Born in Chicago in 1953, Arbeit was raised in Northern California. When Arbeit was 16, the family moved to Oahu, Hawaii, and the beauty of the islands awakened Arbeit’s senses.  At 18, Arbeit enrolled in the University of Hawaii to study art and photography. A few years later, he decided to focus solely on photography and transferred to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. During his third year there, he met Helmut Newton through a mutual friend. Newton took Arbeit on as an assistant, and Arbeit looked to Newton as a ‘photoguru’. 

Upon finishing his studies, Arbeit moved to New York and was hired by Irving Penn as a studio assistant. Again, Arbeit approached his work as an apprentice, taking everything in. ‘Penn was Mr. Technique,’ says Arbeit. ‘Everything he does is so meticulous, so perfect”. ... http://www.markarbeit.com/about