Waite was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.[1] He enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduation from high school and was a member of the Air Force's Photo Intelligence unit.[3] He moved to New York City, where he owned a studio as a professional photographer.[1] Waite specialized in advertising and fashion photography. His clients included Jaguar Cars, Glamour, Vogue, Hanes, DuPont, and GQ.[1][3]
Waite moved to the Denver metropolitan area in 2002.[3] He taught lighting and cinematography within the film studies department at the University of Colorado at Boulder.[1][3]
Waite also shot Best Ribs in Town and Assassins' Code.[3] He had signed on as the cinematographer for the film Legacy.[3]
Waite died from a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles on February 18, 2012, at the age of 78.[2]