, About
, About
, About

Shell-o! I’m Alexandra – the Traveling mermaid!

Most people on the road know me as The Bucket List Mermaid. And yes, I do put on a mermaid tail sometimes because life’s more fun when you refuse to be boring.

I’ve been traveling since I was 2 months old (tiny suitcase, big dreams).

Since then, I’ve lived in Europe and the U.S., spent time on nearly every continent (Antarctica, I’m coming for you), and explored 40+ countries in search of the world’s most breathtaking places.

I’ve always been pulled toward the water, which makes sense, considering my parents were literally married underwater and had dolphins bring them their rings. So yes, you could say I was destined to have the heart of a mermaid.

But I wasn’t just born curious, I was born adventurous. The kind of adventurous that makes my family routinely say:

“Wait… you did WHAT?!”

I’ve climbed dangerous ridgelines, swam with sharks, bathed in remote hot springs, hiked into canyons by myself before sunrise, slept under desert stars, and backpacked alone… and then I still went back for more.

If you are interested, you can also read my full story 🧜🏻‍♀️

How adventure Photography Became Part of My Story

Adventure has always been the story. Photography became the language I tell it in.

I picked up a camera because I wanted to show people what it felt like to stand on a cliff above the clouds, to float beneath turquoise water, to be humbled by wide-open spaces and mountain silence.

Over the years, my photography evolved from simple travel snapshots to cinematic adventure storytelling. My goal is to create the kind of imagery that captures:

  • Emotion
  • Movement
  • The bigness of wild places
  • And the courage of the person standing inside them

Now, I help other travelers and creators learn how to do the same and to live adventurously through their lens!

Photography isn’t just how I document my adventures.
It’s how I share the feeling of being alive in the wild.

, About
, About
, About

Where I’ve Been

When I’m Not Traveling with My Camera…

When I am not traveling my hobbies include snowboarding, yoga, paddle boarding, hiking things I shouldn’t, playing RPG video games, and watching cheesy romantic comedies.

Fun fact: I always listen to reggae when I snowboard and country music when I paddle board.

I have always loved to sing! I could match perfect pitch when I was just three years old. Up until I was about 17 years old, I had a dream to be on Broadway.

My Personality

Myers–Briggs (MBTI): ENTP-A

Enneagram: 7 wing 8

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor

Previous Education

My first move abroad was when I was freshly 18. I left the nest and went straight into travel!

I did my undergraduate degree (Forensic Science) in Cambridge, England and spent most of my free weekends exploring Europe and making lifelong friends.

I then became an emergency medical technician and attended medical school in Budapest, Hungary (until I quit to become a mermaid travel blogger).

P.S. If you ever feel bad about having a quarter life crisis, I gave up being a doctor to become a traveling mermaid photographer. Funny how life works sometimes…

My Epic Living Situation

Once I quit medical school, I sold everything I owned and moved into an RV!

I now live and travel full-time in a fifth wheel. It is a Keystone Avalanche 390DS.

You now have the hilarious image of a red-headed mermaid driving down the freeway with a Ford F-350 and a 40 ft RV. You’re welcome.

My home base is where I was born and raised: Colorado, USA.

The Furry Friends

I have two Siberian forest cats named Moshie and Amelia. They have their own Instagram called “Toe Beans on the Road“.

They travel full-time with me in the RV and love to camp and go hiking!

Moshie even lived with me in Hungary when I was in med school.

Now Enough about me! Let’s Talk about the Blog!

Here You’ll Find…

Adventure Guides that Actually Help

Not just “pretty places”. I give you real logistics, best times to go, safety notes, packing lists, photo spot maps, and honest expectations (so you’re not that person who hikes in flip-flops at 2 PM in July).

Travel Photography Made Doable

From the settings that make waterfalls silky, to composition tricks that turn “meh” landscapes into “WOW who took this?!” — all explained in normal-people language. No gatekeeping. No elitist gear talk. No “just feel the light.” (I gag.)

, About
, About

Editing Tutorials to Bring Your Images to Life

Think cinematic, emotional, colorful-but-not-crunchy, “this belongs in a film poster” vibes.
I show you how to edit without nuking the sky or making your skin look like an orange.

Storytelling & Creative Confidence

Because the real magic is learning how to see like a photographer. To slow down, connect, observe, and create images that make people feel something.

, About

This site is Built for…

✦ The wanderers who chase horizons instead of routines
✦ The adventure photographers learning to translate awe into images
✦ The creators who crave stories with depth, texture, and meaning
✦ The thrill-seekers who believe a little fear makes the view sweeter
✦ The souls who see a landscape and whisper, “I want to remember this exactly as it feels.”

If your heart beats faster when:

  • You’re standing on a ridgeline at sunrise
  • Saltwater dries on your skin after a perfect dive
  • You hit the shutter exactly when the light hits just right
  • Or you’re editing late at night because you can’t stop reliving it

Then you’re in the right place.

You’re one of us.

Countries Visited
Continents
Miles Traveled
Bucket Lists Conquered


My Mission

My mission is to help you live adventurously through your lens, even if you’re just starting out, even if you just bought a secondhand camera, and you don’t think you’re “creative enough.”

You are.
And I’m here to prove it.

I want to help you:

  • Experience wild, beautiful places, not just scroll past them.
  • Capture the moments that make your heart beat fast.
  • Tell your story through images that feel like you.
  • Believe that your life is allowed to be magical, messy, bold, and unforgettable.

I want to be the friend who says:

“Yes. You can do this.
Here’s exactly how.”

No ego.
No “you must travel full-time” pressure.
Just real adventure, wherever you are, captured beautifully and with meaning.

Because at the end of the day?
Your photos are proof of a life you dared to live.

, About
, About
Ready to start swimming?

How To Use The Bucket List Mermaid

If you don’t know where to start, here are some ideas to help you use this website to help you conquer everything on your travel bucket list!
, About

Adventure Bucket Lists Galore…

Discover the world’s most breathtaking places, and learn how to actually get there. From hidden hot springs to cliffside hikes to snorkeling with sea turtles, I share honest guides, real logistics, and the photography spots worth chasing so your adventures feel both doable and unforgettable.

See all destinations
, About

Shoot Better Travel Photos

Want to take photos that feel like the moment?

I teach the camera basics (in plain-English), composition tricks, and storytelling techniques that bring your adventures to life.

Plus editing resources to help you develop a signature style that feels uniquely yours.

See all Posts
, About

Resources to Support Your Journey

Grab my cheat sheets, photography tools, editing guides, and join Shutterbugs Gone Wild, our cozy (and sometimes chaotic) travel + photography community.

Ask questions, share your work, get inspired, and connect with other adventurous creators who “get it.”

Ready to Conquer Your Bucket List? Let’s start swimming!