Meet Justin Baker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Baker.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
I entered adulthood thinking I’d be playing music professionally for most of my life, or at least hoped I’d be playing music professionally. After years of playing in different bands and odd jobs, it became clear that I needed to diversify my skill set if I was going to support my wife and two young children. Thankfully during those early musical years, a friend showed me how to edit video in iMovie, and a door was opened to new possibilities. I consumed as much information as possible about how to edit video, leading me into motion graphic animation and then into 3d animation. I spent my late 20s and all of my 30’s learning and experimenting with all of the different roles in video production I could while working freelance and for a large corporation just outside of Nashville. During this time, I could hone in on what motivated me to keep creating. I found my passion in producing documentary-style storytelling with my good friend and collaborator, David Wilkinson. We both left the company we worked at and co-founded Story Preserve. Story Preserve works with individuals and corporations to help articulate your story and preserve your legacy.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacles along the way have been mostly internal. Imposter syndrome is a hell of a thing. When you stumble into a new career and figure things out on your own, it’s easy to feel like you’re behind your peers.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently wrapping up production on a documentary I started shooting last year. It’s about a church in rural Appalachia that announced they are fully inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community in the fall of 2021. I’m particularly proud of this film because I produced and shot it. It had no budget and no crew. My partner at Story Preserve, David Wilkinson, did a masterful job weaving the story and interviews together to help tell the Grove church’s story. In the fall of this year, Story Preserve will begin production on another full-length documentary. I do smaller video productions playing the one-person band role in between bigger projects. I hope what I’m known for is my tenacity. If I have an idea or hear about a story that needs telling, I go after it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think the role of luck has played a little part in my life and business. To have luck, though, I believe you need to put yourself out there initially. Honestly, failure has played more of a role in my life and business than luck. Building upon the things I didn’t do well has carried me further than luck ever could.

Contact Info:

• Website: storypreserve.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/story_preserve/

Image Credits
Jill Baker Tony Marx