Polly Irungu, a renowned Kenyan-born photographer who served in the Biden-Harris administration, has secured a new role following her departure from the White House.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Irungu announced her appointment as the official photographer for Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
“I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Maryland’s Executive Office of the Governor as a Photographer for Governor Wes Moore!” she wrote.
“It is an incredible honour to continue my journey in public service, documenting the people, moments, and stories that shape the Moore-Miller Admin,” she added.
Irungu officially exited her role as White House photographer and photo editor for Vice President Kamala Harris in January, just hours before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
She had been serving in the position since 2022, when she was tapped to document Vice President Harris’s story.
Based in Washington, D.C., Irungu is also the founder of Black Women Photographers (BWP), a groundbreaking platform dedicated to elevating the work of Black and African women creatives.
Since its launch in July 2020, BWP has grown into a global network of over 2,100 members across more than 60 countries.
Through BWP, Irungu has facilitated over $185,000 in financial grants and distributed more than $60,000 in photography equipment to help emerging photographers build sustainable careers.
Beyond her photography, Irungu is a highly sought-after speaker who regularly contributes to discussions on the creator economy, equity in media representation, and professional development within the creative industry.
Her work has been featured in leading publications including The New York Times, Reuters, Global Citizen, BBC News, MEFeater, Refinery29, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, and CNN.
Irungu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon.
