Precise facts about this photographer’s biography have not been located. According to his studio’s seal, Ananov's business operated in Mangalis since 1890. He was one of the very few photographers in this small Georgian town and the only one of Armenian origin. Judging from his surviving photographs, Ananov worked until the early 1910s. His portraits are skilful and of consistently good quality. Of these, the portraits of Russian, Georgian and Armenian wealthy families and officials holidaying in Mangalis are especially interesting as examples of local ‘touristic’ portraiture.