Jayson's unique connection to filmmaking began as a child in a single screen theatre in Alaska. While his father worked as a projectionist, Jayson would watch movies through a tiny window in the booth; with the speaker there broken, Jayson spent years watching films with only the whir of the projector to accompany them. This early immersion in pure visual language—light and movement—turned a childhood fascination into a lifelong pursuit of visual storytelling.
After earning an MFA from the American Film Institute, Jayson has built a career spanning both features and television. A trusted collaborator, he recently wrapped principal photography on the dramatic comedy Kill Me Now, marking his seventh partnership with director Michael Polish. His versatile portfolio includes series such as Cruel Summer, Chicago Fire, and Quantum Leap, along with recent additional photography for Apple, A24, and Bad Robot on projects like Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Presumed Innocent.
Beyond the set, Jayson is a passionate educator. His long-standing commitment to the filmmaking community includes years of leading workshops across the US and internationally in the Philippines and Kosovo, as well as early collaborations with the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. He also served as the Technical Editor for Jay Holben's acclaimed book, A Shot In The Dark, as well as contributing to The Cine Lens Manual, also by Jay Holben and Christopher Probst, ASC.
For Jayson, every project is an opportunity to discover a visual language unique to the soul of that story. Deeply committed to the alchemy of the creative process, he believes that the most impactful imagery is born from a true partnership with his collaborators and a shared devotion to the narrative.
Based in Los Angeles, Jayson is represented by Artistry.
TELEVISION (partial list)
PRESUMED INNOCENT - Season 2
Add’l Photography - Episode 205
Director - Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
Producers - David E. Kelley, Caroline James, Stacy Murphy Gold
Apple / Bad Robot
MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES - Season 1
Add’l Photography - Episodes 101, 102, 106, 108
Director - Dearbhla Walsh
Producers - David E. Kelley, Caroline James, Stacy Murphy Gold
Apple / A24
CRUEL SUMMER - Season 2
Episodes 201, 203, 205, 207, 210
Directors - Bill Purple, Hiromi Kamata
Producers - Jessica Biel, Michelle Purple, Bill Purple, Elle Triedman
Freeform / eOne
QUANTUM LEAP - Season 2
Episode 205, Add’l Photography Episode 203
Directors - Tamika Miller, Chris Grismer
Producers - Meg Fister, Marc Bienstock
NBC Universal
STATION 19 - Season 5
Episodes 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512
Directors - Peter Paige, Oliver Bokelberg, Tamika Miller, Sheelin Choksey, Diana Valentine
Producers - Shonda Rhimes, Stacey K. Black, Mary Kane, Peter Paige, Alexandre Schmitt
Shondaland / ABC
CRUEL SUMMER - Season 1
Episodes 102, 104, 105, 108, 110, Add’l Photography - Pilot
Directors - Bill Purple, Max Winkler, Laura Nisbet Peters, Dan Willis
Producers - Jessica Biel, Michelle Purple, Tia Napolitano
Freeform / eOne
THE CHOSEN - Season 4
Add’l Photography - Episode 408
Director - Dallas Jenkins
Producers - Kerri Navarro, Dallas Jenkins
5&2 Studios
P-VALLEY - Season 1
Add’l Photography - Episode 102
Director - Kimberly Peirce
Producers - Katori Hall, Montez Monroe, Khaliah Neal
Starz
CHICAGO MED - Backdoor Pilot
2nd Unit & Add’l Photography
Director - Joe Chappelle
Producers - Dick Wolf, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, John Roman
NBC Universal
CHICAGO FIRE - Seasons 4, 5, 6
Seasons 2, 3 - 2nd Unit & Add’l Photography
Directors - Joe Chappelle, Holly Dale, Alex Chapple, Sanford Bookstaver, David Rodriguez, Leslie Libman, Matt Earl Beesley, Karyn Kusama, Lin Oeding, James Hanlon, Bill Johnson, Eric Laneuville, Jann Turner, Jono Oliver, Alik Sakharov, Steve Shill, Fred Berner, Dan Lerner, Stephen Cragg, Jean de Segonzac, Tom DiCillio, Michael Slovis, Michael Brandt, Jeff Hunt, Reza Tabrizi, Rod Holcomb
Producers - Dick Wolf, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, John Roman, Todd Arnow
NBC Universal
MALIBU RESCUE - Season 1
2nd Unit
Director - Scott McAboy
Producers - Amy Sydorick, Scott McAboy
Netflix / Pacific Bay Entertainment
FEATURES (partial list)
KILL ME NOW
Director - Michael Polish
Producer - Oren Segal
Now More Than Ever Pictures
THERE / THERE
Director - Michael Polish
Producers - Michael Polish, Mark Polish
Polish Brothers Pictures
THE THING ABOUT HARRY
Director - Peter Paige
Producers - Roger Bobb, Greg Gugliotta, F.J. Denny, Peter Paige
Freeform
FORCE OF NATURE
Director - Michael Polish
Producers - Luillo Ruiz, Shaun Sanghani
Lionsgate
MALIBU RESCUE - THE NEXT WAVE
2nd Unit
Director - Scott McAboy
Producers - Amy Sydorick, Scott McAboy
Netflix / Pacific Bay Entertainment
THE TRIAL OF AXIS SALLY
Director - Michael Polish
Producers - Luillo Ruiz, Shaun Sanghani, Vance Owens
Pimienta
AMNESIAC
Director - Michael Polish
Producer - Lucas Jarach
Lotus Entertainment
COLDWATER
Director - Vincent Grashaw
Producers - Vincent Grashaw, Dave Gare
Flying Pig Productions
MODEL HOME
Director - Patrick Cunningham
Producer - William Frank
High Window Films
DUKE
Directors - Anthony Gaudioso, James Gaudioso
Producers - Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kahn
Duke The Film, LLC
FROM PRADA TO NADA
Los Angeles Unit
Director - Angel Gracia
Producers - Chris Ranta, Linda Mcdonough
Lionsgate / Oddlot Entertainment
DON’T BLINK
Director - Travis Oates
Producers - Zack Ward, Carl Lucas
The Engine
LEAVING BARSTOW
Director - Peter Paige
Producers - Madelon Smith, Kevin Sheridan
Osiris Entertainment
SHORTS (partial list)
BLACK CREEK TRAIL
Director - Soma Helmi
Producers - ErinRose Widner, Jaime Saginor
AFTER EMMA
Director - Gabrielle Stone
Producers - JT Mollner, Gabrielle Stone, Nick Terry
IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST NIGHT
Directors - Gabrielle Stone, Roze
Producers - Gabrielle Stone, Roze
PROTOCOL X
Director - Zack Ward
Producer - Zack Ward
COUGH DROP
Director - Kristna Lear
Producer - Cynthia Graner
ADDITIONAL
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE - MFA
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO - BA
TECHNICAL EDITOR - A SHOT IN THE DARK
CONTRIBUTOR - THE CINE LENS MANUAL
LOCAL 600 - INTERNATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHERS GUILD