John E. Barrett

John Barrett (b. April 30, 1951) is a New York photographer who has worked for the Muppets and other Jim Henson Company properties as well as Sesame Workshop.
Born in Tyler, Texas, Barrett worked as an apprentice photojournalist for Conti-Press, in Hamburg, Germany. He then attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He assisted various photographers before opening his own studio in 1974 in New York City with photographer David Arky (who left to be on his own in 1976). Some of their early work included the National Lampoon poster, "Are You a Nerd?"
Barrett's first encounter with Jim Henson occurred when he was commissioned by designer David Kaestle to photograph the puppeteer with an early version of Cookie Monster. In 1979, David Kaestle recommended Barrett to provide display photography for the "Art of the Muppets" traveling exhibit, and the subsequent Art of the Muppets book.
In 1980, to meet the growing demand for top quality photography in a specialized field, the Henson Company established the Henson Photo Studio, which was overseen by Calista Hendrickson. In 1985, the studio moved from the Muppet Workshop to a three story carriage house. Barrett worked closely with Michael K. Frith on such projects as Miss Piggy's Guide to Life and the Miss Piggy calendars, and with Bob Payne, Jim Mahon, Rick Wetzel, Lyndon Mosse, and Lauren Attinello.
Barrett's photo team included scenic artist Bruce Morozko, prop master Karl Soderstrom, costumers Deborah Lombardi and Barbara Davis, stylist Danielle Obinger, and photograph assistants Marianne Bernstein and Christie Sherman.
Barrett was responsible for the photography used in most Henson publications including Muppet Magazine, calendars, posters, licensing, books, press releases, advertising, corporate jobs, and more. He also supplied the puppet photography for Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Bear in the Big Blue House, as well as other children's TV shows including Between the Lions.
In 2001, Barrett was the focus of a segment on the "Point of View" episode of Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola.
In December 2005, the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City presented an exhibit of Barrett's photography called "The Muppets Say Cheese", which ran through April 2006 and featured a documentary covering his work by Craig Shemin.
==Books==
Book.artmuppets.jpg|The Art of the Muppets(1980)
Bigbirdsfarm.jpg|Big Bird's Farm(1981)
Guidetolife.jpg|Miss Piggy's Guide to Life(1981)
Book - Grover's New Kitten.png|Grover's New Kitten(1981)
Onerubberduckie.jpg|One Rubber Duckie(1982)
MakingOfDC.jpg|The Making of the Dark Crystal(1983)
Book.bigbirdsmothergoose.jpg|Big Bird's Mother Goose(1984)
Book.bigbirdisyellow.jpg|Big Bird Is Yellow(1990)
Book.babiestales.jpg|Muppet Babies' Classic Children's Tales(1990)
Book.babiesrhymes.jpg|Muppet Babies' Classic Nursery Rhymes(1991)
Muppetsmakepuppets.jpg|The Muppets Make Puppets!(1994)
Book.501facts.jpg|Kermit's 501 Fun Facts(1995)
Book.Bear and Tutter's Big & Little ABC's.jpg|Bear in the Big Blue House books(1997)
Misspiggysrules.jpg|Miss Piggy's Rules(1997)
Book.groverbabylove.jpg|Baby Photo Board Books(1998)
Book.friendship.jpg|Muppet Book of Friendship(1999)
Book.averymuppetchristmas.jpg|A Very Muppet Christmas(1999)
Book.ewpuppies.jpg|Elmo's World books(2000)
Funnyfoodfaces.jpg|Funny Food Faces(2000)
Ballerinazoe1.jpg|Ballerina Zoe(2002)
Bigenoughforabed.jpg|Big Enough for a Bed(2002)
Book-bigenoughforabike.jpg|Big Enough for a Bike(2002)
==Albums==
ExerciseLP.jpg|Exercise!(1982)
FirstTimeLP.jpg|For the First Time(1982)
Album.aerobique.jpg|Miss Piggy's Aerobique Exercise Workout Album(1982)
Just the Two of Us LP.png|Just the Two of Us(1982)
Album.singalong-lp.jpg|Sesame Street Sing-Along!(1982)
AddLP.jpg|Born to Add(1983)
GangLP.jpg|The Gang's All Here!(1983)
MyRecord.jpg|My Sesame Street Record(1983)
LP Rocky Mountain Holiday.jpg|Rocky Mountain Holiday(1983)
1983.JPG|Surprise!(1983)
Album.ssxmassingalong.jpg|Sesame Street Christmas Sing-Along(1984)
Album.brownears.jpg|Ol' Brown Ears is Back(1993)
Album.unpigged.jpg|Kermit Unpigged(1994)
==Calendars==
Titania.jpg|The Miss Piggy Calendar 1982(1982)
Calendar.piggy1983.jpg|Miss Piggy's Calendar of Calendars(1983)
Gothic-k&p.jpg|Miss Piggy's Art Masterpiece Calendar(1984)
Muppet babies nursery rhyme calendar 1989.jpg|Muppet Babies Nursery Rhyme Calendar 1989(1989)
Calendar.babies1990.jpg|Muppet Babies Storybook Calendar 1990(1990)
Calendar.muppets1998.jpg|Muppet Parodies 1998 Calendar(1998)
Calendar.sesame1999(food).jpg|1999 Sesame Street Food Calendar(1999)
==Magazines==
Ssmag.198511.jpg|Sesame Street Magazine various issues
Mupmag01.jpg|Muppet Magazine Chief Photographer(1983-1989)
GQ Mexico Cookie Monster 2018 03.jpg|GQ Mexico(August 2018)
==Other==
Art of the muppets poster.jpg|The Art of the Muppets (exhibit)(1979)
Board - Muppets on the Orient Express.jpg|Alviero Martini(1980s)
GMC Piggy's portfolio 01.png|Miss Piggy's Portfolio in The Great Muppet Caper(1982)
Kodak big bird.JPG|Kodak(1990s)
Muppetsunglasses.jpg|Muppet Trading Cards(1993)
Scarlet-rhett.jpg|Gone with the Wind for Jim Henson: A Man and His Frog opening(2007)
Google doodle final.jpg|Google Doodle(2009)
==External links==
* John E. Barrett's official site
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Category:Photographers