SUPERYACHT PHOTOGRAPHER JAINIE COWHAM

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JAINIE COWHAM BA (Hons)

Superyacht Photographer, Film Maker And Expedition Documentarian.

NOTABLE YACHTS

SHAMROCK V - GERMANIA NOVA 

Jainie grew up surrounded by boats and creative minds. Exported from Yorkshire to Australia at the age of four, her formative years were a whirlwind of exploration in a gorgeous double-ended classic bus, learning to read and write under trees teeming with parakeets and a landscape alive with nature.

S.Y. Shamoun - Photo © Jainie Cowham Yacht Photographer 

Returning to the UK wasn’t an easy transition and her zest for the unknown soon found her afloat as bosun with the Ocean Youth Club, learning the ropes in some of the world's most challenging tidal and weather conditions. 25,000 nautical sea miles of Scottish and Irish waters before the age of 18 sealed her destiny, and today she is a photographer for some of the finest vessels afloat and has travelled to all corners of
the globe, documenting and capturing some remarkable vessels and their even more remarkable projects.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine-art photography and over 30 years of experience shooting Superyachts for most of the yacht brokerage and charter companies, countless glossy magazine and book covers, and working alongside some high-end event companies, Jainie’s enthusiasm, professionalism and creativity has no bounds. For the past 15 years, she has been under private contract with a very discerning yacht owner running a small team of photographers and videographers.

The brief was to entertain and educate the owner's young family by creating theatrical events based on local history. With a host of actors, make-up artists, set designers and special-effects technicians, it was Hollywood in bite-size! Jainie’s team recorded both the family at play, (shore parties, water sports, archaeological visits), alongside filming the remarkable theatrical productions and producing
elaborate handmade albums and movies of the family’s holidays afloat.

This experience, often operating in remote parts of the world, meant the team had to be extremely resourceful, self-reliant and capable of multi-tasking and thinking outside of the box. Storyboarding, cut-away shots, sound pick-up, remote camera setups, special effects, and all under the pressure of only one take. It’s an experience that leaves you level and clear-headed when the tough gets rough!

Today, Jainie is using this skill base to sideways specialise in films and photos based around Superyachts and their expeditions. Tugboat-style explorer yachts are the latest trend in luxury travel, providing discerning adventure-seeking owners with access to remote and unchartered destinations that traditional superyachts simply couldn’t reach before. A seasoned expedition photographer/videographer is key to ensuring those memories are recorded forever and not lost amid a snowstorm or tropical downpour. From the icy tundras of the Arctic regions to the arid coastlines of the African continent, Jainie is a one-man band of visual storytelling!

“It’s not just about recording what’s in front of the lens; not just the moments, it's also about conveying the emotions, sensations and feelings of those moments. It’s the art of making memories tangible, of keeping a moment that’s gone from running away”.

The challenge of blending creativity with technical is where Jainie’s photography and videography truly shine. Lover of land rovers, bi-planes, motorbikes and all things gritty and raw, her passion for the explorer yachts of today gives her an unmistakable flair and expertise in this field.

As Susan Sontag so eloquently said, “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list”.