Paolo Carnera started his career as a cinematographer with the films of several former classmates at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematographia, notably Francesca Archibugi, for whom he cared the photography of some shorts and later of her second and third feature films. He also worked with Paolo Virzì for his first two films. In 2012 Carnera was nominated to David di Donatello for best cinematography and to Nastro d’Argento in the same category for the crime-drama film ACAB – All Cops Are Bastards. 2020’s Bad Tales won Carnera the Nastro d’Argento for Best Cinematography. Carnera worked as the Director of Photography for Ramin Bahrani’s 2021 adaptation of The White Tiger.