We recently connected with Ana Gómez Villafañe and have shared our conversation below.

Ana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

There have been several instances in my life in which taking risks has been proven to be the right course of action. The biggest one I can think of was moving to a new country. I was born and raised in a small city in Patagonia, Argentina, and decided to move to the United States at the age of 19. I had to look for a job as soon as I arrived, and put myself through school. I put a lot of effort into assimilating. Everything was new and very different to the way I lived back home. For example, getting a driver’s license in the U.S was a whole learning experience all by itself. Even though I had been driving since the age of 15, driving in California and learning all of the rules of the road was a challenge. To give you a contrasting image: there are no traffic lights in my hometown! We have no freeways either! So yeah, it was quite the adventure! Everything I did as a newcomer to the United States was met with excitement and effort. I was so eager to learn everything and absorb it all. I am glad I took the risk of leaving the familiar and stepping into the unfamiliar. It all contributed to shaping me into the adult I am today. The experience gave me grit, perspective, and humility. I now consider this country my home. I’ve spent exactly half of my life in Argentina and half of my life in the United States. I hold dual citizenship, and I am grateful for all of the opportunities this country has provided me with.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a child I knew I wanted to do something artistic when growing up. And when I held a camera for the first time during my teenage years, there was no turning back. The attraction was instant. I had always been an observer, and having a camera satisfied my curiosity for documenting how I perceived the world. As a teenager, I took my camera everywhere I went. The progression into becoming a professional photographer as an adult was a very natural one. Nowadays I shoot mostly weddings, portraiture, fashion, and lifestyle. In the 17 years that constitute my professional career, I have worked in many different fields of photography. This experience has given me versatility, and it’s something I’ve put effort and intention into achieving.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is seeing your vision come to life. But I have to say, I am more about the process than about the final product when looking back at my work. I appreciate the process and the many challenges along the way. It’s also rewarding to be a source of inspiration to other people which is always a pleasant surprise!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think learning, evolving, and changing is what drives me creatively. I take on projects with a curious approach, knowing that I am capable but there’s room for improving and learning something I hadn’t considered before.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.anavillafanephotography.com
• Instagram: @anavillafanephotography / @anagv_art

Image Credits
Profile photo by Foolishly Rushin In