Nigel Barker, 'America's Next Top Model' judge, comes to Weymouth to photograph seniors

WEYMOUTH – Nigel Barker has traveled the world photographing celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Hilary Swank and Don and Joan Tucci.

A longtime judge on the TV series "America's Next Top Model" and a fashion photographer, Barker was in Weymouth this week to take portraits of residents of The Current, a 165-unit luxury senior living community on Route 18 which opened in November.

What is the difference was between photographing some of the world's most recognizable faces and the Tuccis, Barker is asked.

''With a young model, it is trying to coax the personality out of them," Barker said. "With a senior, they come with a personality. Their lines and their wrinkles tell the story. Whoever I photograph is the star of the moment."

Weymouth couple gets star treatment at The Current in Weymouth

Don and Joan Tucci were both recipients of the star treatment. Both grew up in Weymouth, and they raised four children in town.

Don, 91, is a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he traveled the world aboard an aircraft carrier before going to work for Boston Edison for 37 years. Joan, 88, was a telephone operator.

" I could not imagine how many times he clicked that thing," Don Tucci said, referring the shutter clicks of Barker's camera.

Joan Tucci described the experience as "surreal," .

"I hope the pictures came out good," she said.

Photo session part of larger Monarch Communities project

Barker is traveling around the northeast photographing residents of six complexes owned by Monarch Communities, New York-based parent of The Current. There is another The Current facility in Beverly. He said he loves to hear the stories of his senior subjects and tries to reflect them in his work.

He got involved in the company at the request of company CEO Michael Glynn, who was looking for ideas for improving senior living complexes, which Glynn felt "weren't up to par." The two knew each other because their children attended school together. Barker points out that each of the company's buildings is WELL certified, where are third-party reviews building features which impact the health and well-being of its occupants.

Taylor Burns, sales marketing director at The Current, said the community features "a heavy focus on wellness, and not just the medical. It is all about the best quality of life."

The Current features independent-living apartments and assisted-living and memory-care units. There is also an on-site rehabilitation facility,

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Nigel Barker, judge on 'America's Next Top Model,' comes to Weymouth