We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Johnny Baru. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Johnny below.

Johnny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I aim to build a legacy rooted in empowerment, creativity, and resilience. I want my work with Johnny Baru Media to be a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and visual art. Through every brand we build, every photograph we capture, and every video we produce, I hope to leave a lasting impact on how personal brands are perceived and valued.
When people reflect on my journey, I hope they see a story of overcoming adversity with unwavering determination. I want them to remember a man who, despite life’s challenges, found strength in creativity and used it as a vehicle to uplift others.
I hope to be remembered for my empathy and my ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life, helping them unleash their full potential. I want people to say that I was not just a brand strategist videographer or a photographer, but rather a visionary who saw the beauty and potential in everyone I worked with. Ultimately, I want my legacy to inspire others to pursue their passions relentlessly and to believe in their own stories. If I can ignite even a spark of that belief in others, then I will have accomplished something truly meaningful. I want to be remembered as a good brother, a good friend, a good son, a good husband. I want to continuously chase excellence and be the best version of myself I can be for myself and those around me.

Johnny, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Johnny Baru, and I’m a brand strategist, photographer, and videographer based in Los Angeles, California. My journey into this industry is deeply personal and transformative. Growing up, I was always drawn to creative expression, but my path truly solidified after a life-altering experience. I started my career shooting political campaigns and learned how to brand politicians to appeal to the masses. At the age of 36, I fell into a diabetic coma, a near-death experience that left me temporarily blind. Instead of accepting defeat, I found strength in God, boxing, weightlifting, and eventually returning to soccer, a sport I’ve loved since I was seven. This journey of resilience reignited my passion for storytelling and led me to rebrand and establish Johnny Baru Media.

As Johnny Baru Media, I specialize in amplifying personal brands through captivating visuals and strategic approaches. Our services include brand strategy, documentary-style photography, videography, and comprehensive brand building experiences. We offer unique products like our ‘Legacy Build Out Day,’ an intensive, six-hour session where we craft a brand that would typically take four weeks to develop. Additionally, we provide “Legacy Brand Books,” beautifully curated hardcover books that combine imagery with written narratives to tell compelling brand stories.

I specialize in micro-narrative documentaries, which capture and convey powerful stories in a concise, impactful format. It is an ever green marketing piece that helps tell your brand story and legacy. We solve several problems for our clients, primarily by helping them articulate their unique stories and present them in a visually and emotionally engaging manner. What sets us apart is our deep empathy, our ability to foresee trends, and connecting the dots in innovative ways. We pride ourselves on creating authentic, powerful narratives that resonate with audiences on a profound level. I am most proud of the resilience and transformation I’ve experienced and how it reflects in my work. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with athletes, creatives, and entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their full potential and achieve their dreams.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, it’s important to know that Johnny Baru Media is more than a business it’s a mission. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment where personal growth and professional success go hand in hand. Our work is driven by a deep belief in the power of shared experiences and the importance of storytelling in building meaningful connections.

Whether you’re an athlete looking to showcase your journey, an entrepreneur wanting to elevate your brand, or a music artist seeking to tell your story and journey with music, Johnny Baru Media can bring your vision to life. We like to think we dont just create content we create legacies.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the ability to tell stories that resonate deeply with people and make a lasting impact on their lives. There’s something profoundly fulfilling about capturing a moment, an emotion, or a narrative in a way that others can connect with and find meaning in.

Every time I see a client’s eyes light up when they see their brand brought to life through my work, it reaffirms why I do what I do. It’s not just about creating beautiful visuals or compelling content, it’s about helping people see themselves in a new light, recognize their own potential, and communicate their unique stories to the world.

Being able to blend my personal journey with my craft allows me to bring authenticity and depth to every project. Knowing that my work can inspire others, provide them with a sense of identity, and empower them to pursue their dreams is incredibly rewarding. It’s about creating a legacy not just for myself, but for every individual and brand I have the privilege to work with.

Ultimately, the joy of being a creative lies in the connections I make and the positive changes I can foster through storytelling and visual artistry. It’s a continuous journey of discovery, empathy, and innovation, and that’s what makes it so fulfilling.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The central mission driving my creative journey is the same vision behind a community im just getting started with, the Puro Jogo Community. This initiative is a movement dedicated to empowering athletes, entrepreneurs, and music artists to unlock their full potential and share their unique stories with the world.

Puro Jogo, which translates to “Pure Game” in Portuguese, embodies the essence of pursuing excellence and authenticity in one’s craft. My goal is to create a supportive and dynamic space where individuals can connect, collaborate, and grow together. Through this community, I aim to foster an environment where members can thrive personally and professionally, leveraging their talents and experiences to make a meaningful impact.

The mission is to provide valuable resources, guidance, and inspiration to help our members navigate their journeys, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. Whether it’s through virtual calls, workshops, or collaborative projects, Puro Jogo is designed to be a catalyst for growth and transformation. Specifically to those like myself who werent given the blueprint to succeed or born in to money.

By aligning my creative work with this mission, I am driven to amplify voices, celebrate diverse stories, and build a legacy of empowerment and support. It’s about creating strategic content but also about nurturing a community where everyone feels valued and inspired to reach their highest potential.

Ultimately, my creative journey is deeply intertwined with the mission of Puro Jogo, and it fuels my passion to create impactful, meaningful work that resonates with and elevates the lives of others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.johnnybarumedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnybarumedia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnnybarumedia/videos

Image Credits

Johnny Baru
Kita Zuleta
Vazquez Visuals