Azer Salayev was born in Baku.

He studied at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (1976, A. Simonov's workshop).

Since 1966, he worked as an assistant cameraman at the "Azerbaijanfilm" film studio, then as a cameraman (1972-1994). For some time he was an employee of the "Cinealliance" company. During the First Karabakh War, he filmed in the front line.