Palmer studied history at the University of California, Berkeley, before completing a postgraduate diploma in cinematography at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England.
He began working in television drama in the 1990s and built his career through a range of British television productions. His early credits include Doctor Who and Life on Mars, followed by work on series such as Spooks, Hustle and The Bill. He went on to photograph episodes of Strike Back, Critical and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. His cinematography on The Suspicions of Mr Whicher earned him a nomination for a Royal Television Society award in 2013.
His subsequent credits include Line of Duty, The Last Kingdom, Dublin Murders and Killing Eve. His work on Killing Eve formed part of a television career that spans crime drama, historical series, thrillers and contemporary character-led productions. He also worked on The Feed, The Serpent and Bad Sisters, continuing to work across productions for British broadcasters and international streaming platforms.
In addition to his work as a cinematographer, Palmer has contributed to cinematography education. He has taught at Boston University, where he has served as Professor of the Practice in Cinematography. In 2024, his book Cinematography and Lighting for Television was published by Focal Press/Routledge. T