About Susu:
Susu Hauser is a world traveler, cinematographer and photographer, specializing in documentary filmmaking. She is known for her ability to capture extraordinary imagery while connecting impactful narratives that bring awareness to issues and drive viewers to action.
After graduating from American University with a B.A. in Visual Media Communications, Susu began her professional career in television with Original Productions on the Emmy Award-winning docu-series, Deadliest Catch. She built a name for herself behind the camera in a highly male-dominated industry, working on other action-oriented television series including Ice Road Truckers, Ax Men, Wicked Tuna, Wild Justice and Airplane Repo.
In 2015, after more than a decade creating content for Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and The History Channel, Susu cofounded The Invisible Lens, a full-service video production company with a mission of creating films that would positively impact communities. Highlights from this work include a full-length documentary about undiscovered species in Ethiopia’s Bale Mountain National Park, a cinematic memoir for NASA physicist, George Gloeckler, and the pioneers of space during the Voyager missions, a short documentary entitled Voices of the Inside Passage which was selected to the 2018 Colorado Environmental Film Festival, a medical docu-series for Detroit’s Top Docs, 2-weeks as a photographic volunteer with the WildLife Act in South Africa, and innumerable volunteer work with nonprofits across the United States.
Though the pandemic brought much loss, it also brought reinvention for Susu. She is now the sole owner of Susu Hauser Photography, a full-service video and photography company, and is continuing to align herself with projects that bring about positive social change. Since founding her business, she produced Dress for Success Triangle’s Women Making Change video, The American Kennel Club’s Patriotic Puppy Program promotional video, and digital campaigns and marketing materials for the Living Arts Collective and Sonda Yoga LLC. When she is not in the field, she is either editing her documentary about her mother, Kathleen Hauser, who was a Hungarian refugee in 1956, or she is developing her project about the empowerment of women through the Fair Trade market.
Susu is an avid yogi and salsa dancer, loves to dabble in wheel-thrown pottery and wire-wrapped jewelry, and her macro photography was featured in 4 galleries across the country in 2021. She has filmed and photographed in 17 countries and 5 continents and now finds her sanctuary in North Carolina with her pup, Kona.
1. How will your storytelling make a difference in this context?
I like to approach every project I embark on with an open heart and an honest lens, and I have been blessed to have filmed and photographed with humanity from all walks of life across the globe. I believe photography has the power to tell a story, evoke emotion, and drive viewers to action. Having devoted my skills to multiple nonprofits across the country in the course of 5 years as a business owner, I have a keenness for portraying the essence of an organization and bringing their mission to life in photography and video. I have had my conservation work highlighted at film festivals, and last fall I produced a Women Making Change video for Dress for Success Triangle which grossed over $40,000 in donations. My imagery and storytelling are impactful and I'm eager to share my skills with Multicolores.
2. How do you believe your photography can make a difference for them?
This assignment resonates with me on multiple levels. I whole-heartedly believe that an empowered woman who can gain financial independence has the potential to be an agent for change for an entire community. As an artist myself, I also believe that through art comes expression and healing. Multicolores designs and imagery are steeped in the history and narrative of Mayan culture, and the creation of these handmade pieces serves as therapy to these women. Indigenous women are often the most persecuted in society, and I am humbled and inspired by the resiliency and strength they demonstrate.
In addition, Multicolores provides their artists not only with a financial stipend, but also with creative and economic development, healthcare services, healthcare education, and leadership programs. I believe holistic development models such as this are the best approach to creating lasting change and transformation in Indigenous communities..
3. What message would you like to send to your supporters?
As many of you know, in 2019, I began developing my documentary about the empowerment of women through the Fair Trade market ,and I began by producing a membership video for the Fair Trade Federation. I have been a dog on a bone since. Despite the pandemic's closed doors and the world shutting down, the filming of this project is finally coming to fruition, and Multicolores will be one of the organizations highlighted. In addition to being featured, all photographs and video harvested during the trip will be provided to Multicolores to enhance their marketing efforts, drive donations, and provide a window into the world of these Mayan artisans. If you have the means, no matter the amount, please contribute to elevate the mission, the impact and the artistry of these resilient women.