Meet Abigail Bobo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Bobo. 

Hi Abigail, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My adventure started around 7 or 8 when I would watch the light dance through the branches of the Georgia pines around my Southern home. It could permeate the densest brush, spilling out onto the ground to create designs all around me. I realized that when light showed up, it changed the way we would experience the world around us as it moved and shifted. There was a freshness, a newness, to everything it touched, and it brought joy and excitement with it. I could always find the light somewhere…even in the places that it seemed void. ‍ 

This light is what a photograph is. An array of light that is manipulated or caught just right, shows off the concept of possibility. Light creates a beauty that brings along with it a desire to see more, do more, be more. It draws us in as all good stories do.

I am enraptured by the stories that light tells, which is why I love, and believe, in what a photograph can say. I am more than a commercial photographer. I am more than a visual storyteller. I am a story maker, bringing to life the heart and soul behind brands and companies, that believe in the same things I do: Depth, community, adventure, enchantment, and wonder. I do more than create an image to sell a product; I curate a culture that cannot be ignored. 

As a Nashville, Dallas, and San Francisco-based commercial advertising photographer with a BA in Photography from Thomas Edison State College, and a Master’s of Divinity in Theology, I create art and tell stories from a deep understanding of the heartbeat of humanity. I travel far and wide both regionally and internationally for the stories that have to be told, beg to be told, and I simply cannot help myself in bringing them to life. See, anyone can tell a story, but it takes a perspective, passion, depth, and spark to give that story wings to soar. Along with these qualities, and a passport looking to be filled, I will travel anywhere. 

I shoot in diverse mediums, recognizing that the differences between a digital photograph and film image can give unique depth to what I want to showcase. From a tried-and-true full format Leica digital camera to two film Hasselblads, I shoot with intense purpose and intentionality. These cameras, along with hours of knitting (yes, knitting), have taught me the value of patience, finding the humanity in everything, being 3-4 steps ahead of where I need to be, and making the complex seem effortless. 

My work, through directing and creating each shoot and the stories that it can’t help but tell, speak for itself. I can tout all my credentials and clout, spouting flashy buzzwords that you’ll find on other sites such as visual storyteller, commercial creator, lifestyle photographer, visual director, landscape photographer, and director of art, but it’s important to note that I bring something extra that you won’t find on a simple resume. 

Like running through leaves on a fall day, I bring expectant hope. A tender and true glimpse into the layers deep underneath the facade of a company, just waiting to be given their day in the light. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning to grow a commercial photography business can be extremely rough… there are dreams that just take time to reach. Growth can be slow and painful, but once you hit momentum it becomes such a beautiful thing. Fortunately, Nashville and the surrounding advertising markets of Atlanta, Birmingham, and Virginia are full of amazing agencies and clients that I’ve been able to connect with so deeply. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work in commercial photography, which means I primarily work with advertising agencies, large businesses, smaller b2b businesses, and non-profits to tell their stories. I specialize in lifestyle and portrait photography, though I often work on cityscapes and landscapes for clients as well. 

My work is very real, honest, and authentic… buzzwords that are so easy to throw around, but that I know how to pull from my subjects in very natural ways. I live to connect with folks and to find the light. 

I’m proud of staying the course… the business can have its twists and turns, but as I go on, I find myself falling more deeply into the process and the beautiful artwork I get to create for clients. 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Nashville is extremely interconnected… honestly, it’s chock-full of so many creatives, artists, and entrepreneurs, and it is extremely supportive. We were in the “support local” movement long before it was popular… and I think it’s in my blood to buy my jeans from our local denim maker Imogene + willie and to shop groceries at the turnip truck whenever possible… because small business is the lifeblood of our city. 

Our strength is also our weakness… we are so very interconnected, and sometimes a little insular, but I see that changing with new transplants from New York and LA. Us locals love to complain about the traffic, but I also feel the beauty of fresh blood. Just please don’t cut me off in traffic, thanks. Also, we try to be kind to folks (see, insular, small community) so ya’ll keep that in mind. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.abigailbobo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigail_bobo/