“I’m a big fan of Manila, especially its weather,” says former “Americas Next Top Model” (ANTM) photographer judge Nigel Barker. It’s his third time to visit; he’s here to promote his second book, “Models of Influence.”
At the press conference organized by National Book Store, Barker was thankful that no one asked him what it was like to shoot in the 1940s. “I appreciate that. I’m not quite that old,” he quipped.
To be clear, his latest book is not a collection of photographs taken throughout his career, but a loving tribute to influential women across different eras who have helped transform the fashion and beauty industries.
Barker describes Lauren Hutton as one of those influential women, the first model to strike a $1 million deal in the ’70s for a Revlon advertising campaign.
Barker adds: “This book is about celebrating those kinds of models, the ones that changed the way we do business, the way we see beauty and the way the fashion and beauty worlds work. If you want to be a model of influence, you really have to be a smart woman, too, have a powerful idea and be able to follow through.”
He’s no stranger to such women, having sat next to Tyra Banks on ANTM. “She was an amazing person to work with,” he recalls. “She has an incredible work ethic. She created a television show that really changed the way we see reality TV.”
Digital is the standard
He reflects on how quickly the industry can change, recalling how experimental it felt to be shooting with digital cameras on the first season of ANTM. “There were only one or two digital photo assistants in the whole of New York City. It’s amazing what’s happened in that past decade, when now digital is the standard.”
Thanks to Instagram, the ubiquity of smartphone cameras, and technological advancements in digital photography, photographers have multiplied exponentially.
But Barker says the competition doesn’t faze him. “I’m not afraid of it. Actually I think it’s a wonderful and exciting moment for photography. Every child who has a pen to write with doesn’t become a journalist or an author. Each child who draws on paper doesn’t become an artist, but it allows them to have an appreciation of writing and an understanding of art.
“I find it fascinating. I love the fact that now everyone is interested in photography. People come up to me daily and want to know how I do this or that; yes, there are now many more people who want my job. Come and get it, is what I say.”
Speaking of Instagram, one reporter asked Barker for tips on how to take the perfect selfie. Barker cheekily says, “You want a selfie lesson, is that what this is? C’mon, you want a selfie lesson, don’t you? Selfies are huge, and ironically, my last book, ‘Beauty Equation,’ was really a book on selfies. I know it may sound trite, but the best thing you can do for yourself to look good in a picture is to feel confident. Confidence is key in a photograph.”
“A model who is confident immediately has strength, power, and is attractive and charismatic. The best thing you can do is to try and get that confidence, and where you find it is obviously up to you. What I’ve always recommended is having compassion for yourself, but also do something good in the world.”
He adds: “If you do something good in the world, if you help out someone, you have the right to feel good. You have the right to stand up straight and say, ‘I am a good person,’ and that’s a power in itself. The power of giving back is the most powerful thing you can ever have. I say that in all honesty because I know you may want to hear (a selfie) is some body position or some way you hold your neck and all that kind of stuff, but it’s not—it comes from within.”
Barker has shot a number of editorials and campaigns here, too, and says he is a fan of Filipino beauty. “I am absolutely a big fan of Filipino beauty. I noticed that a big part of Filipino character is friendliness, everyone’s very hospitable, charming and graceful. These aren’t characteristics you find in models the world over, every country has its own sensibility to it. These are things that can be enormously alluring, and for me that is a very special and potent part of the Filipino beauty. It’s an inner beauty attribute, which is a wonderful thing because it really means anyone can have it regardless of how pretty they are on the outside because it comes from within, I find that fantastic.”
Barker points out that everyone has the power to influence the world of fashion through social media. “Now we, the people, are liking and following models on social media and Anna Wintour sees that and puts the Kardashians on the cover of Vogue. Why? Because we like them. We put them on the cover of Vogue, that’s the irony. At the same time it’s also strength and power because what that means is now we can say, ‘We want to see more models of different ethnicity or more models of different shapes and sizes.’”
“These people are now listening to us. That same power to put other people on the cover can also put other people in campaigns to become the faces of the brands that we support. It’s time for us to use social media more than just having fun with our friends.”
“Models of Influence” is available at National Book Store. Shop online at www.nationalbookstore.com.ph. Follow them on Twitter/Instagram: @nbsalert.
Watch Nigel Barker talk about what “Models of Influence” is about, why he is a fan of Filipino beauty and why he’s dedicating his book to his mother.
