Carmen Polanco Lugo has always had a camera in her hand as she can remember. Her grandfather gave her her first camera, a basic automatic point-and-shoot. Her entire family was extremely enthusiastic and willing to pose for her; striking candid stances, cheerfully posing for birthday shots, and striking every other imaginable pose! Polanco was inspired to pursue photography by her family's encouragement.

Summers in the Polanco house meant planning vacations to East Coast national parks. Carmen would be eternally thankful for these travels since they not only brought the family closer together, but they also instilled in her a passion for wildlife photography. Carmen recalls these family vacations fondly, from Acadia to Biscayne.