“I was born in New Zealand and lived there until I finished University. Then I left to travel. I spent a lot of time living in many of the capitals of the world but New York had the most allure for me. I found people positive and open minded. Once I moved, I visited Brooklyn and it just felt right for me. I like it’s pace, the streets feel welcoming and its 10min to the epicenter of Manhattan.

I began modeling while on holiday in Thailand, I was approached on the street from a stylist looking to cast a western guy for a shoot and my career moved on from there. I had always taken pictures and I loved being on these big flash sets talking to photographers and their assistants about the gear they were using, and ultimately I wanted to be the one taking the pictures.

One thing that always frustrated me about modeling was you have very little control of your own career, and I wanted to be in control of my destiny. So I started focusing on taking pictures .

My first job as a photographer was with a stylist I knew while modeling, John Tan. He believed in me and hired me to shoot musician St Vincent, who has since blown up, for cover of a magazine. I still regularly work with John on his online magazine Visual Tales.

To feel inspired I try to listen to as much new music as I can, I feel this keeps my mind fresh, then I find my ideas trawling through blogs, walking around Brooklyn, using my membership at MOMA, helping friends and playing golf.”

Henry Hargreaves via Bulkka.com