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Nigel Barker on how to snap the perfect Instagram
02:33 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

Nigel Baker said there are three things to consider before posting a photo on social media

Barker is the host of a new reality competition show, "Top Photographer," which premieres November 1

The former "ANTM" judge reveals the key to the perfect selfie

CNN  — 

Nigel Barker knows a thing or two about taking pictures. Now he’s spilling his secrets about how to take the perfect photo – and boost your social media following too.

Barker, a fashion photographer who rose to fame as a judge on “America’s Next Top Model” for 17 seasons, told CNN that when it comes to Instagram there are three key factors to consider before posting a photo. The first is timing.

“Start to have a look at where [your followers] are,” Barker said. “If they’re in Asia, then you realize they’re asleep if you post midday in New York. If you post at certain times, it’s going to work better. The average person in the United States, if you post at say, 8:00, 9:00 at night, they’re checking their Instagram before they go to bed. They finished work, they’ve got time. Lunch break is another good time … Use the logic behind when to post.”

Barker, who has more than 200,000 Instagram followers, said his next key piece of advice is to think twice before using a filter.

“If you apply a filter that is a retouching filter that totally morphs the way you look, I say that’s not a good idea. However, we all do retouch ourselves constantly. Think about it, hair and makeup. We don’t wake up in the morning looking the way we do … People write, ‘Hashtag no filter.’ I’m like, ‘Hashtag BS’ because [the] reality is that we’re all retouching ourselves, dressing in a certain way.”

Barker also believes it’s very important to get personal with your audience.

“If you want a successful Instagram account, telling that story through pictures is fascinating for people to follow,” Barker said. “They get to see all the different facets of who you are, and I think that humanizes you in many different ways where you can hide behind pictures, but you can also open yourself up with them. I think that’s where social media can be very successful.”

Related Link: ‘America’s Next Top Model’ to end after 12 years

Barker is now hosting a new reality competition show, “Top Photographer.”

“Each week, we’re going to pit [photographers] against one another in challenges in certain categories,” Barker said. “If you’re a fashion guy and all of a sudden you’re asked to shoot a landscape, you’re going to have to try and work that out.”

Now to the most important question: How does one take the perfect selfie? Barker said it’s simple.

“Shoulder length, chin up, tighten that muscle underneath your chin, come down and look into the camera.”

Catch Barker’s new show when it premieres November 1 on Adorama’s YouTube page.