Kenyan-American photographer Polly Irungu has announced her departure from the White House.
This marks the conclusion of her tenure as the Official Photo Editor for Vice President Kamala Harris and as an Official White House Photographer.
In a statement on Monday, January 20, Irungu reflected on her experiences during her time at the White House and expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
"When I developed a love for visual storytelling and worked at McDonald’s in school to save up for my first camera. I never thought my passion would take me to the White House. After nearly 3 years, today was my last day. Thank you, Mr. President, Adam, and Lawrence," she said.
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Irungu earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Oregon in 2017.
Three years later in 2020, she founded Black Women Photographers, a global community that includes over 1,000 Black women and non-binary photographers across more than 50 countries.
Irungu found her breakthrough in 2022 when she made history by becoming the first official photo editor for the Office of U.S. Vice President.
In this role, she is responsible for curating and managing the visual documentation of the Vice President's engagements, ensuring that the imagery aligns with the administration's communications strategy.
Irungu's work has been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Reuters, Global Citizen, NPR, BBC News, the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, and CNN.
Additionally, her contributions to media diversity and representation have been widely recognized, and in 2024, she received the Eric Allen Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.
"In the next 10 years, I would like to own a creative studio back in Nairobi. As a journalist and photographer, I realized how important it is to be able to tell your own story. I’m tired of seeing stories and photos of Africa through a white lens and pen," she said in a past interview.
