She was born in Stuttgart, Germany. But after moving with her family grew up in Berlin. After graduating from the National College of Optics and Photographer in Berlin, she apprenticed as a photographer.
Kaufmann worked in film as a camera assistant under Konrad Kotowski, Thomas Mauch, Gernot Roll, and Raoul Coutard. Since 1982 Kaufmann focused on film, and in 1991 became chief cinematographer.
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