Make yourself your audience, make stuff that brings you joy. As soon as you try to do things that you think you should be doing or that people want, anything genuine is going to be diluted.
Henry Hargreaves
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Henry Hargreaves’ creative vision is nothing short of extraordinary. From the runways of Prada and Gucci to the intricate world of conceptual food photography, Henry’s journey is quite the tale. Once a successful model traveling the globe, he transitioned behind the camera with a hunger to capture unique stories and create visual narratives that are as humorous and personal as they are thought-provoking.
What makes Henry’s work so compelling is his ability to turn everyday subjects, like food and coffee cups, into profound pieces of art. His photography masterfully blends humor, nostalgia, and social commentary, inviting viewers to see ordinary objects in an extraordinary way.
It doesn’t matter whether he’s organizing trash into stunning sculptures, curating “swag meals” that take us back to the golden age of gaming, or collaborating with stylists to create surreal edible art, Henry’s passion for meaningful storytelling always shines through.
At the core of his creative philosophy lies a simple yet powerful belief—to make work that brings him joy. With this guiding principle, Henry has not only stumbled onto a career filled with curiosity and innovation but also nurtured a deeply collaborative spirit. He values the perspectives of others, seeing collaborations as opportunities to create something greater than what could be achieved alone.
Here are three inspiring takeaways from our conversation:
- Henry reveals how his eclectic life experiences—from bartending to modeling—inform his creative process and fuel his fascination with visual storytelling.
- He shares his love for transforming food and everyday objects into powerful works of art, tackling themes like waste, nostalgia, and memory.
- Henry reflects on the importance of staying curious and true to yourself, reminding us that making work for joy is the purest form of creative expression.
Join us for this enlightening episode as Henry Hargreaves takes us behind the lens of his imaginative world, sharing the magic of food, art, and his endless quest to explore the unknown. Enjoy the episode!
Q: How did you get into photography? Tell me about that story.
Henry: When I was in high school, I did photography. It was one of the classes we could take in the last years, and I loved being in the darkroom, seeing those images come to life when you put them in the chemicals. But in New Zealand, it felt so remote and far removed from everything. After high school, I thought, ‘That’s it.’ Anyone I knew who made a career as a photographer in New Zealand shot weddings or school portraits, and fine art photographers were also school teachers. I never came across anyone who made a career purely on the creative side. So, I put it aside, went to university, and later, when I was traveling in Asia, I got asked to do some modeling. On set, I saw the photographers and thought, ‘These guys are living the life. I want to figure out how to do that.
Q: What is it about food that makes it such a compelling subject for you?
Henry: I think food is something we all have so many emotions and experiences tied to. It’s universal. For me, when I think back on memories, food is like the mortar that holds those memories together. It intrigues me because it means something different to everyone. I can shoot something with food for my own purposes, but it can evoke entirely different meanings for others. I think that’s really cool.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a conceptual food photographer?
Henry: Make yourself your audience. Create work that brings you joy. As soon as you start doing things because you think you should or because it’s what people want or what’s trending, anything genuine gets diluted. Focus on what excites you, and let that guide your work. That’s the most important thing.
Key Links and Mentions From the Episode
People Mentioned
- Charlotte (Food Stylist) – A frequent collaborator with Henry, known for her work on projects like the “Swag Meals” series, contributing her expertise to sourcing nostalgic references.
- Paolo Reversi – An Italian fashion photographer Henry briefly assisted. His approach to creating a collaborative and artistic environment greatly influenced Henry’s practices.
- Stephen Meisel – A legendary fashion photographer whom Henry encountered during a shoot for Italian Vogue, inspiring Henry to clarify his own creative path.
- Caitlin (Food Stylist) – Another frequent collaborator with Henry, who worked with him on the “Gingerbread Art Galleries” project, bringing meticulous craftsmanship and experimentation to life.
Tools & Gear
- Mamiya Medium Format Camera – Henry’s first serious camera, purchased during his time in Japan, which helped him explore his initial interest in photography.
- Alien Bees Lighting System – Henry’s initial lighting setup that he used while honing his technical skills, showcasing that great work can begin with accessible equipment.
- Hasselblad Film Camera – A camera recently acquired by Henry as part of his return to analog photography, enabling him to create unique one-of-one analog prints.
Projects & Opportunities
- Swag Meals – A nostalgic food photography series capturing “legendary meals” associated with video game culture, combining playful creativity with a touch of personal and cultural memory.
- Gingerbread Art Galleries – A commissioned series for a candy store art exhibition, where Henry recreated famous art galleries entirely out of candy and gingerbread, blending art and craft.
- Candy Goldsworthy – An emotional project highlighting themes of waste and environmental impact, inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy’s work with natural materials.
- Coffee Cups of the World (Instagram Project) – A decade-long exploration of global coffee cup designs, documenting creative packaging while raising awareness of design and waste.
- NYT Paris Project – An ongoing long-form series for Dumond, featuring innovative cake designs to illustrate weekly articles in a Paris-based New York Times publication.
Places and Locations
- New Zealand – Henry’s home country, where his photographic interest began but initially seemed limited to traditional genres like wedding photography or teaching.
- Asia – The region where Henry started modeling, marking a turning point in his eventual shift toward the creative world.
- New York, USA – The location where Henry transitioned from modeling to food photography while bartending to sustain himself.
- Italy (Fashion Hubs) – Locations like Milan and Paris, where Henry thrived in the global fashion scene before deciding to step behind the camera.
- London, UK – A location where Henry bartended prior to his modeling career.
Key Themes Discussed
- Transition from Fashion to Food Photography – Henry’s decision to leave the transient and image-focused world of modeling to create meaningful and thought-provoking works through food photography.
- Collaboration as a Driving Force – Henry’s emphasis on partnering with food stylists and artists to craft unique projects, combining perspectives for richer results.
- Universal Appeal of Food – How food ties into emotions, memories, and ideas, allowing Henry to approach it as a deeply relatable and versatile subject.
- Making the Invisible Visible – A recurring approach in Henry’s work, whether through the environmental commentary of “Candy Goldsworthy” or celebrating overlooked design elements in “Coffee Cups of the World.”
- Balancing Commercial and Creative Work – Henry sees commercial projects as a way to maintain focus and constraints, which ultimately fuel his personal creative processes.
- Pursuit of Joy in Art – Henry’s philosophy of creating work that brings personal joy as the purest expression of creativity, avoiding trends or external expectations.
- Exploration of AI Tools in Creativity – Henry’s experiments with AI to visualize concepts, expanding his imagination while maintaining creative ownership.
- Curiosity-Driven Process – The driving force of Henry’s career, rooted in an endless fascination with exploring new subjects, perspectives, and forms of storytelling.
