ABOUT

Now 34, it’s taken me almost ten years to finally accept the notion of referring to myself as a professional photographer, but that is who I’ve become.  I’ve worked day in and day out to do it, seven days a week, but photography is all that I know and all that I do.  My name is Steven Planck.  I own Blue Sky Photography in Wappingers Falls, New York and I am a professional photographer and I love what I do.

In the beginning, back when we used to shoot film, my very first jobs were loading medium format backs and carrying a light on a mono pod for $10 an hour.  I got all the shit jobs and I hated it.  In fact, a lot of my very first jobs were ones that I worked on for free just to gain the experience.  Paying my dues they would tell me, you have to pay your dues.  It’s not till now, almost ten years later that I can look back and say thank you.  I appreciate what all of my mentors did for me, you made me eat dirt and for some silly reason, I liked the taste of it.  But I guess that’s what you have to do, eat the dirt to make sure you like it, because things aren’t always easy.  Like anything in life that’s worth having, you have to work hard to get it.

My photography career began as a camera operator on HGTV’s Kitchen Design and Bed and Bath Design as well as the Outdoor Life Channels Bicycle Journal.  I did that for about two years until getting into a fight with an executive producer, who pissed me of so bad that I quit, but to him to (John) I say thank you.  For if you weren’t such an ass to me then, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  I stuck up for myself by quitting and there’s never anything wrong with that.  I hope you’re doing well, seriously.  From that point life kicked into high gear.  I’ve gone onto receive the Peter Klose Memorial Photography Scholarship, became a 3x finalist in Photographer Forum’s Best of Annual (1998, 1999, 2000), won a Panavision Screen Writing Contest, took first place in the Professional Photographers Society of New York State print comp in September of 2009, took a third place finish in Professional Photographers Society of New York State print comp in June of 2009, took a first place and a third place finish in the Professional Photographers Society of New York State print comp in May 2010 and I’ve been published.  I’ve photographed everyone from Hillary Clinton to John Hall to Richie Havens to the local dentist just down the street.

I’m currently a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, the Professional Photographers Association of America and the Professional Photographers Society of New York State.  I’m an active supporter and volunteer for Saint Jude, the Dutchess County Hospice and a supporter of the Make-a-Wish-Foundation.