  Using a large sample of MgII absorbers with 0.4<z<2.2 detected by Nestor et
al (2005) in the Early Data Release of the SDSS, we present new constraints on
the physical properties of these systems based on two statistical analyses: (i)
By computing the ratio between the composite spectra of quasars with and
without absorbers, we measure the reddening effects induced by these
intervening systems; and (ii) by stacking SDSS images centered on quasars with
strong MgII absorption lines and isolating the excess light around the PSF, we
measure the mean luminosity and colors of the absorbing galaxies. This
statistical approach does not require any spectroscopic follow up and allows us
to constrain the photometric properties of absorber systems.
