Past | Present | Future...

For many years now, I have wanted to take my photography to the next level. I've desired a higher education for photography.

Since at least 2003 I always thought I would end up in California. I thought I would end up at The Brooks Institute of Photography. For yeeeeeears I had many people telling me that school was a waste of my time and money and that if I truly wanted a good photography education, my best bet would be to find someone to assist/intern with.

I don't know why, but I always had my heart set on California. Maybe it's because I'm from Arizona, and a huge part of me misses that heat and sun on a daily basis? 9 times out of 10 when I would tell someone I wanted to move to California to "make it", they told me that if I was actually serious about it- I needed to be in New York, not California.

I will never forget the day my dad came home from my brothers parent-teacher conferences and told me about a photographer who was the father of one of my brothers classmates. He did his best to stress to my dad how important it would be for me to be in New York, not California. And my dad did his best to pass the message along. Like a robot I said "I know, I know. But California is where I want to be."

I knew right then that I was lying to myself.

Would I love to live in a city that never gets below 70〫? Would I love to live close to the ocean? Would I love to live near one of my best friends from high school? Yes, yes, yes.

Do I agree that NY is a better place for me, and what I want to do? Absolutely, 100%.

This move to NY has been a year+ in the making.

When I made the decision to make this move, I always said I would go- weather or not I could find someone to go with me.

I never dreamed that I would be so lucky to not only find one person to go with me, but two wonderful women. (plus one, but I don't know him... I'll make sure to fill you all in once we've met :) I am so glad that I'm not doing this on my own. I can't imagine my life being any other way right now.

Shortly after the 4th of July weekend, I spoke with my froommate (future roommate) Emily and she expressed to me that she had been entertaining the thought of heading to NY about a month earlier than originally planned. I thought about it for about 2 weeks before I decided that I would go with her. I'm very happy here in Omaha, and I've really enjoyed my summer here- but I need to stop living like I'm a high schooler on summer vacation. It's time to get serious. And there is no time like the present, right?

After many phone calls, emails, text messages, chat sessions... Emily and I decided that it would make the most sense to drive my car to North Carolina (where my parents and brothers just moved) and take the train from NC to NYC. While of course the train is going to take almost 5 times the amount it would take it would to fly- the cost benefits far outweighed the travel time. Did you know you can get a train ticket and up to SIX bags for at least $70 less than if you were to fly?! <- Just a little tip from me to you.

My last bit of time here in Nebraska is very surreal. People are constantly asking me, "Are you ready?", "Are you packed?", "Are you excited?". Am I ready? Mentally, yes. Physically, no. I have not packed much up- but plan on taking the next 2.5 days to do so.

Am I excited?

Excited doesn't even begin to explain the way I feel right now.

I have never felt more sure of anything in my life- and it's about to start happening in just a few short days.

I am so thankful, and grateful for all the wonderful people I have met here in Nebraska. Please know that my summer would not have been the same without each and every one of you.

Thank you to all of you who follow my blog and care enough to read about what I have to say.

Please stay tuned, as the next chapter of my life is about to be written.

Vote for Melanie!

As you've already seen a couple of post's down- Melanie recently had her 2 month photos taken (by me ;)

Well one of them came out SO good that Meg decided to enter her in a baby photo contest! I mean, she really is the worlds cutest baby riiiiight?

The best part is, along with a bunch of other prizes, if she wins the grand prize, she could receive a $25,000 scholarship!

It's super easy; all you have to do is go to this site:

http://www.gerber.com/Photo/#/vote/

-Search Photos
-Enter Melanie in the name box
-Enter Omaha in the city

Melanie's picture should pop up and click to vote. All you have to do is enter an e-mail address.

Every vote counts!

So please vote and help her win! You can only vote once a day, from each computer.

Get to it people!!! Make Melanie the next Gerber baby! :D

"This is a man's world"

Back in May, my dad met a [Portland] photographer who offered to help and "mentor" me as much as he could on my journey to NYC and finding a photographer to intern with.

His suggestion was to go through fashion magazines and make a list of all the photographers that caught my eye. I was then to give him the list (assuming they lived/worked in NYC) and he would get in touch with his agent to see if he could arrange a interview or a job for me with said photographer(s).

I have taken his advice and have now gone through three magazines. Yes, only three. I didn't want to spend money on any new magazines when I knew we had a few at home. I went through: In Style, Vogue, and Marie Claire. I tore out easily 100 pages of photos that really inspire me. At this time, I'm really excited by editorial work but am also looking to get into some beauty work and the occasional commercial work, but mostly just to pay the bills.

All of that is besides the point.

I have now compiled a list of 11 photographers all who's work I admire, and would be honored to work with. I have not taken the time just yet to see if they are in NYC- that's next on my "to-do" list.

All of them are men.

(hence the James Brown quote)

I exclude Annie Leibovitz from this list because as much as I would die to speak to her, let alone work with her- I'm being realistic: that will never happen.

It baffles (and bothers) me that in our society today, and in such a creative field, it is still dominated by men. I feel like if I wanted to be a lawyer, or a Wall Street tycoon, this might not bother me so much (not to say that women can't do those jobs, and do them damn well).

Especially considering the amount of models, marketing, etc, are women.

More often than not, when I work with a [female] model- they compliment me on how easy it is to work with me, and how refreshing it is to shoot with a woman. How a woman doesn't use words like "that's hot" or "sexy" when describing how a shot should or does look. We use words like "beautiful", or "elegant".

*** To all of my male photographer friends: I mean no disrespect to you, I still admire you and am forever grateful that I know you.***

I am now on a mission:

Find a NYC woman photographer to intern with.

Perhaps that's setting the bar a little high for myself?

Perhaps working with a women would be worse? (because we all know how women can be sometimes ;) Regardless, I'm going to at least make an attempt to work with a woman.

And furthermore, this has sparked a fire inside me that will continue to fuel me to be a great, well-known, WOMAN photographer.

Watch out world. Abbey Corbett is about to make a difference.

Allllll Aboard!

I have booked my ticket to NYC.

I am so excited.

I will post again later with more details, but for now here's the game plan:

• Drive from Omaha > St. Louis, spend the night, pick up Emily.
• Drive from St. Louis > Columbus, OH, spend the night with Emily's boyfriend.
• Drive from Columbus > Greensboro, NC, spend the weekend with my family.
• Take the (4AM) train from Greensboro > Penn Station.

• Be a NYC resident.

It's really happening. This is real life. This is MY life.

Picture Perfect

Yesterday I had one of the greatest photo shoots I have had in a while.

I worked with a model I had found on Model Mayhem, Madeline Meints.

I won't waste your time with too much blah, blah, blah.

I'll just share my favorite shot and tell you that this photo shoot was extremely refreshing. It was such a wonderful reminder that I am making the right choices for myself right now (not that I needed a one).