Steven Poster

Education

Studies in Photography & Visual Design, Art Center College of Design

B.S. in Photography, Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology

Experimental Freshmen Program, Southern Illinois University

Background

Steven Poster, ASC, is an internationally acclaimed cinematographer and industry leader with more than four decades of experience in feature films, television, and commercials. A Chicago native, Poster began his career in documentary and commercial filmmaking before moving into major studio productions. His early work includes serving as Second Unit Director of Photography on Close Encounters of the Third Kind and contributing significant additional photography to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. As Director of Photography, his extensive feature credits include the cult classic Donnie Darko, Stuart Little 2, Daddy Day Care, Rocky V, Southland Tales, and Ridley Scott’s Someone to Watch Over Me, for which he earned an ASC nomination for Best Cinematography.

Beyond the camera, Poster has served as a transformative figure in the film industry, serving as President of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and leading the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) as President for 13 years, where he spearheaded Hollywood’s pivotal transition from photochemical film to digital imaging. A dedicated educator and mentor, he has served as a 10-time advisor for the Sundance Institute Directors Lab and taught masterclasses at institutions worldwide, bringing decades of technical innovation and storytelling expertise to the next generation of visual filmmakers.