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Barker began his photography career with America’s Next Top Model—one of the most successful fashion reality television series—during the show’s second season. The network was interested in taking him on for a more permanent position as both judge and photographer. At the time, television was not very exclusive or elitist and partaking in a show that was on prime-time television was once frowned upon. Knowing this, Barker still took the risk in 2003 and has since then served 17 successful seasons on the show. What is most unique about Barker’s extensive career as a photographer is that he practiced his craft by shooting with film. The world of digital photography did not exist until the mid-2000s. His first experience with digital photography was on America’s Next Top Model where he was expected to shoot digitally for a Garden of Edenthemed photo shoot. Lumiere digital company was launching its first digital camera, and with only five of their digital cameras in the country—Barker was given the opportunity to be one of the first to use the equipment. In the beginning of its launch, America’s Next Top Model was a very low-budget reality television series, but was valued by viewers due to its authenticity. No one on the show became famous until several seasons progressed. America’s Next Top Model then changed dramatically and by the end of its run, members of the show, including Barker, gained fame and success as being part of a well-known television series that aired in over 100 countries with over 100 million viewers all over the world. Barker tells us that the biggest lesson he gained from working for an extensive period on America’s Next Top Model was the importance of the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Certain contestants over the course of the show would reveal themselves as future stars and Barker enjoyed seeing the arc of transformation of the people who had potential and were willing to learn. This sparked the mentoring aspect of his career that he uses today in launching his Top Photographer—a very similar concept of uncovering talent and potential.
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