***Gaby Abboud***

Meet our visionary partner, photographer Gaby Abboud of Gabmaster Photography

Gaby Abboud - One of the most creative talents I’ve ever met.

Before I launched La Jolie MLN, I knew I would need a talented photographer who could help me create a signature for my website and my fashion line. Without hesitation I called one of the best in the business, Gaby Abboud. One of the most creative talents I’ve ever met, Gaby brings a wealth of technical know-how, along with an impeccable creative eye to his work. That interesting mix results in a portfolio of work that is uniquely bold and matchless in its originality. I’ll let Gaby tell you his story.

Daisy Malek-Shadid

*“The love of art never left me, but engineering seemed like a more practical choice. Eventually, I was able to combine the two.”*

-Gaby Abboud

My family moved to the U.S. from Lebanon in 2002. I went to college in Illinois, first majoring in art at the College of DuPage and then pursuing a degree in Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The love of art never left me, but engineering seemed like a more practical choice. Eventually, I was able to combine the two.

My interest in photography started while working as an engineer. I was looking at photos online, particularly what could be done with photoshop. My friend said, ‘that’s not photoshop; it’s something you can do with a camera.’ He owned a camera store and he sold me a lens that was almost as expensive as my camera. With the lens, I took photos everywhere I traveled for work. Then I started buying cameras, lights and lenses.

I made the move to professional photography, building my clientele. And by 2016, I was ready to leave my full-time job and move into photography. It was my love, and by then I had become pretty proficient. Once I got going, I never looked back.

*“…But I tap into my engineering skills for building sets, calculating lighting technique and setting color quality to enhance the image.”*

-Gaby Abboud

I don’t have one niche. I like to blend things. I like integrating people – it’s called on location portraiture. I can blur the landscape a bit to let the person stand out. My business consists of a lot of headshots for business people. I also do a lot of fashion, and I shoot products. I call myself a creative commercial photographer.

I’ve done work for LaBouche, a popular German band, Coolio, an American rapper, Roger Shah, a composer and DJ. And I’ve done product photography for companies such as Leonardo Millefiori Glassware and Poca Luce Candles plus countless portraits of executives for corporations and law firms. What I try to do is bring out what makes an individual or a product unique.

My passion for photography helped me leave everything I studied and go after something completely different. But I tap into my engineering skills for building sets, calculating lighting technique and setting color quality to enhance the image. You can take any image and change it based on light. Engineering has helped me bring an important discipline to my art; one that enhances the quality of my work.

For La Jolie MLN,, the mission is to show what real people look like in the clothes. We’ve been able to attract a very diverse mix of young women. The shoots are held in parks, on city streets, and in the studio. The support we’re getting is proof that, with the right vision and creative collaboration, you can tell a wonderful new story. I’m proud to be part of this artistic venture.