Making a clipping mask with a complex, custom shape

Hi,
I have a graphic of a footprint, and I am trying to use it to mask of a photograph below. When I do the usual steps, it is not working and causing everything to go transparent...my photo, completely vanishing. I'm wondering if it is something to do with the complexity of the footprint vector - it has floating elements that are distanced away (for example, the toes are not attached to the foot portion). Could this be what's throwing it off?
How can I get this footprint vector graphic to function as a cohesive mask?
Thank you!

Thanks for responding so quickly...I have just tried that, and here is the response I'm getting:
Can't make a compound path. All objects in a compound path must be paths, and they cannot be brushed or be part of an object.
Not sure what I need to do to modify / tweak the graphic in order to make it work properly?
Thanks!

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