Marlena Steiner is a freelance cinematographer who seeks projects that challenge her to try something new on a technical level. She was born and raised in Northern New Jersey where she discovered her passion for filmmaking and photography. She attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later transferred to Loyola Marymount University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production. While studying at LMU, Steiner was awarded the Entertainment Industry Scholarship and worked on over 50 student and professional films. In the spring of 2010 she wrote, directed, and photographed a short film that later went on to win her an award for ‘Best Director Honorable Mention’ and a nomination for ‘Best Cinematography at Film Outside the Frame’. As a camera enthusiast, Steiner worked at the Student Camera Department and the Burns Photography Lab. During her final year, she was the teacher’s assistant for the introduction and advanced level cinematography classes and interned at The Camera House in North Hollywood. Before graduating from LMU with honors, Steiner was awarded the Ian Connor Cinematography Award, which exemplifies her passion for the cinematic image. She believes that it is an important part of filmmaking to learn and have fun on every job.