In one word, Nigel Barker is prolific. In many words, he is a world-renowned fashion photographer, author, actor, filmmaker, spokesperson, (former) model, and philanthropist who, in 2016, first teamed up with Adorama to share his expertise and charisma as the host of Top Photographer With Nigel Barker.
First becoming a household name during his 17 seasons as a judge on America’s Next Top Model and as host of Oxygen Network’s The Face, Nigel’s versatility has since taken him in many directions, from best-selling books to furniture collections. He is living a life that goes beyond taking pictures; guided by his passions and talent, he works to inspire and lift up others with the aim of making the world a better place.
Now, as Top Photographer returns with a new format — Top Photographer Challenge — exclusively on IGTV, Nigel resumes his role as host and shares with us his advice for life, for creative fulfillment, and for doing it all while still finding the time to share on Instagram.
Adorama: In the first episode of 2016’s Top Photographer With Nigel Barker, you summarized that your hope for the series was to find an artist whose work could “change the world around them.” How do you go about changing the world around you with your own work, and how do you know if you’re succeeding?
Nigel Barker: Photography can be very powerful. The greatest moments in history are remembered for posterity through iconic photos and films. I try every day to tune in to the zeitgeist of the moment and don’t shy away from capturing images that are not “perfect.” Using photography to tell not just any story, but the story of our time, is where I believe the magic to be. That means taking risks and shooting things that are maybe uncomfortable, pushing boundaries and polarizing. You never really know if you’re succeeding, but if you are honest with yourself and create imagery that you believe in, I think that’s enough.
“Using photography to tell not just any story, but the story of our time, is where I believe the magic to be.”
Adorama: Was there a moment you remember first falling in love with photography? Describe it.
Barker: I have always loved creating things, from just sketching with a pencil to making things with my hands in metal work and carpentry. But I will never forget when, 25 years ago, I shot my first series of photos of a beautiful set of half-Chinese, half Russian/German/Irish/Norwegian twins. It was an epiphany moment and the start of a life-long love affair with photography. One of those twins is now my wife.
Adorama: You’ve posted over 5,600 images to Instagram (@nigelbarker) and also embrace Instagram Stories and IGTV. What do you find to be the challenges of creating images for these mediums and how do you find yourself adapting your style for them?
Nigel: I love sharing my photography in whatever way possible and there’s no doubt that, while Instagram is an image sharing platform, it’s more about the process than the final result. What I mean by that is IG users really look to the platform as more of a diary, a behind the scenes and how-to platform, versus a place to showcase your portfolio. So, while I often post my favorite images, editorials, and campaigns I have shot, I find that the making of the shot and the raw process garner far more attention or “likes” than the actual finished image. I use IG Stories to tell my day-to-day life and behind the scenes, while using IGTV to showcase my longer format commercials, films and videos. I have a website where I house my entire body of work, and Instagram where I communicate my life and style to the world through photography.
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Adorama: Is it truly possible to take a meaningful, honest portrait of someone having only known them for a few minutes? Do you have any advice towards quickly establishing a rapport with your subjects?
Nigel: Absolutely. Every moment in time counts. From the moment you first meet someone — if they are shy, offish, rude, pompous, arrogant, demure, retiring, awkward, over confident or whatever — who and what they are portraying at that moment in time is crucial. Now you can decide to create your own narrative and put your own truth on the moment, or you can create an atmosphere that allows a person to relax. But none of these environments is any less genuine than the other and ultimately a great portrait just needs to be authentic and unforced. Normally when you are commissioned to take a portrait there is an agenda to shoot a beautiful and flattering image, but most of the iconic portraits in history have been about capturing the truth, whatever it looks like.
A few of my personal methods to creating a portrait are to set the tone with music, and to shoot in a location that either makes sense for the subject or is so foreign that the juxtaposition helps the focus of the image shine even brighter on the subject. I also talk a lot as I shoot, to catch my subject(s) off guard. I ask questions, like an interview, which often seems unexpected and can result in some very intimate reactions.
Adorama: What piece of advice — whether about photography or life — do you find yourself repeating and sharing with others the most?
Nigel: Smell the roses! Look around you and appreciate whatever you see. The number one question I get asked is where do I get my inspiration. Truly, I get it from everything and I never run out. From the weather, to the temperature, to politics, to my location, the culture… what’s expected and what’s not. And I love surprises. A great photographer is a visual raconteur, someone who tells a captivating story without uttering a word.
“A great photographer is a visual raconteur, someone who tells a captivating story without uttering a word.”
Adorama: Your philanthropy and humanitarian work includes partnerships with Make-A-Wish and Do Something, as well as the USO and The Edeyo Foundation, among others. How do you view your role in initiatives like these, where your influence and images directly impact the lives and livelihoods of individuals and communities?
Nigel: What could be more rewarding and gratifying than to move hearts and minds using photography? All the time I tell young photographers to find a cause that means something to them and use their skills to tell their story. As they say, ‘if you can see it then you can believe it,’ and, with that logic, photographers can tell the important, life-changing stories that impact our everyday. Personally I choose to celebrate life, diversity, and difference in my work with an aim to help people remember why they love life and everything that lives, with the hope that a gentle reminder will help them do something, too.
Adorama: What lesson or truth do you know now that you wish you’d known much earlier in your career?
Nigel: That perfection lies in the sum of our imperfections. To remember to breathe and listen to my breath and appreciate what it means to dream. To be compassionate. That begins with me first, because if you can’t love yourself then you absolutely can’t love anyone else fully.
Adorama: The first iteration of Top Photographer garnered more than 60 million social impressions and more than 40,000 social comments, as well as ranking as a finalist and audience honor in the Shorty Awards. How do you aim to build on this success for the new, IGTV Top Photographer Challenge series?
Nigel: Top Photographer Challenge is another iteration of an idea that feeds into the world’s excitement to tell stories with photography. Never before in history have people en masse had the opportunity to take and share pictures; it was always an expensive hobby. But now, with over two billion people armed with cameras on their cell phones, we are seeing an uprising in talent as if we had given children a pencil for the first time in history. With that said, there is an audience of people hungry to prove themselves, who want to learn and tell their stories through photography. Hopefully we can help give them the tools they need to inspire us all.
For more details, and how to win, head to adorama.com/tpc.
