I was on facebook yesterday and saw on my old friend Ariane’s page that her father, Seth Baker had passed. Seth was the publisher of Los Angeles Magazine, Beverly Hills [213] Magazine and a host of other publications. He gave me my first break as a photographer in the mid 80′s and opened more doors in my career than I can recall. Under his watchful eye, I became a photographer. He gave me my first celebrity editorial assignment, he gave me my first cover shoot. He was a quick tempered, decisive man who knew what he wanted and didn’t suffer fools gladly….which is no doubt the reason why he fired me so many times over the 20 years I shot assignments for him. Yet it was because of his profound level of patience, support and guidance through those initial years as one of his staff photographers that I was able to fine tune my technical skills and even more importantly, learned how to shoot the toughest photographic subjects on the planet…high profile personalities.
Through the years, I also had the pleasure to get know and eventually work for Seth’s children, Ariane and Scott. I can remember shooting a formal portrait of Seth and the kids when Ariane was just 7 or 8 years old…years later they both were working at his right hand managing the company. Seth’s generosity and thoughtfulness to me and my family, especially when Sophie arrived on the scene, I will never forget. There is much about the Baker family I am most thankful for. There will always be a warm spot in my heart for all of them.
Seth’s life left a wake that will long be remembered by many. I will always be grateful to have been a small part of it.
Seth Baker / Beverly Hills, Ca. © Christopher Barr 2004
In Memoriam: Seth Baker
I was on facebook yesterday and saw on my old friend Ariane’s page that her father, Seth Baker had passed. Seth was the publisher of Los Angeles Magazine, Beverly Hills [213] Magazine and a host of other publications. He gave me my first break as a photographer in the mid 80′s and opened more doors in my career than I can recall. Under his watchful eye, I became a photographer. He gave me my first celebrity editorial assignment, he gave me my first cover shoot. He was a quick tempered, decisive man who knew what he wanted and didn’t suffer fools gladly….which is no doubt the reason why he fired me so many times over the 20 years I shot assignments for him. Yet it was because of his profound level of patience, support and guidance through those initial years as one of his staff photographers that I was able to fine tune my technical skills and even more importantly, learned how to shoot the toughest photographic subjects on the planet…high profile personalities.
Through the years, I also had the pleasure to get know and eventually work for Seth’s children, Ariane and Scott. I can remember shooting a formal portrait of Seth and the kids when Ariane was just 7 or 8 years old…years later they both were working at his right hand managing the company. Seth’s generosity and thoughtfulness to me and my family, especially when Sophie arrived on the scene, I will never forget. There is much about the Baker family I am most thankful for. There will always be a warm spot in my heart for all of them.
Seth’s life left a wake that will long be remembered by many. I will always be grateful to have been a small part of it.
Seth Baker / Beverly Hills, Ca. © Christopher Barr 2004
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