Rachel Cobb Photography

I am a graduate of Bridgeton High School, and I studied art at the New England School of Art & Design, Ridgewood School of Art & Design and The Annex in New York City. Having lived and worked as a freelance graphic designer and photographer in NYC from 1979 to 2000, I have cultivated many clients in the publishing industry such as Time Warner, American Express Publishing, Hearst, Publishing Group of America, now Athlon Media Group, to name a few. I have had a very diverse client list from Patti LaBelle to designing print materials and photographing for a variety of garden-based publications and organizations, including The American Ivy Society, The Holly Society of America, San Diego Botanic Garden, San Diego Horticultural Society, California Garden Magazine, and the San Diego Floral Association and other independent people and groups.See current client list and work.

My work has been published in numerousnational and international books, calendars and magazines.

Life Story to date....

I'm a local to New Jersey, having attended Seabrook School (K-8), then Bridgeton High School, where I graduated in 1976. After high school, I moved to Oxford, Pennsylvania, for summer work. I worked with the same company, Star Roses, for three summers, while attending the New England School of Art & Design in Boston, the Ridgewood School of Art & Design in New Jersey and The Annex in NewYork City.

During my third summer at Star Roses, I met a freelance photographer, Farrell Grehan, who was on assignment for Smithsonian magazine. It was a chance meeting that changed my life. He asked me to edit the film he shot in Egypt for National Geographic and shipped me 600 rolls to review. It was a huge undertaking, but I realized how much I could learn by editing someone else's work. I was able to view the best images and the outtakes, helping me better understand the art of photography. He was impressed with my edits and spread the word among his buddies in New York.

After art school in 1979, I moved to NewYork City with no promised job, no place to live, but full of hope and enthusiasm. Farrell introduced me to a group of top photographers, many of whom I had admired for years. Farrell himself was a student of Edward Steichen, a very impressive credential in my book. I had to pinch myself every day. At the very least, I was smart enough to know I was in great company.

All of the photographers loved hanging out with this wet-behind-the-ears photographer want-to-be from New Jersey on the 28th floor of the Time and Life building. It was my home away from home for many years to come and only a couple of blocks from my new studio apartment.

Some of the world's most accomplished photographers to grace the halls of Time and Life asked me to edit their film. Many became my friends and generously offered advice, including Carl Mydands, Gordon Parks, Martha Holmes, Gjon Mili and my dear friend Alfred Eisenstaedt, just to name drop a few of the greats who invented photo journalism. I still keep in touch with a few, and sadly, many have passed away. It was such a special time, and I am thankful to them all for giving me the opportunity to develop my eye for photography.

Then I began to travel and take pictures for many publications. In another chance meeting in 1984, I became friendly with Patti LaBelle and spent many years, shooting CD covers and program guides for concerts and archiving events in her life. It's a special friendship, and I'm honored to have shared many wonderful memories with Patti.

Now you know where I came from; here is where I am today. I inherited my grandparents' farm in 1986 while I was living in NewYork City. I started taking pictures on the farm and showing them to my friends in the city. Not having a car at the time, I would drag bags of squash and peppers on the bus back each week so they would believe me. When asked the name of the farm I would laugh and say "Weedy Acres." So Weedy Acres was born. Weedy Acres is more than a place to live--it's a way of life for me. And I needed to move here full time to realize my true ambitions.While my goals are still developing, I am creating a living studio and strive to be surrounded at all times with endless photography opportunities. Just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, I didn't have to go over the rainbow to find my heart's desire; I only had to look in my own backyard. I still travel, but my commitment is to the land and the animals--those that I have chosen to adopt and those that have adopted me.

In addition to photography, I have a graphic design business, creating printed materials primarily for magazines. I specialize in promotion--everything from presentations, brochures, logos and special sections to in-store events, national events, invitations and advertisements.Technology has allowed me to work virtually anywhere, though I do get into the city often. See my portfolio section for a few samples.

I hope you enjoy the web pages as much as I enjoyed putting it together. It will continue to be updated with new galleries added as time permits. If you have a request let me know.

"And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." --T. S. Eliot