Brett Pawlak
Biography
Brett Pawlak is an American cinematographer and director of photography, born on October 25, 1982, in Castaic, Los Angeles, California. He is known for his work in both independent films and television productions.
Pawlak gained recognition for his cinematography on Short Term 12 (2013), directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. He later collaborated with Cretton on films including The Glass Castle and Just Mercy. His other cinematography credits include Life Itself, Instant Family, Unicorn Store, A Jazzman's Blues, and Echoes.
Pawlak also shot the pilot episode of This Is Us, helping establish the series' visual style before Yasu Tanida became its primary cinematographer.
More recently, he has worked on major productions including American Born Chinese and Marvel's Wonder Man. He is also credited as director of photography on Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).
Through his work across independent cinema, television, and major studio productions, Brett Pawlak has developed a reputation for naturalistic and character-focused cinematography.
