Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Baesler.
Hi Josh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in frigid Fargo, ND—yes, that Fargo—though I grew up mostly in Brazil, where my family moved when I was four. We returned to Minneapolis when I was fifteen. My mom was a music and arts director at our church, and from an early age, I was roped into every play and musical she produced. That’s when I caught the bug.
By the time I was 12, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to storytelling—through film and music. I studied both in college and co-founded the a cappella group Marcoux Corner, which became a full-time touring and recording act for 10 years. I handled our audio engineering, video production, and even directed a short mockumentary.
After the band wrapped, I moved to Austin, TX, where I met my now-wife. We later relocated to Long Beach, CA, where I taught music and led the band at her church, started a family, and dove deeper into filmmaking—studying screenwriting, acting, and directing while gradually building up my own equipment and skills.
In 2023, we moved to San Diego, and I launched Baesler Studio—my dream of returning to self-employment and full-time video production finally realized. Since then, we’ve welcomed our third child, and I’ve been building the business brick by brick, balancing the joys and chaos of parenthood with the work I love.
Today, Baesler Studio partners with businesses and nonprofits throughout Southern California, producing videos that connect, inform, and inspire. As we grow, our focus is expanding into more commercial work—collaborating with realtors, restaurants, retailers, contractors, and local brands to tell their stories with clarity and creativity.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d be surprised if anyone claimed their path to launching a business was smooth. There are always twists, turns, and challenges that force you to grow. One of the biggest for me came right as we were preparing to move to San Diego. My wife had accepted a new job, we were packing up our life—and then we found out she was pregnant with our third child.
It definitely wasn’t part of the original plan, but life rarely sticks to the script. Thankfully, our daughter was born healthy and has had a joyful first year. She keeps us—and her two big brothers—laughing every day with her ridiculous cuteness and spectacular smile. But, yeah… she’s also added a whole new level of chaos to the mix.
Starting Baesler Studio during all of that has been both exciting and demanding. When you’re bootstrapping a business from the ground up, you wear all the hats—creative, marketing, web, accounting, sales—you name it. And with a newborn in the house, scaling has been more of a slow build than a sprint. I’ve had to be patient, fitting in what I could, when I could. But even in the midst of the juggling act, I’m proud of what’s been built so far—and I’m excited for where it’s headed.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I started Baesler Studio, one of my core goals was to tell meaningful stories through filmmaking. That could be the story of an individual, a business, or a nonprofit—and those stories might be real, honest, fictional, surreal, or anything in between. What drew me to film in the first place was how it brings together so many different art forms—image, sound, dialogue, music, editing—to craft a compelling narrative, evoke a mood, or stir a specific emotion.
At Baesler Studio, I specialize in working with small to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits to bring their stories to life on screen. That might mean creating a brand video that builds trust with customers, a playful ad that introduces a new product, or a short documentary-style piece that highlights the impact of a nonprofit’s work. Every project is different, and I believe every story deserves its own creative approach.
What sets Baesler Studio apart is a deep focus on listening and collaboration. I work closely with each client to understand their vision, and then use every tool in the filmmaking arsenal—framing, color, sound design, editing, music, performance—to translate that vision into something visually and emotionally resonant. I also bring a unique perspective as both a filmmaker and a musician, which helps me shape tone, pacing, and emotion in a way that truly connects with viewers.
I’m especially proud of the work I’ve done with mission-driven organizations and small businesses—helping them communicate who they are and why they matter. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to create video content that feels real, looks great, and genuinely moves people.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Hmm… I suppose most people would be surprised to learn that I once won a Frank Sinatra sound-alike contest on a cruise. I only entered because my wife insisted—and I agreed, but only if she signed up for the limbo contest in return.
The “prize” for winning? I got (or maybe had) to sing My Way with a live pit orchestra as the grand finale of the ship’s variety show. My wife won the limbo contest too—her prize was a stack of drink tickets. All in all, a pretty memorable night.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.baeslerstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbaes/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshbaesler/
- Other: https://calendly.com/joshbaeslervideo/30min?month=2025-06
Image Credits
Kinndlee Lund
Matt Addington
Josh Baesler
Olga Kubrak
