Biography

Austin Jansma is an American Director of Photography specializing in narrative and aerial cinematography. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, his work is rooted in visual storytelling, motivated lighting, intentional camera movement, and an atmospheric approach influenced by Noir, Dark Americana, and character-driven cinema.

Born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised throughout California, Jansma began his career in the entertainment industry as an actor before transitioning behind the camera. His experience with performance continues to influence the way he approaches cinematography, particularly his attention to character, blocking, emotion, and the relationship between the camera and the actors within a scene.

As a cinematographer, Jansma approaches each project from the perspective that lighting, composition, lensing, and camera movement should be motivated by the story rather than technique alone. His work often combines naturalistic or motivated sources with controlled contrast, negative space, and deliberate movement to create images that feel grounded while maintaining a distinct cinematic atmosphere.

He works across narrative films, short-form productions, branded content, and aerial cinematography, collaborating closely with directors and production teams from prep through principal photography. Whether working from the ground or the air, his focus remains on creating images that support the performance, establish a sense of place, and serve the emotional intent of the story.
- IMDb mini biography by: Amy Ingram