He was born in Tacna in 1949. He began his career as an editor on the first feature films of Francisco Lombardi, a childhood friend who convinced him to abandon his engineering studies and go into cinema. After working as a director and cinematographer on "Immoral Tales," he decided to continue as a cinematographer.

Pili worked with Lombardi on five more projects, as well as with Felipe Degregori, Luis Llosa ("Fire in the Amazon"), and others. He is currently president of the Peruvian Association of Cinematographers and Directors of Photography.