Meet Susanne Gribble | Disc Golfer & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susanne Gribble and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susanne, what do you want your legacy to be?
I hope people remember me as someone who cared about people and loved deeply without limits. I love interacting with people and hearing their stories. I don’t care if we disagree on every single thing, I always find it fascinating to hear why they believe what they do and how they got there. Everyone has a story and a life that shaped them, and I love hearing how it did. I think humanity is such a beautiful thing, and in all the brokenness and struggle, at the end of the day we’re all just trying to survive the best we know how. Life is hard, I don’t ever want to make it more difficult for someone. I want to bring encouragement and joy, or a listening ear, or just a quiet presence, basically help however I can. So I hope that shows through and people feel that. My hope is people leave interactions with me feeling seen, heard and encouraged. I hope I’m remembered as someone who showed up, who was present, who experienced life to the fullest and who gave their all.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is an ever expanding, ever growing, ever changing concept. What began as a goofy reel posted for my friends sprouted into “maybe I could do something with this.” That then grew into “maybe I could actually do photography for a living.” I never saw my life ending up here in a million years. I always loved making people laugh, and I always loved being creative and playing around with photography for my own enjoyment. I never dreamed I could actually make something out of it or even have a shot at doing something I love for a living. Life had other plans though and now here I am with a startup photography business and brainstorming a vision for my disc golf Instagram platform. I still struggle with my doubts that I actually have what it takes to do this full time, but I know myself, and I know I will exhaust every option, open every door, and learn every possible thing I can to make it happen.

My biggest struggle right now is growing a solid client base for my photography business and creating a solid blueprint and vision for my company. I do sports photography and portraits of various kinds. I love that I get to capture these powerful, beautiful moments on camera and I’m so excited to keep growing this.

My other hurdle has been exploring how my disc golf content can continue to grow with me. I love making people laugh and that has been the goal of my Instagram page from day one, is to just give people a breather from all the stress even for a moment. I’ve struggled with what that looks like when my own personal life has been really trying and difficult though. How do you make light hearted, comedic content when your heart is heavy? What does that look like to be real and stay true to my life while not burdening others with my problems? On top of that prioritizing my time and my Instagram taking a backseat for a few months now as I’ve tried to sort through my personal life. It’s been an interesting exploration.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am an outdoorsy person thru and thru, so for me, the best part of Colorado is the amount of sunshine we get and all the outdoor activities. I would spend the whole week outside. Everything from backpacking through Maroon Bells in Aspen to throwing a round at Beaver Ranch in Conifer. We’d grab loaded garlic knots and pizza at Fat Sully’s and some insane brisket, onion rings and coleslaw at Broken Bones BBQ in Colorado Springs. Of course we’d have to get donuts from Lily Donuts and Drinks and then spend the day snowboarding at Monarch. Then we’d have to finish the week with a tattoo with Elsa Jai Hankin at Botoku Tattoo Studios. Packing the cooler and heading into the mountains is one of my favorite past times.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people in my life who I would like to shoutout and thank for everything. My parents for always being supportive and having my back no matter where I wandered. Thanks for listening to me, laughing with me, and loving me.

Thanks to my kids for being their amazing, unique, hilarious, fun selves. I treasure every moment with them and time with them is the most valuable commodity I have. They keep me going, keep me looking forward and push me to try my hardest so I can make a good life for them, and be someone they’re proud to call mom. I wouldn’t be who I am without them and I’m so grateful and blessed to know them and be their mom.

I would like to thank my besties Felina and Saren for showing up when I needed them most, threatening to find me when I disappear and get lost in my head, for making me laugh, listening to me talk about the same situations over and over, and for being their amazing genuine selves.

I would like to thank the amazing disc golf community that I absolutely adore. The homies that I throw with all the time, you guys keep me laughing and help me step away from the stress for a bit. Thanks for welcoming me into the group and letting me throw with you guys, even though it takes me two throws to catch up to your one. Thanks for always being willing to beat up anyone who gives me trouble on the course. And thanks to everyone in our amazing disc golf community in Colorado Springs. I love getting to see and play with you all, and meet new people at tournaments and events. Thanks to all of you who show up and support my glow league, we’re so pumped to get going again in May! Everyone is so cool and fun to be around. It’s such an amazingly supportive community. I’m so unbelievably thankful and proud to be a part of it.

Thanks to all my amazing followers on Instagram who have grown this into what it is. Without their support, engagement, and encouragement this wouldn’t even exist or be a thing. Thank you guys for growing with me over the last few years, for laughing with me and continuing to show up. Once again this community and the disc golf community as a whole is just so amazing, supportive and fun and I’m just so insanely grateful.

Website: https://susanneroberson.smugmug.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invertingdiscgolfer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Susannes-Snapshots/61574778830460/?_rdr

Other: https://www.instagram.com/susannessnapshots/