not a farm, either. We have a happy medium.
NHN: What would you say is your favorite part about Lake Nona?
DT: Everything is just so accessible. Usually, we ride our bikes or go to the park. I like being outdoors and feeling safe in my surroundings.
NHN: What would you say to anyone who is considering a move to Lake Nona?
DT: Don’t consider it; just do it. It’s worth it. We are surrounded by the best neighbors, and those neighbors become like family. It’s a good community. Everyone takes care of each other; the schools are great. Just do it.
Photos Courtesy of Dana Trabucco
