Meet Ana Szilagyi | Photographer and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana Szilagyi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Others always considered me a creative person, but when I was younger, I did not see that as a career option. Initially, my career aspirations leaned towards the legal field, influenced by societal expectations and personal traits such as being talkative and argumentative. At the last minute, I decided to study English and French translation and interpretation.
However, upon moving to the US from Brazil in 2010, circumstances led me to explore new avenues.
Despite always harboring a deep love for photography, being a photographer back in my country was for men. It wasn’t until my husband gifted me a camera and encouraged me to pursue my passion through formal education that I fully realized the potential for a career in photography.
Learning to use a professional camera sparked a newfound sense of creativity within me.
Now, immersed in the world of photography and content creation, I find fulfillment and joy in every frame I capture.
Embracing this artistic path has allowed me to express myself in ways I never thought possible and has reignited a sense of purpose within me. I consider myself fortunate to have been given a second chance to pursue a career that not only allows me to create but also fills me with a profound sense of vitality and purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
“I am not a typical photographer. By ‘typical,’ I mean a photographer who takes the classical photos we are all used to seeing. Please understand that I completely respect and love all kinds of photography. I’ve been a wedding photographer, and occasionally, I take some headshots and classical portraits, but my passion and most recognized work are fine art portraits.
As soon as I started photographing, I knew I wanted to be a creative portrait photographer. It was not easy at all to get where I am today.
First, because of the skills I lacked. Besides learning how to tame a camera, I needed to learn studio lighting because then I could be more creative and shoot when my kids went to bed. Then, I learned Photoshop. That was a ride. Thirteen years ago, there was not much information about what I wanted and needed to learn. It was a slow progress, but I had with me that I could not go to bed without learning at least a tiny thing every day about photography or business. And the second one was even harder than the first. I knew no woman who was a small business owner. Could I be one? I was not a citizen yet. What was legal for an immigrant to do? I had a visa to work, but what else? I was afraid.
With my husband’s help, I decided to look into what was permitted and possible and act slowly, as my kids were small and demanded a lot of time.
I first started as a second photographer for weddings; at my third wedding, I was the first photographer. Then, I began to have a few portrait clients.
I was so happy, and then I heard the news that we were moving from New York to Miami.
All the contacts and opportunities I had were lost! In Miami, we chose a house where I could have a tiny studio, but it took me five months to put it together and two years to finally have some consistent clients.
I was happy then the news my husband lost his job and we need to move to a new house.
There is no space for a studio in the new one, but I still manage to do some on-location sessions.
Then news, again, we are moving back to New York. I was so happy to return. I love New York, but thinking I needed to start over again literally made me sick.
We got a house that allowed me to have an in-home studio again, but it took me more than a year to start again.
This time, I really allowed myself to do the type of photoshoot that made me happier—the creative ones.
During my whole career, my daughter was my muse, with her I practiced so much and I was free to create what I love the most. Photos that tell a story! Through the photos I took of her during my slow and low times, I created the body of work of which I am most proud, and that work attracted clients who love that type of photography, too. 2019 was my best year in photography.
I was so happy, then 2020.
I love the work I created in 2020 and 2021. They are from people very close to me. But I missed connecting to people, and although I had already been using Social Media for a long time, it was only in 2020 that I took it more seriously.
It opened other doors for me, and it was always connected with photography and art.
Because of these opportunities, my photo sessions were fewer after 2020, and people started asking me how to look better in photos.
I started sharing and teaching about it on social media, first in English, but then my friends and family back in Brazil started asking me to open a new account in Portuguese. I did, and to my surprise, it worked very well.
It worked so well that now I am transitioning from photoshoots being my main job to teaching how to look good in photos online being my main job.
My account name in Portuguese means ‘Exist in Photos’ (I have the same account in English with way fewer followers). My message is that everyone should take photos of themselves and the ones they love, and I teach how one can be beautiful in photos.
Self-esteem is what I touch, and the testimonials I receive most of the time make me cry.
Photography taught me 2 very important things: how to express myself through it artistically can benefit me and others, and how to see beauty in everyone I see.
Photography is much more than a 2D image, and I am so happy I can show it to people!
I am still doing my fine art sessions, and doing them is what I love the most. It is awkward to say, but now that I am free from the weight of having a successful photography business, I feel more like an artist of images. I feel even more creative!”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love art and photoshoots, so on our first day, I would take you to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. We would then have some coffee and snacks in a small and cute café we would find on our way to Central Park. There are lots of them here, and then we would do a photo session in Central Park. On our way back home, we could stop to eat some Asian food if you fancy it. A show on Broadway or an opera would be in for the next day, followed by dinner in a small restaurant of your favorite cuisine. There are so many to choose from.
The following day, I would take you to a small lake I love in Armonk, NY. It is where I took some of my favorite fine art portraits. I can even do another round of photos—that would make me happy! We would stop by the Tazza Cafe and then hang out together in my backyard, and I would cook some Brazilian food for you.
The next day, we would take the train to Cold Spring or Kingston, a small town in Westchester, NY. There, we would visit thrift and antique stores and stop at any of the small cafes they have. By now, you have noticed I love coffee, right? I am Brazilian, and we love coffee.
The following day would be a chill day at home, during which I would make you some Brazilian Barbecue. This would be followed by a walk in the beautiful Rockefeller State Park, which is a 15-minute drive.
The next morning, I would take you back to the city to visit the High Line and the Chelsea Market, where we would eat. After that, we would visit at least one art gallery.
On our last day, we will spend it at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx and finish it at Café Paris in White Plains.
A week is not enough for me to show you everything, but I hope you come back for more.”

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Thanks to my husband and kids for allowing me to pursue this career.

Website: www.anaszilagyi.com

Instagram: @anaszilagyi / @existinphotos / @existaemfotos

Image Credits
Ana Szilagyi Photography