Behind the Lens and Into the Glow: Kellie Donnellan’s Tanning Journey
|Gold Coast Tanning Editorial Team
This real-customer story documents Kellie Donnellan’s starting point, tanning routine, progress and final results. For another journey beginning with very fair skin, read Sam’s Tanning Journey.
Meet Kellie
Meet Kellie Donnellan — a Brisbane-based family photographer, mum of two and someone whose everyday life is spent outdoors.
Between photographing families under the Queensland sun, beach days with her kids and afternoons at the park, being outside is simply part of Kellie’s lifestyle.
But despite spending so much time behind the camera helping other families capture moments they feel confident in, Kellie didn’t always feel that same confidence when the camera was turned towards her.
With naturally very fair skin, fake tan had become her go-to whenever she wanted more colour — particularly before photos.
Eventually, she became tired of the mess, streaks and constant upkeep and decided she wanted a routine that better suited her active lifestyle.
Kellie’s Profile
Name
Kellie Donnellan
Location
Brisbane, Queensland
Occupation
Family photographer
Lifestyle
Mum of two, photography, beach days, parks and an active outdoor lifestyle
Starting Skin Tone
Very fair
Journey Length
Approximately 12 weeks
Started
Late 2025
Favourite Flavour
Coconut
September 2025
Very fair skin and regularly relying on fake tan for additional colour.
Start of Kellie’s Tanning Journey
Kellie’s starting point — very fair natural skin documented in September 2025.
Kellie’s Starting Point: Very Fair Skin
Before beginning her documented journey, Kellie described her natural skin tone as very fair.
Despite spending plenty of time outdoors through her work as a family photographer and life as a mum of two, she said she regularly relied on fake tan whenever she wanted additional colour — particularly when she knew she would be appearing in photographs herself.
“I’ve always been very fair. I was constantly using fake tan to try and add some colour, especially for photos.”
For someone whose job revolves around helping other people feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, Kellie wanted to start feeling that same confidence herself.
“I wanted to actually feel confident in photos myself, not just the people I was photographing.”
A Routine That Had to Fit Kellie’s Lifestyle
Kellie wasn't looking to completely change her lifestyle to accommodate a tanning routine.
Being outdoors was already a normal part of her week.
Her work regularly takes her outside to photograph families in natural light, while beach days, trips to the park and outdoor activities with her children fill much of her time away from work.
“Between work, beach days and running around with the kids, I’m always outside.”
What Kellie wanted to change was her reliance on fake tan.
Preparing her skin, applying fake tan evenly and maintaining the result had become something she wanted to move away from. Instead, she wanted an approach that could fit more naturally into the lifestyle she was already living.
“I wanted a natural-looking tan that suited my lifestyle without the mess, streaks or constant upkeep of fake tan.”
Kellie’s Routine
Rather than expecting an overnight transformation, Kellie approached the next stage as a gradual journey.
She stayed consistent with her routine while continuing her normal work, family life and time outdoors, documenting the changes through photographs along the way.
Starting point: September 2025
Natural skin tone: Very fair
Lifestyle: Family photography, beach days and outdoor family life
Previous routine: Regular fake tan
Key focus: Consistency over time
Kellie also continued her usual skincare and sun-protection habits throughout the documented period.
Her September photographs established a clear starting point. From there, the next stage of Kellie’s journey documents when the first noticeable changes began to appear.
Middle of Kellie’s Tanning Journey
October–November — Kellie documented increasingly noticeable, golden-looking colour as her journey progressed.
October–November 2025: The Change Becomes Visible
As Kellie moved into the next stage of her journey, she remained consistent with her routine while continuing the outdoor lifestyle that was already part of her everyday life.
This was the period when she says she began noticing the first meaningful difference in her colour.
“I noticed good results after just a couple of sun sessions with consistent use.”
Rather than appearing all at once, Kellie describes the change as something that continued to develop over the weeks that followed.
Her progress photographs from October and November show the transition away from the very fair starting point documented in September and towards increasingly noticeable, golden-looking colour.
What Kellie Noticed Along the Way
One of the biggest differences for Kellie was being able to move away from constantly relying on fake tan while still feeling confident in her colour.
Her normal lifestyle didn't change. She continued photographing families outdoors, spending time at the beach and being outside with her children.
She also continued her usual skincare and sun-care habits throughout the journey.
“I always wear SPF, moisturise daily, and I’m big on being sun smart.”
For Kellie, looking after her skin remained separate from achieving the appearance she wanted. She continued using sun protection and says regular skin checks remained important to her.
“I also make sure to get regular skin checks — that’s really important.”
As the weeks progressed, the difference became increasingly noticeable when she compared her newer photographs with where she had started.
“Over about 12 weeks, my tan really developed into a beautiful, natural golden glow.”
From here, Kellie's final photographs show the full contrast between her very fair September starting point and the final stage of her documented journey.
Final Result of Kellie’s Tanning Journey
Kellie’s final result — the contrast with her very fair starting point after approximately 12 weeks.
12 Weeks Later
By late 2025, approximately 12 weeks after documenting her starting point, the difference in Kellie’s photographs had become much more noticeable.
Kellie began her journey describing herself as naturally very fair and regularly relying on fake tan whenever she wanted additional colour, particularly when she knew she would be appearing in photographs.
Over the following weeks, she documented the gradual progression of her colour while continuing her normal outdoor lifestyle.
By the end of the documented journey, Kellie described her result as:
“It’s natural, even and golden-looking.”
For Kellie, however, the final result wasn't only about developing more colour.
One of the biggest changes was how she felt when she stepped in front of the camera herself.
“I finally feel confident in photos without needing fake tan, which is such a good feeling.”
More Than a Change in Colour
As a family photographer, Kellie spends much of her working life behind the camera, helping other people feel comfortable and confident in front of it.
At the beginning of her journey, she spoke about wanting to feel that same confidence herself.
By the end, that had become one of the most meaningful parts of her experience.
Rather than feeling as though she needed to apply fake tan before being photographed, Kellie says she now feels more comfortable with her natural-looking colour.
Her everyday lifestyle has otherwise remained much the same — photographing families outdoors, spending time at the beach and being outside with her children.
She also continues to prioritise SPF, regular moisturising, sensible sun habits and regular skin checks.
What changed most for Kellie?
For Kellie, the answer was simple:
“Confidence.”
Her journey may have started with wanting to develop more colour, but looking back, Kellie says the change in how she feels in photographs has become just as important as the physical transformation.
“I finally feel confident in photos without needing fake tan, which is such a good feeling.”
Kellie’s story reflects her personal experience. Individual experiences and results vary depending on natural skin tone, routine, lifestyle, sun exposure and other personal factors.
Kellie’s Journey at a Glance
September 2025
Before
Very fair skin and regularly relying on fake tan to add colour, particularly before photographs.
October–November 2025
Developing Colour
After beginning her routine in late 2025, Kellie started noticing visible changes as she remained consistent.
Late 2025 / Early 2026
Current Glow
After approximately 12 weeks, Kellie described her colour as natural, even and golden-looking and said she felt more confident appearing in photographs without fake tan.
Kellie’s story reflects her personal experience. Individual experiences and results vary depending on natural skin tone, routine, lifestyle, sun exposure and other personal factors.
Bundle & Save
Continue Your Glow Journey
Inspired by Kellie’s journey? Choose the bundle that best suits the length of your routine and how often you want to reorder.
Gold Coast Tanning Duo – 2x Ultimate Strength Glow Tanning Nasal Sprays
$209.00
$238.00
Save 12%
- Two-bottle supply
- Approximately 30–40 days of product
- Suitable for beginning and establishing a routine
- Free Express Shipping, where currently applicable
In stock — ships in 1–2 days
MOST POPULAR
Gold Coast Tanning Trio – 3x Ultimate Strength Glow Tanning Nasal Sprays
$299.00
$357.00
Save 16%
- Three-bottle supply
- Longer-lasting routine
- Strong balance between supply and value
In stock — ships in 1–2 days
BEST VALUE
Gold Coast Tanning Quad – 4x Ultimate Strength Glow Tanning Nasal Sprays
$329.00
$476.00
Save 30%
- Four-bottle supply
- Maximum saving per bottle
- Suitable for a longer-term routine, sharing or stocking up
- Free Express Shipping, where currently applicable
In stock — ships in 1–2 days
Ultimate Strength Nasal Tanning Spray
Gold Coast Tanning delivers Australia’s most advanced tanning nasal spray — now simplified into one ultimate-strength formula.
- High-performance peptide blend for fast absorption.
- Designed to support gradual, deeper-looking colour development as part of a balanced tanning routine.
- No confusion with double, quad strength options just one ultimate strength formula. Our products are Ideal for fair or pale skin, helping support smoother, more even-looking colour development over time.
- Apple, watermelon, coconut and grape flavours to choose from.
Tanning Nasal Spray Q&A
What is a tanning nasal spray?
Tanning nasal spray is a broad term used for nasal-format products marketed for use within tanning routines. Formulas can differ considerably between brands, so products shouldn't automatically be assumed to contain the same ingredients or work in the same way.
How long does it take to notice a difference?
There is no universal timeline. How quickly someone notices a change can depend on their natural skin tone, individual tanning response, lifestyle, UV exposure, consistency and the particular product being used.
Why do some people tan more easily than others?
Genetics play a major role. Baseline skin tone, melanin production and an individual's response to UV exposure can all influence how readily visible colour develops. This is why two people following similar routines can have very different experiences.
Can people with very fair skin develop colour?
Some people with fair skin can develop noticeable colour, while others are much more prone to burning than tanning. Skin type and individual UV response are important, so another person's results shouldn't be treated as a prediction of your own.
Do you need sun to develop a natural tan?
A natural tan develops when the skin responds to UV radiation. This is different from fake tan, where ingredients such as DHA create temporary cosmetic colour without requiring UV exposure.
UV tanning also represents skin damage and increases skin-cancer risk, so tanning products should never be interpreted as making UV exposure safe.
Does tanning nasal spray replace sunscreen?
No. A tanning product isn't a substitute for sunscreen and shouldn't be relied upon for UV protection.
When exposed to UV, appropriate broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, shade and other sun-protection measures remain important.
Can you use fake tan during a tanning routine?
Fake tan and natural tanning work differently. DHA-based fake tan colours the outermost layers of the skin, whereas natural tanning involves the skin's biological response to UV.
Using fake tan can therefore change how dark someone appears without necessarily representing a change in their underlying natural tan.
Why might freckles and moles become more noticeable when tanning?
Pigmented areas can become more noticeable following UV exposure. New or changing moles and unusual skin lesions shouldn't simply be assumed to be part of tanning and should be assessed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
How long does a natural tan last?
A natural tan gradually fades as the skin renews itself. The exact timeline varies between individuals depending on factors such as skin type, the depth of pigmentation and normal skin-cell turnover.
What's the most important thing to know when comparing tanning results?
Individual results can vary substantially.
Before-and-after journeys such as Kellie's are useful for documenting one person's experience, but they aren't a guarantee of what another person will experience. Natural skin tone, genetics, routine, lifestyle and UV exposure can all affect the outcome.
Editor's Note
Tanning products do not provide protection from UV radiation unless they carry appropriate tested and labelled SPF protection. An artificial or natural-looking tan should not be treated as sun protection.
