Interview: Inka Pałys Photomodel (Poland) Winner of the month, Cover girl issue30 (part2)
Can you tell us a little about you?
I’ve recently heard a nice expression that fits here. A ‘slashie’ which means the phenomenon of
our times, describing a person that is eg. biologist/slash/photographer/slash/blogger/slash/cook,
etc. So I would say I’m a ‘slashie’ :) I studied Greek language at the university of Poznań and Nicosia
(Cyprus) and interior design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk and Warsaw. I used to play the
piano for 12 years, the cello for 3. I also take photos. Professionally I do interior photography and
home staging. Sometimes I teach Greek, sometimes I play in series. Sounds like ‘a slashie’, doesn’t
it? Oh, I also model.
If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn’t be so chaotic. :)
How did you start modeling?
A friend Grzegorz encouraged me to try. I was really sceptical about this, because I had totally no
idea about this field of life plus I was already 26 ya back then (!) But he said „Ok. Even if you don’t
make money on that, don’t succeed – you will surely have some nice pictures to show to your
grandchildren in the future and say - >>look, grandma was young and pretty some time ago..<<” :D
This argument worked! I tried indeed :D
What do you think of the work as a model?
The nice thing is that, although it became a part-time job for me, it usually doesn’t really feel like
working. I’m still a little bit surprised that during the last year my modelling became quite intense
and I had a chance to cooperate with great great artists (hearts for you!). As the result – I have a
possibility to do it also as a job. Visit places, sometimes travel, sometimes to really wonderful
places. I often meet cool people. Of course there are times that you are not in the mood for
shooting, not in the good condition, the destination is far, the conditions are tough or cold.. Still I
always try to do my best and be professional in what I do, no matter how requiring the task is.
I also remember one of my first sessions – the girl asked me to sit down, we were in a studio. I had
completely no idea about how to sit down to look good in the camera. Nothing. So I immediately
learned that this job is not only about travelling and wearing nice dresses but you also need to
acquire some skills. For instance how to sit down, stand up, gaze, move, make your hair, how to
pose not to look like posing, etc.
What is your beauty regimen?
I don’t have one. Luckily I’m accepted the way I am.
I know I should sleep more, excercise more, eat less chocolate, etc. But how can you sleep when
there are so many things to do?? I never fit in 24hours. I usually choose not to be in a hurry, but in
the same time – work a lot, travel a lot, meet people, love, make love (can I say this here? :D),
learn, watch art, taste food, organise little gifts, be someone’s smile, listen to good music, etc.
What are your personal qualities which distinguish you from others?
Oh, that shouldn’t be me answering this question... “Ask my friends and they will tell you who I
am”. :) If I have to choose something – a smile, I think :) I’m really optimistic. Sometimes naive like
a child. But I don’t think this will ever change and.. I actually hope it will not ;) Because it makes me
turbooptimistic and positive in 99% of the cases :)
I also have quite masculine sense of humor that makes me a buddy of many of my friends :D and
it’s funny to see their faces when I say a joke that a woman shouldn’t be actually saying. Then I
quickly come back to being an elegant lady with strict rules. Everyone is confused ]:->
About being strict... despite my indecent sense of humor I am actually a serious person with really
strict rules when it comes to respect and being fair. Recently I’ve heard again that one can be
affraid of me.. I don’t know what I exactly do, but apparently I can be scary when someone shows
lack of respect or breaks the basic rules of decency and being fair. And it doesn’t have to be
directed towards me. Showing lack of respect to anybody disgusts me. I really love the saying: “A
person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter is not a nice person.”
Last but not least – I can’t stand for more than 5mins. people who complain. Even when I
sometimes have a bad day (you know, one of those when queue in the shop is somehow much
longer than it always is and you could scientificely prove that the rain is more wet than its nature
says) I prefer to simply have an ‘I-don’t-talk’ day. Not to hear my own complaining :) the next
morning is bright again!
What are your plans for the future?
Plans scare me. I never plan. Whatever I plan may change tomorrow, so what’s the purpose? What
I know I want to do is to travel as much as I can as soon as possible. I would love to sit down in a
wooden swing above the blue blue water of Bali, come over and visit the Bounty Islands just
because of their name (and yes, the coconut-chocolate bar, as it is kind of taste of my childhood). I
also have invitation to CostaRica and States to visit friends.. And I want to continue doing the job
(jobs) I love. I hope I’ll get a chance to fulfill all of these :)
What are some of your favorite experiences so far?
Holding 5-weeks-old kitten on my arms during a shooting – completely cute! - thank you, Przemek
:)
- shooting with one of my favourite photography artists – thank you Paweł – and even creating
some frames with a nude-painting that I painted on my own
- trying to ignore high level of adrenaline while shooting on the roof in Lublin – thank you Ignac ;)
- spending a week in southern France during a photomeetup having French croissant for breakfast
everyday (ok, croissantS..) – thank you guys!
- spending increadible late-night family-like conversations in Michałowice, during the great great
photomeetup – thank you guys, hugs!
Do you have any advice for those who want to start modeling?
I would say what my grandma added years ago in her last birthday wishes given to me: „… and
always be yourself”.
My own advice - expect nothing, appreciate everything.
What do you think of the magazine?
It’s really cool! I started following recently and already found a lot of inspirations.
Thank you for inviting me to this interview : )
