About Susanne
After studying communication design at Munich University of Applied Sciences from 1987 to 1991, which I completed with a picture book as my diploma thesis, I began a successful career in the children's book industry.
In the following ten years, well over a hundred books were written for almost all German-language publishers, some of which were published throughout Europe.
At the same time, I had three wonderful daughters and studied (with limited success due to lack of time) philosophy and ethnology for a few semesters at LMU Munich. After about ten years, when I felt 'blown out', I switched to photojournalism in 2004/05.
To this day, this fulfilling second career shapes my life and allows me to meet numerous impressive personalities:
From Jane Goodall, Robert Habeck or Werner Herzog to numerous artists or leading CEOs of the largest European companies.
The profound insights and conversations that sometimes arise from this have a lasting influence on my values and attitude – in all my work.
(More about photography at www.susanne-krauss.com )
Since 1992 I have been volunteering as a photographer and illustrator for various NGOs (see next section).
"The lens is good for life,
"The pen is good for the soul."
That's why I've been drawing and writing again (alongside my work as a photographer ) since the beginning of 2025.
Here you can see two current projects.
I am a member of FREELENS, I.O. (Illustrators' Organization), and IAPBP, and I support the following organizations:
Survival International — the only organization in the world dedicated exclusively to indigenous and uncontacted peoples. It helps them defend their lives, protect their land, and determine their own future.
https://www.survivalinternational.de
Doctors Without Borders - provides independent emergency medical aid during crises and after disasters in around 60 countries worldwide.
https://www.aerzte-ohne-grenzen.de
Jane Goodall Institute – Jane Goodall and her organization have been a part of my life since childhood. She was my biggest role model when I myself still dreamed of one day being able to explore the rainforest. That dream never came true. But I am proud to be able to support the organization through my work, and I hope you might feel inspired to do the same?
In addition, I have been volunteering as a freelance Sternenkindfotografin - This means that I provide free photography services to parents whose child has passed away before, during, or after birth, and I capture these often “first and last moments” with the utmost discretion.
Other organizations that are of particular interest to me:
About the project
In times of digital overload, it can be helpful to focus on switching off. That's why you'll find @the_poertry_of_being_ precisely where 'switching off' is particularly challenging:
The project @the_poetry_of_being_
I initiated it,
because I sometimes feel like I'm losing my real life in the digital overload.
Sounds dramatic? It is!
Personally, it helps me when I draw, write,
playing with my grandchildren or chatting with my children.
Kiss my husband or laugh with my girlfriends.
Or even when I'm in my garden, replanting flowers, cutting flowers, or watching my cat, I simply forget about time.
Others may not be as lucky as I am.
That's why I'm sharing a little bit of what lives in my heart.
on my Instagram account @the_poetry_of_being_
