Welcome to “Home Is Where the Heart Is”, a collection of photos that captures the essence of travel, spontaneity and self-discovery.

Abby Cooke is a senior Marketing major with a concentration in European Business. Set to graduate in December 2024, she has already built a strong foundation for her future, combining her passion for travel and photography with her expertise in business. Photography has been a central part of Abby’s life, starting with a small digital camera she received as a child. What began as a fun pastime has evolved into a professional pursuit. In 2020, she launched her own photography business, blending her creative vision with her growing expertise in marketing and entrepreneurship.

Abby’s camera, the Canon T7, has accompanied her during her travels, capturing the landscapes, architecture and life of the places she’s explored. Her current photography collection is particularly meaningful as it documents her solo adventures and two study abroad programs. Having been the first in her family to travel abroad, Abby's photos are more than just visual memories—they’re personal milestones symbolizing her determination to see the world. Her favorite images come from moments of spontaneity and discovery, whether it was hiking to a viewpoint in Vienna or wandering the streets of Belgium.

What sets Abby's photography apart is her ability to convey a sense of place that is both intimate and immersive. Rather than presenting staged or highly edited images, she focuses on capturing moments as they happen, allowing her audience to feel as though they are right there experiencing the scene firsthand. This philosophy drives her work—she wants her photos to be an invitation for others to explore the world through their own lenses, without fear or hesitation. Her images are soothing yet vibrant, offering a thematic exploration of travel that is relaxing to view but filled with personal depth.

Abby’s love for photography has also been influenced by her time shadowing professional photographers and working as a sports photographer for UGA football. While sports photography helped refine her technical skills, it was her love for travel and landscapes that inspired her to focus on capturing the world’s natural beauty and cultural richness. For Abby, photography is subjective and deeply personal. It’s not just about the equipment, it’s also about the story you can tell through a single frame. She believes every photo can offer a unique perspective, even if the subject is familiar to others.

Her artistic mindset aligns closely with her academic pursuits. Abby’s marketing major has equipped her with strategic thinking and communication skills, which she applies to her photography business. By combining her creative instincts with her marketing knowledge, she has been able to grow her business, applying her understanding of consumer behavior, branding and digital marketing to showcase her work to a wider audience. Her ability to balance the artistic side of photography with the practical side of business makes her a well-rounded artist and professional with aspirations to continue her photography career alongside her business endeavors.

Abby’s collection is deeply personal and important to her, as it reflects her lifelong dream of relocating to Belgium. Her photos are not only a testament to her love for travel but also a visual reminder of the place she hopes to one day call home. With each image, she captures more than just a moment in time; she captures her future aspirations and her unwavering passion for seeing the world. Through her work, Abby hopes to inspire others to chase their dreams, take risks and embark on their own adventures.

View the full collection here