Throughout the 1980s, Kern gained international recognition for his editorial and commercial photography. His work appeared in major publications such as Vanity Fair, Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Time, Rolling Stone, and Interview. At the same time, he produced advertising campaigns for prominent clients including Nike, Absolut Vodka, AT&T, IBM, Sony, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz. Unlike conventional advertising photographers, Kern approached commercial assignments as conceptual narratives, incorporating symbolism, humor, and cinematic storytelling into images that functioned simultaneously as advertisements and independent artistic works.