"Harry"
Have you faced any challenges in the modeling industry? If so, how did you overcome them?
The main difficulty that any model faces is keeping her figure in shape. Especially for a person who loves to eat, this is a huge problem. How to deal with it? You can sew your mouth shut. In order not to spread out in width, you have to limit yourself in literally everything. Do not eat fatty foods, flour products, baked goods, etc.
**Creative Process & Style**
How would you describe your modeling style?
I would describe my style of working as a model as: "be flexible like clay". For me, if we are talking about a photo shoot, it is very important, when working with a photographer, to find common ground with him. To some extent, a relationship. The artist builds a composition, and I, as an object of creativity, need to mold, build this photo image, monument, sculpture. It is not for nothing that my pseudonym sounds like "Clay". I am from Belarus and moved to London, I decided to completely change my first and last name for the convenience of interacting with English-speaking people. From Igor Kleshchuk to Harry Clay and thus changing my subjectivity. I am plastic and changeable like clay. Just as once, working as an animator at a film studio, I built characters on a sheet of paper, so now I, like clay, with the help of a sculptor-photographer, build images of my characters in front of the camera lens.
What role do you think storytelling plays in modeling?
Character development is better and more profitable to show in video and I have often seen actors show a whole huge life of their character and fit it into a couple of seconds of one commercial. Of course, storytelling can be done within the framework of a photo shoot, but photography, unlike video, imposes certain restrictions on the narrative. Although this can be avoided by making comics with a developing story from static photos.
**Personal & Career Journey**
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you started your modeling career?
My modeling career began with the fact that I started acting in films. Initially, my profession sounded like an artist. I received an education as an artist at an art school, a lyceum and at the university. Living in Belarus and working at a film studio as an animator, a casting specialist noticed me and invited me to work in film, and after that my media career began. Because of my unusual appearance, I began to be invited to act in films in small roles, as security guards, and I created different images in films, and also sometimes got into the frame of a photo lens. I would not say that my job as a photo model is my main one, but in an era when a person begins to compete with machines (AI), when a specialist is increasingly replaced by a machine, a person needs to try himself in different areas. For me, this area turned out to be work in cinema and photo modeling.
**Industry Experience & Challenges**
What has been the most exciting or memorable shoot you’ve worked on?
The most memorable photo shoot was called "Bisons Clowns". We did it with friends. For this photo shoot, I had to shave my head and paint my face in different colors. Put on a kind of clown mask. And put an espresso cup on the top of my head. It was the image of a crazy clown. At the end of the working day, the shoot ended in the bathroom, where I washed off all the makeup and we finished the shoot.
**Influences & Inspirations**
Are there any models, photographers, or designers who have inspired you?
One of such models and actresses is Cameron Diaz. She showed by her own example how, thanks to her talents and abilities, you can turn from an ordinary model into a Hollywood star of world scale. I am also inspired by some video works. Perfume advertising, for example. Such as: "Bleu de Chanel" Timothee Chalamet in the lead role. And the Dolce & Gabbana "Light Blue" advertisement. Theo James in the lead role. All these works are made with great love and skill.
How do you stay motivated and continue growing as a model?
This is a very good question. Indeed, when the main professions that a person used to do are now done by a machine (AI), it is very difficult to maintain motivation and desire to continue your business when a machine can do your business and do it a hundred times faster.For example, professions such as an artist or animator, as applied art, are already mostly of no use to anyone, it is easier to delegate this work to machines. What should we do? Just ignore it? Develop our own unique artistic style? Don't be afraid to experiment and develop. Push industries forward. And if you are not afraid of difficulties, then you will be interested in going this way.
**Future Goals & Advice**
What are your biggest career goals for the future?
There are no global goals as such. Just follow the path of an artist. Develop in this direction, "climb the mountain", and fate will lead you out and show you the right way.
What advice would you give to aspiring models looking to break into the industry?
I would not say about myself that I have already achieved everything, climbed to the top, sat there and can tell everyone how and where to move. I, like many others, am on the way. I am still moving towards this top and I think that many other artists, like me, can share their advice and their bumps. Keep moving towards your peak, gain experience, and let adverse situations and storms not hinder you on your way! All the best!