My dear friend and recent collaborator in Rays, Nicki Muller passed away today after bravely battling a brain tumor for the past few months.

I was blessed by meeting Nicki 8 years ago when I granted my first wish for the Make A Wish Foundation. At the time Nicki was in remission battling cancer at the tender age of 14 . It was my first wish I had granted for MAW and little did I know I would have my wish granted that day.

I remember Nicki and her family showing up at the studio, Nicki was so excited and charming to my whole team, she eagerly went through hair and make up, picked her clothes with the stylist and before long was in front of my camera. It was there that she stood and stared my camera down. I saw that she was standing with her scarred arm in view and I tried to carefully suggest she turn so it would be less evident. To that Nicki said “No!” to which I thought, “No one says no to me….!!” but seriously this precocious little girl stole my heart and started me on a journey of self discovery culminating in my book the Beauty Equation. Nicki then said, ” I don’t want to turn away, as this scar, my scar is why I am here, it’s who I am…..” it was the most beautiful and powerful thing I had ever heard and from the mouth of a young girl.

I was so enamored by Nicki that we stayed in touch over the years  and as she became a young lady we became friends and most recently collaborators. Nicki was my cover model in my book The Beauty Equation, for the chapter Allure, as well as full time contributor to the BE One website.

Over the past two years Nicki and I have worked together on various posts on BE One and most recently schemed to produce a series of photographs inspired and infused by Nicki’s artwork called Rays.

A week before we were set to shoot Rays, Nicki told me she had recently discovered she had a brain tumor. Nicki was adamant we continued on with our shoot and if possible with even more vigor than before.

Once again Nicki courageously faced an insurmountable task with bravery and without question. Nicki lit up my studio with her laughter, enthusiasm and talent despite her untimely situation. We produced 10 images that I printed as big as I could hang at Studio NB. We then had an incredible full house for the opening night of Rays where we sold out the entire series raising over $5000.00 for the Make A Wish Foundation.

Nicki may have died today but as I sit in my living room looking up at a stunning and thought provoking painting from her series Bone To Brain, I know that her spirit and inspiration will live forever. Nicki may not have lived long but despite how difficult and often times painful her life was she never ceased to amaze, create and wonder. To that my friend I thank you. You are and always will be very special to me. You will remain with me, as you will with so many who you touched.

With all my love

Nigel

I have been shooting for my good friend and top fashion designer Pamella Roland for many years. In fact  Studio NB, creative consultants on all aspects of the Pamella Roland brand and image. By being so integrally involved with the brand it really helps us realize the designers vision and execute the photos so they not just highlight the designs but the inspiration behind why she created the outfits and chose the specific fabrics.

Pamella is inspired by life and her travels, whether it be Greece, Italy or an artist or era. What usually happens is I am shown vision boards with all kinds of things pertaining to that inspiration that the design team are using to collaborate and brainstorm the coming collection.

While all this is happening we are thinking about appropriate lighting and backgrounds. More recently we have transitioned into a clean studio environment with all the emphasis on the drama and movement of the gowns playing with strong shadows and lots of drama! Pamella is known for dressing the stars and her gowns are more regular than many A-list celebrities at the Oscars and Emmy Awards etc.

For the Fall campaign we decided on dramatic hard light but with minimal shadow cast. We wanted the model Tassara to be radiating and glowing with health. It was also important to have movement which we created using wind machines and with Tassara physically jumping through the air. Even when you select a still shot the fact that the model actually jumped helps authentically give a flushed and energized look.

This campaign was shot at Pier 59 studios in NYC and my usual glam squad was Andrew Fitzsimmons and Quinn Murphy with styling done in house. My assistants were, starting with my 1st – Walter Sassard,  2nd – Matt Simmons, Digital Tech – Toby Sprague, Intern 1 – Lindsay Keys, Intern 2  – Jesse Rubenstein with my Studio manager Ali Azios producing the whole shoot seamlessly!

We shot using my usual Sony A900 cameras paired with Zeiss lenses. The back ground is lit by 4 heads with umbrellas on 2 trees to knock out shadows and produce a stark clean background. A single pro fresnel spot was used as a front light high up on an arm to create hard dramatic light  from a 45 degree position. We dropped black duvetine material on the ground to stop any bounced light filling the image as we wanted to control the light fully. The use of black V-flats also helps sharpen the light and make sure that there is minimal bounce

The advertising campaign can be viewed on the inside back page of the August issue of Harper’s Bazaar and will be in the September issue as well as many other magazines nationwide. For more of my work specific to Pamella Roland visit www.pamellaroland.com

After losing her legs while shielding her two children from a deadly tornado this spring, Stephanie Decker deserves a special Mother’s Day.

Decker, her husband Joe, and their two children flew to New York for a week of fun and pampering. First up: seeing the musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” which was a big hit with 6-year-old Reese and 8-year-old Dominic, as well as their parents.

Then Stephanie and her family got to enjoy a day of pampering, topped off by a super-glam photo shoot, organized by style and beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson and photographed by Nigel Barker of “America’s Next Top Model.” They all got to take in a Yankees game. And since she lost her wedding ring (along with her house and most of her family’s possessions) in the 175-mph tornado, husband Joe gave her a new one.

“That’s a whopper!” TODAY’s Ann Curry cried, admiring the very sparkly new ring.

Take me out to the ballgame…

“I think she earned it,” Joe said. “She’s my hero. I love her greatly.”

Reese told Curry that she knows what her mom did for her and her brother. “I like that she took care of us,” she said. “She loves us, and I love her too.”

Though Stephanie enjoyed the glam life and certainly loved her new ring, she told TODAY Moms the biggest highlight of the week for her was actually going to a New York Yankees game. She and her family are huge Yankees fans, so meeting some of the players was a thrill.

The highlight of the week for Stephanie? Watching her kids meet their baseball heroes on the Yankees.

“They gave us such a warm welcome, and they took the time to talk to our kids,” Decker said backstage at TODAY. “That meant a lot.”

One of her first goals after getting out of the hospital was to attend her son’s baseball games (her husband is also a baseball coach). She was able to do that, and even got to throw out the first pitch at a University of Louisville baseball game. So watching her children meet their baseball heroes was a fitting gift for this mom on Mother’s Day.

All along, Stephanie has said she just acted on instinct and did what any mother would do to protect her children. And her words to other moms this Mother’s Day are simply to follow that instinct: “Just take care of your child. Most mothers out there protect them just like I did. Take care of them. Hold them close.”

Indiana mom Stephanie Decker says she simply acted on instinct when a deadly tornado struck on March 2. As her home was ripped to shreds, she threw a blanket over her two children and lay on top of them, shielding them with her body as debris rained down. They emerged without a scratch; Stephanie lost one leg below the knee and the other leg above the knee.

She has blogged for TODAY Moms as she made her way through surgeries, rehab, and finally home, where she recently celebrated her daughter’s 6th birthday and got her first prosthetic foot. TODAY brought Stephanie to New York this week for a Mother’s Day surprise. She knew something was up, but she had no idea what! Here’s what Stephanie wrote for us earlier this week.

This is such an exciting week for us as we head to NYC! We are still so completely overwhelmed at the support from our friends, family and our newfound friends all over the world!! We will be eternally grateful for everything that has been done for us! I love and have read all the notes and cards mailed to me and I am inspired by all of your kind words!

Our first night in New York was fabulous! Took the kids to see Spiderman and it was incredible. What an enthralling show and the kids are mesmerized! Looking forward to day #2. However, it is filled with surprises that I am being kept in the dark about!! I wonder what NBC has up their sleeve? More to come on our journey… and I will fill you in on today’s surprises

Find out about Stephanie Decker’s fund for tornado victims, the Stephanie Decker Foundation. Read more about Stephanie Decker’s amazing story, in her own words: