She earned a degree in cinematography from the National Film and Television School in 2004. After film school she returned to Denmark where she wrote, directed and shot the 2004 short film Between Us. She worked with Director Thomas Vinterberg on his 2010 drama film Submarino. She was Cinematographer for the Marc Evans' 2011 film Hunky Dory. She continued to work with Vinterberg in the 2012 film The Hunt. Her cinematography, shot on Arri Alexa, won her a Vulcan Award and the Bodil Award for Best Cinematographer. Chistensen and Vinterberg teamed up a third time for the 2015 film Far from the Madding Crowd.
