Jean Gaumy was born on 28 August 1948 in Royan Pontaillac (Charente-Maritime), France. He attended schools in Toulouse and Aurillac, then undertook his higher education in Rouen, before working as editor and freelance photographer in the Paris-Normandy area.Gaumy was a member of the Viva agency before he was recruited for French Gamma in 1973 by Raymond Depardon.