Meet Jen Bauer | Wedding & Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Jen, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Just like a lot of millennials, I went to school every day from 8am to 3pm. I did my best to get ‘good’ grades, so I could get into a ‘good’ college, so that I could get a ‘good’ job and make money to have a ‘good’ life. Well.

Going to school day after day, year after year, had groomed (read: brainwashed) me into thinking there was only one track for success. And that was it. Don’t get me wrong, education IS important and I am so grateful for the educational opportunities that I was offered, but it wasn’t until I broke free from the 9-5 that I realized the road to success is not a straight line. Turns out, it has a lot of back entrances and hidden paths.

At the end of my life, when I look back at the things I have done, I won’t remember the hours I spent climbing the corporate ladder or sitting behind a desk. I won’t remember how much money I made in the year 2019 or the weekdays I spent in the office. What will I remember? Moments like photographing the sunrise over the Grand Canyon and capturing the groom’s reaction as his bride walks down the aisle. Memories like watching my dog frolic through snow for the first time, spending holidays with family, and celebrating my 30th birthday at the Trevi Fountain in Italy. I am going to remember the things that made me feel…alive.

This seems obvious, I know, but ‘knowing’ and ‘understanding’ are two very different things. Disconnecting my value as a human from my performance at a job has set me free to be creative and to serve my clients as the best version of myself. This realization of “what really matters” in my life sparked a new mentality for not just me, but for my entire business. At a certain point, I learned how to create strong boundaries that now allow me to respectfully say ‘no’ to things that do not serve me. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, why do it?

If we are lucky, we only get about 100 years in this life. So what actually matters? What do I want my life to look like at the end of it all? Starting my photography business forced me to start taking these questions seriously… and now that I have my answers, I am never looking back.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started off with landscape photography. I was traveling from National Park to National Park and landscape photography fit in with what I was already doing. I realized very quickly that my passion and work experience as a fitness coach and animal trainer was pretty useless on the giant sequoia trees and setting suns so I made a few changes.

Fast forward and now I shoot portraits, weddings, families, and military homecomings! I love using my personal training knowledge of angles and muscles to flatter you on camera, and my animal training knowledge of operant conditioning to positively reinforce even the tiniest movements that you didn’t know you were doing correctly.

There is nothing I love more than a wide, landscape shot of epic nature juxtaposed with a tiny human in a beautiful dress or suit. But your photos don’t have to be in a location with giant cliffs or canyons to be epic… they can be right outside your front door. I choose a light, bright, and true-to-life style for my photographs because it allows the subjects to be the main focus of the picture… and for me, that is what photos are all about.

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.
San Diego is a place where most people come to vacation. (I am reminding myself this because I often forget) I moved here for the palm trees, the year-round perfect weather, and the proximity to the ocean. So naturally, that’s what I would offer to my guests.

I live in Crown Point so the bay is right next to my house. We would grab some kayaks and paddle boards and cruise Mission Bay. And what is a day on the bay without some beach front drinks? Margaritas and sushi in Pacific Beach. To finish off the day, we would go to Rocky’s Crown Pub for the best burger in San Diego, arguably the best burger ever.

A San Diego trip is not complete with out visits to Old Town, Ocean Beach, and Coronado. Mexican food in Old Town at Cafe Coyote, sunset cheers and dinner at Wonderland Ocean Pub, and a glass of wine at the Hotel Del Coronado are at the top of my list. We would also head east where we would hike or even camp at Mt. Laguna and visit Julian for some Dutch Apple Pie at Apple Alley Bakery on Main Street. Another important stop is Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. Or if we head north… Cordiano or Orfila Winery and the San Diego Safari Park.

Anywhere you go in San Diego is going to be exciting. I have lived here 10 years and still haven’t explored it all.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Frankie Greishaber of All Good Things Photography took me under her tiny wing at the very beginning of my career. She taught me everything I needed to know from booking clients, to editing, and shooting weddings. She is the most supportive person, a wonderful mom, and a loyal friend.

Jen Jordan from Jen Jordan Photography and I met at a styled shoot and we became instant friends. We call each other co-workers because we work together so much on our businesses. She is an insanely talented military homecoming photographer and constantly gives me opportunities to shoot with her. I am so grateful to have met her

Rebekah Winn of WanderBars, San Diego (@wanderbars.sandiego) When Bekah heard I was starting a photography business she immediately offered to let me use her camera. A camera I needed to even be considered to help Frankie shoot weddings. She has been with me every step of the way and has watched me grow. I would not be where I am without her.

Website: https://www.jenbauerphotography.com/

Instagram: @jenbauerphotography

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