Meet Jenny Baumert | Underwater Cinematographer & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Baumert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a career in visual arts because it’s my favorite form of self-expression and I truly believe it’s an effective technique for raising awareness and creating empathy. I love telling stories through images and connecting people to the world surrounding them by showing them places they might otherwise not get to see. I love how surreal our planet is and all of the creatures that inhabit it. Showing that beauty to others might spark more curiosity and care for the place we call home.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I capture the beauty of our planet above and below the surface. I want to tell stories that help individuals fall in love with all who inhabit our earth. It has been a challenging journey to get my career where it is today, and it still has so much more to grow! I’m saying yes to just about everything, learning to trust my gut, networking as much as possible, and soaking up everything I can from other creators I admire. Starting my own business and going down the path I’ve chosen has taught me how strong I am and how I can push through difficult moments, it’s teaching me to have more patience when working with all different types of personalities. It’s allowing me to see the world and exposing me to new species, cultures, ideas, and ways of living. I can’t wait to see where my art takes me next!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite things about California is that in just a couple of hours or less, you can be in the desert, forest, mountains, or ocean. You have all the different landscapes surrounding you, there are so many outdoor activities to do and national parks to visit. You can go rock climbing, repelling, snorkeling, and diving, you can even hit the slopes!

If I were to plan out a week-long trip for my best friend I would start with going to Joshua Tree, it’s such a unique and beautiful place. We would explore the Joshua Tree National Park and visit some of the thrift stores before sitting down to an amazing dinner, and possibly a show, at Pappy & Harriets in Pioneertown.
I would plan a day at the beach, most likely El Matador, because of the beautiful rock formations and lack of tourists.
We would head north to Sequoia National Park to see the giant redwood trees and camp beneath them and stop at Kern River on our way up to cool off and jump into the water from one of the giant rocks.
We would explore the underwater world at Catalina Island and snorkel and dive through the giant kelp forests; there are a lot of great hiking trails throughout Catalina as well.
If it’s the right time of year, I would end this journey with a road trip to Big Bear to ski and snowboard down the mountain and stay the night in one of the cozy cabins around The Village. And you can never leave Big Bear without stopping for breakfast at the Grizzle Manor Cafe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to all the encouraging and supportive humans I’ve come across in my career who believed in me! There are so many talented and kind individuals and groups I owe a great thanks to. These people recommended me, passed work over to me, and guided me throughout my journey. Shoutout to Hydroflex, Mallory Morrison, Brett Stanley, Ian Takahashi, Alex Chaloff, Ricky Chavez, Hal Wells & The Hollywood Divers crew, Nicholas (Sodapop) Franchot, the Acton water stage crew, Sasha Marie Speer and so, so many more..this is just to name a few, the list goes on and on.

Website: www.jenny-baumert.com

Instagram: @Jenny.baumert

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennyBaumert88/