Henry Hargreaves is living the dream of many a creative. Based in New York, using his passion for photography to build an ever-growing list of clients like Ralph Lauren, GQ and The New York Times. 

Having spent his younger days as a globe-trotting fashion model, Hargreaves's life has certainly been one packed with adventure and success.

His thirst for fueling his creative drive makes him an ideal candidate for The Learning Network's Creative Journeys series - sharing his path and offering tips and insights for others hoping to follow their own artistic ambitions.

Hargreaves explains to The Big Idea's learning platform that he originally found it hard to find his feet as a creative in the Garden City.

"I always had a creative inkling but I had a few roadblocks in New Zealand. I loved my arts and crafts and I loved doing art at school... I didn't get into Polytech so I ended up going to Canterbury University and just doing a general BA degree."

It was his artist auntie - who also worked at a Christchurch school as an art teacher that helped keep his creative flame burning. 

"I used to go on the weekends and use the darkroom there," he recalls. "In New Zealand especially in the '90s, I didn't know of anyone who made a career as a creative.  Everyone who did it - like my aunt and Peter Robinson, who was about as big a painter as he could have at those times, he was my art teacher at school - it was like anyone who was a creative was also a teacher. 

"I didn't know any photographers either and I thought the photographer was the guy who took the school portraits and that was about it.  So it wasn't until I went travelling that everything kind of opened up to me." 

Fashioning his own path

That's where Hargreaves's story took a remarkable turn - a chance encounter in Bangkok set him on a new course that would see him walking some of the world’s most prestigious fashion runways.

"I modelled full-time for five seasons. It was awesome but also, you could see that you get caught in the cycle of never getting out of it, you know? You're doing something that's interesting enough, is glamorous enough, you're getting paid enough that there's no hunger to do anything else.  I kind of felt like every 6 months, you do the same show circuit.

"We're talking about real champagne room problems - I just felt like it had a glass ceiling." 

So Hargreaves made the conscious decision to back himself to leave what for many would be a role they'd kill for to fulfill his dream of being behind the camera. Explaining his thought process, Hargraves recalls "I've got momentum, I need to make a shift. I got my US work visa through modelling and I was like 'that's where I want to be'. 

"I love the energy in New York, I want to make a go of being a photographer and that's where I want to set up shop." 

Back yourself

Being brave enough and aware enough to pivot your career isn't an easy step to take.

Hargreaves needed the same mindset that he used to quit modelling to break out of a job bartending in New York. His decision to go - in his words - “balls deep”, dedicating six months to make photography his full-time career, is a lesson in taking risks and betting on yourself.  

Hustling relentlessly, connecting with people, shooting everything from menus to models, and gradually carving out a niche in food photography, Hargreaves now has carved his own path with a strong reputation for creativity and storytelling.

Attitude is everything

While talent and commitment can't be faked, a true Kiwi 'can-do' attitude has always helped Hargreaves achieve his dreams - along with his family upbringing in treating others with kindness and respect.

"I never get bogged down in negativity- probably to a point that some people (think) it's a little delusional. I know my wife sometimes is like 'why the optimism the whole time?' - I'm just like I don't need to be stuck worrying about what someone else is doing.

"I think the other thing - be nice," he offers. "No one wants to be associated with anyone who's got attitude.

"One of my biggest clients now who's this juggernaut called Jessica Walsh - she was an assistant to a designer on a photo shoot I did years ago. Several years later, she got really high in a company and she reached out. She was like 'I really enjoyed working with you, you were one of the few people I worked (that) gave me the time of day when I was a junior'. She came and repaid that - when things like that happen...that gives me tingles."

His advice to aspiring artists is unflinching - stay curious, keep creating, and don’t be afraid to try new things, even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone.

"I think the exercise, the process...it's like being a sportsman - you're got to go and practice as well and it unlocks things for me.

"I think you got to sit with things you mould them - you play with them and you've always got to be curious. I still get a thrill out of creating, it still gives me an adrenaline rush." 

Hargreaves shares insights on the challenges and rewards of commercial work, the importance of personal projects, true collaboration and how embracing new technologies like AI can open up fresh possibilities for creatives.