Bio: A Snapshot of Photographer Nigel Barker

Born in London, Nigel Barker, 42, now lives in New York City with his Covergirl wife Cristen and their two children. 

Growing up in the fashion business with his mother, a former Miss Sri Lanka, he attributes his respect for modeling and fashion to her.

He was studying to be a doctor at boarding school when his mom entered him into a TV model search, The Clothes Show, and was selected for the show, becoming a finalist. He spent the next 10 years modeling in London, Paris, Milan, and New York.

Although in the business for 20 years, he transitioned himself in 1996 from in front of the camera to behind the camera.Together with his wife they founded their own studio in the trendy Meat Packing District of NYC, StudioNB, the same year.

His preferred style of photography are portraits.

"As a fashion photographer who specializes in portraiture, the subject of portrait photography is really about breaking down walls and revealing people because that's, in my opinion, what makes a classic image. It's when you get to see the truth; an authenticity about a person. I can only do that if whomever I'm photographing reveals (themselves) to me and for someone to (do that), they have to trust you. As a result, you've got to be approachable, you've got to be believable, you've got to be honest yourself. Hopefully, I project a voice of reason and a sensibility that's not overreacting, but at the same time is reacting to what their saying. It felt very natural this time around. It was very invigorating."

- Nigel Barker

Taylor Swift released a Photobook in November 2012 and teamed up with Barker for featured photos.

Barker is best known for the 17 seasons he sat on the judging panel with Tyra Banks and took photos for America's New Top Model contestants. He now has his own show The Face on Oxegen with Naomi Campbell.

His work has graced the pages of many magazines including GQ and Seventeen.

He continues to expand his fashion expertise and has leant his photographer's eye as a host for beauty competitions in recent years, namely the 2008 Miss America pageant and the 2012 Miss Universe pageant. 

A humanitarian at heart, in 2009 he opened a photography exhibit Haiti: Hunger and Hope at the Milk Gallery in New York. The exhibit showcased world issues such as hunger, AIDS and animal abuse (The Humane Society) which earned him a nomination for a Do Something With Style Award sponsored by VH1 "Do Something Awards."

In 2010 he published a book Nigel Barker's Beauty Equation: Revealing a Better and More Beautiful You that is also developing a coinciding skin care line to help women be confident and camera ready.
 
His creativity evolves him as his life progresses. His son has an interest in skateboarding, which lead Barker to create a line of boards teaming with SHUT NYC featuring his photography in 2013.

Building a creative empire one year at a time, he is not only a photographer of style and diversity but seems driven to leave his mark on the world that revolves around him.