Justin Painter grew up 50 miles south of Chicago, in Kankakee, Illinois. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1993 with a Bachelors Degree in Radio and Television. In 1996, he moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in the Film Business. Soon after he discoverd his niche in the Camera Department.

In 1997, he joined the International Cinematographers Guild as a Camera Loader. Justin has moved his way up in the Camera Department and is now a Steadicam Operator as well as conventional Camera Operator. He also has many years of experience in operating cameras in the Russian Arm type cars.