Gina Danals
Gina K. Danals is a seasoned visual storyteller and communications professional with over two decades of experience capturing the human experience through photography, design, and multimedia production. A proud native of Cocoa Beach, Florida, she dedicated 22 years to the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Gina has combined her formal education with real-world experience, traveling to more than 25 countries to document war, peace, humanitarian missions, and the everyday lives of service members. Her powerful imagery and design work have earned her multiple awards, including recognition in the Military Graphic Artist of the Year and Military Photographer of the Year competitions, as well as accolades from the Department of Defense Worldwide Photography Workshop. Serving aboard aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and destroyers, she deployed in support of major operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, using her lens to share the untold stories of service and sacrifice.
Beyond her technical skills, Gina played a pivotal role in public affairs, managing media engagements, leading creative teams, and mentoring the next generation of military storytellers. As a senior leader, she ensured operational readiness for rapid-response communication teams and oversaw major public relations initiatives for Navy commands. Her assignments also provided her with the rare opportunity to photograph and document influential figures across politics, entertainment, sports, space exploration, and activism. She has had the privilege of capturing moments with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, legendary film icons like director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Jim Lovell. Her work has also extended to human rights activist Martin Luther King III, hip-hop pioneer Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-DMC, and some of the biggest names in professional sports.
Today, Gina is the Senior Photo Editor for Stand Together, a philanthropic community committed to breaking down barriers that prevent people from realizing their full potential. She travels extensively throughout the United States, documenting critical issues shaping the nation—from education and the economy to fractured communities and social division. Through her work, she continues to harness the power of visual storytelling to inform, inspire, and drive meaningful change.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Gina is passionate about mentorship, using her experience to guide aspiring photographers and communicators in both the military and civilian sectors. She remains an advocate for the transformative impact of visual storytelling, believing in its ability to bridge divides and amplify voices that often go unheard.