“Colorful candy to the eyes” is how Nigel Barker recently described the work of Ana Linares. And who doesn’t love candy?
There’s no denying that Ana’s eye is drawn to the maximal; her Instagrams neatly fall into the tropes so popular on the image-sharing app, images that immediately stop your scroll and compel you to pinch to zoom to take in every detail: storefronts encrusted with flowers, fashionably clashing interiors, tabletops strewn with artfully presented dishes of delectable food. What sets Ana’s work apart is the delightful crispness of each image and her fastidiousness when it comes to color balance.
Ana spent more than a decade in NYC, but now calls South Florida home… when she’s not thousands of miles away shooting work for a magazine, fashion brand, or tourism board. Her recent clients include the Ministry of Tourism for the Dominican Republic, Serena and Lily, and One Fine Stay.
Before jetting off to her next adventure, to Norway, Ana shared insights on her inspirations and how it feels to have her work be the catalyst for the travels of strangers.
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Adorama: Was there a moment you remember first falling in love with photography? Describe it.
Ana Linares: When I was young, I used to play with my grandma’s Polaroid and I loved the instant gratification of capturing a moment and keeping it with me. There was something about collecting those moments with that camera of hers, and this will always be a happy memory for me.
Adorama: When did you feel that your work was really reaching multitudes of people and what was this turning point? For example, was it an image that went viral, or client work that exceeded its reach goal?
Linares: There was this photo I took of a famous NYC Xmas tree that went viral in 2017. I remember wondering if I should wait for Xmas Eve to post it, but instead I shared it at the beginning of the season. During the month of December, this photo was shared by everything from travel magazines to destination accounts across Instagram.
Adorama: What qualities get your attention and compel you to photograph a subject?
Linares: Color and composition to me are so important to my work. A subject or a place that can visually tell a story is what drives my photography.
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Adorama: What neighborhood or distinct location, would you say, has these qualities and is the most reliably photogenic for you in NYC? And in Miami?
Linares: NYC has its own kind of magic and light. I particularly love the West Village for its smaller streets and alleys. Miami is more vibrant and still has kept a retro vibe that I really enjoy shooting. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is one of my favorite locations. It’s an almost century-old, Italian-inspired mansion turned museum with beautiful waterfront grounds. Definitely a secret gem in the city.
Adorama: Do you ever just “run out” of photos you want to share, in between projects? And, if so, how do you re-energize yourself and continue with content?
Linares: Never. Quite the contrary. I don’t have enough time and space in the platform to share all the photos I take. I try to go through cities in groups of photos when posting them online, but typically have to cut it short to share the next location I’m at, as I am always on the go!
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Adorama: How does it make you feel when you find out that someone has taken time and money to travel across the world to see, in person, a place you’ve photographed…because of your photograph?
Linares: Possibly the most rewarding aspect of my job is getting messages from my followers with photos of the places they’ve visited after being inspired by my trips. That’s truly when I realize that all the sleepless nights of travel, editing photos, curating and researching locations were all worth it!
Adorama: How would you respond to a critic who says you’ve “taken the bait” of businesses that decorate their storefronts to increase instagrammability in the hopes it translates to improved sales? For example, Peggy Porschen in London.
Linares: I think is such a wonderful PR strategy! Aside from that, they do amazing work with their storefront every season. Plus the cakes are delicious! I encourage people to actually go inside and try them. The place is famous not just for the flowers; it actually has a great array of sweets.
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Adorama: How do you balance partnering with brands while retaining a level of autonomy in your work?
Linares: I have been very lucky to work with brands that allow me to art direct my shoots based on mood board/project scope. It is all about finding a balance and communicating well from the start, setting expectations. I really like working with teams who are open to new ideas.
Adorama: What is the best compliment someone could give you about your work?
Linares: People often say my work brings them calm and happiness, which is so lovely to hear. Nigel Barker recently described my work as “colorful candy to the eyes,” and I love that!
Feature image via @ananewyork/Instagram
