The photographer, who keeps one wardrobe in Sydney and the other in Brooklyn, shares his secrets to being a stylish global nomad.

“I don’t even know where I live any more,” laughs Mr Darren McDonald. “I’ve flitted between Sydney and New York this past year, but I don’t feel as if I’ve really been present in either.” The Hong Kong-born fashion photographer might officially float between the two cities, as his ever-growing client list and reputation commands, but a quick scroll through his Instagram feed reveals travel far beyond the typical cross-Pacific route: Cabo San Lucas in Baja, California to shoot a fashion campaign; London to take a portrait of industrial designer Mr Marc Newson and his wife, stylist Ms Charlotte Stockdale; Bali for an advertising job. And that’s just the past month.

He could live anywhere right now. So what’s keeping him in Australia? “In terms of livability, Sydney has it all. Look at this,” he says, gesturing at the sparkling view of Rose Bay, a harbourside neighbourhood in the eastern suburbs of Sydney where Mr McDonald lives with his girlfriend, Ms Chloe McCarthy, an interior designer and blogger. “But that said, I want to go and explore and really make the most of everything that’s happening.”

Mr McDonald was born to Australian-Chinese parents in Hong Kong and moved to Sydney around five years ago, just as his career was starting to take off, with magazines including Australian Vogue and Russh regularly publishing his gothic-tinged, slightly melancholic pictures.

“It’s been a fun ride so far,” he says, and while it’s an enviable life, it’s certainly not without its challenges – not least when it comes to organising his wardrobe. “It’s frustrating sometimes because I’ll be invited to an event and have something in mind to wear, only to realise it’s in my wardrobe on the other side of the world.” He also shares an apartment with his brother in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

You would think that the two wardrobes would be entirely separate. But contrary to popular international opinion, Sydney style is not all surf shorts and flip-flops. Mr McDonald’s personal dress sense is evidence of that. “Apart from climate, I don’t really dress differently in Sydney than I do in New York. Sydney’s more relaxed, maybe, but with the access we have through the internet, the way we dress has really changed.”

MR PORTER spent a week with Mr McDonald in his local Sydney haunts documenting his laid-back aesthetic.

“Down a set of steps and through a park, Murray Rose Pool – better known as Redleaf – is a bit of a local’s spot. It’s close to my home in Rose Bay but on the way into the city, which makes it a convenient stop-off for a quick swim and a coffee at the kiosk. I usually carry my work gear with me everywhere, and I prefer the utilitarian nature of a backpack to a satchel or carry bag. It’s easier to just throw it on my back and get around the city. But of course there’s always space for swim shorts and a towel.”

“Our place is in Rose Bay, which is a quiet harbourside suburb adjacent to Bondi Beach. It’s a peaceful, tree-lined neighbourhood and the complete antithesis of my frenetic block in Brooklyn. I do a lot of my pre- and post-production work, such as retouching, from home, so it’s good to be comfortable but dressed up enough if I need to run out for a meeting. I like wearing things that take on a patina over time – this shirt has that quality as it’s made from recycled Japanese denim.”

“If I’ve got a lunch meeting, I’ll often make it at Fratelli Paradiso, an Italian bistro on Challis Avenue in Potts Point. There are a few Fratelli restaurants dotted around Sydney now but Paradiso is the original. It’s easy-going and you know it’ll always be excellent – everyone loves it. I like that it’s casual, so you can just stop by in a pullover and sweatpants for a quick coffee. There’s no real dress code as such.”

“When I’m not shooting I’m usually working on the production side of the job, such as castings and seeing locations. My weekday wardrobe is predominantly based around a button-down shirt such as this one, and nearly everything I wear is monochromatic. I particularly like this shirt because the silk makes it feel luxurious but it’s still low-key enough to get around town in.”

“Sydney Harbour is on my doorstep and morning walks to the coffee shop are part of my routine. My apartment here is set back a block from the water, but I usually take a detour on the way to get coffee at an eastern suburbs institution, Bernasconi’s [23 Plumer Rd, Rose Bay], because it’s a nice way to begin each day. Canvas sneakers are my day-to-day shoes during the warmer months. Living in Sydney and being on the go, sneakers are a practical necessity.”