Meet Susie Inverso | Photographer – pronouns are She/Her

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

Hi Susie, do you have a budget? how do you think about personal finances?
I love talking about my budget! I think more people need to talk about money struggles in order to learn from each other. In January of 2019, as a 44 year-old still getting regular overdraft fees, I learned about YNAB – You Need a Budget – software. It changed my life and how I think about money! It took a little bit to learn the best ways to use it, but they have excellent customer service to help and I haven’t looked back. I learned how to budget for my priorities and give every dollar a job.

I began using YNAB for my personal finances (I haven’t had an overdraft charge since that day) and not long after started using it for my business, too.

When making lifestyle and spending decisions my husband and I keep these two core values in mind: We live within our means, and we tread lightly upon the Earth. Our priorities are our pets, our home, good food, solid transportation, and outdoor activities. Both of those values mean buying used; most of what we need or want – clothes, cars, outdoor equipment, records, musical instruments – all went through someone else’s hands before ours. For gifts we give each other experiences or service. Sometimes we budget for an expensive night out or vacation, but sticking to our budget and prioritizing our money allows those things to happen and makes them special.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Crimson Cat Studios specializes in capturing the connections between loved ones and building fine art wall collections that allow you to display all that you have to celebrate. A photographic session with Crimson Cat Studios is an experience in itself. Whether it’s capturing you and your life’s passion in a personal branding session, or your partner, pets, and loved ones in a family session, we start with phone consultations to learn about what is most important to you and end with an in-person design consultation to pick the photos you love the most and build from them wall art to last a lifetime.

Moving to a new city and starting over was a big turning point for the studio and myself as a professional. Growing up in Chicago among some of the best photographers in the world could be intimidating at times. Moving to Denver and not knowing many people – not knowing who I “should” be intimidated by – was liberating. I joined the West Metro Chamber of Commerce and folks immediately said “We NEED a photographer!” Not long after joining I was approached to be the Official Family Photographer for Green Mountain Living Magazine, and I’ve been able to shoot for some other area magazines. My confidence as a photographer has grown by being a lot more open to trying new things, not to mention the time off during the pandemic allowed me to take a whole month and try something new with my lighting every day.

Besides running the studio, I have a full-time job. Since I do not depend on the studio for my livelihood at this time, the pressure to make a salary is not there and I can focus on professional and creative development (all puns intended).

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, I need to say that I did just have a friend in town and I did just take her to a bunch of awesome places, so this kind of feels like I’m cheating.

Second, I need to plug the book I’ve spent the last year photographing for: 111 Places in Denver That You Must Not Miss! It’s due to release Spring 2022 and is chock full of some of Denver’s hidden gems for visitors and locals alike. I’ll take a couple places from that book, and a couple of my own spots, and give you how I’d spend a week in Denver:

First, watch the sun rise at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Not an early morning person? Do it in the winter when the sun comes up at 7am – that’s what I did. Bring coffee, then go on a hike. After that, have breakfast at The Cow in Morrison. Yum, plus the place is adorable. Next, hit the shops across the street. Now it’s time for a nap.

My favorite drive is I-70 west to the Buffalo Herd Overlook. The peaks at that spot are enough to cause a gapers’ delay, so just exit and park. Take 40 back east to Buffalo Bill’s gravesite, and while you’re there, hike or bike the Apex Open Space just up the road. Then take the Lariat Loop down the mountain to Golden. Amazing views on that twisty drive! Have dinner in Golden – you can’t go wrong.

In the city proper, there are amazing outdoor spaces such as City Park with its pink pavilion, and Four Mile House with its goats, just to name a couple. Cheeseman Park has great views of the Front Range and is possibly haunted! There’s also Rocky Mountain Arsenal, take a drive through and see herds of buffalo, elk, and deer from your car. A little bit northeast is the Wild Animal Sanctuary. The $50 entry fee is worth it when you realize what they do with that money, rescuing big cats, bears, and other wild animals who can no longer be truly wild. The tigers sleeping with their bellies up show just how safe they feel there.

Ready to watch the sun set? Hike or bike to the top of Green Mountain in Lakewood. Watch the sun go down behind Mount Evans, then head to Ballmer Peak Distillery to close out the evening with a Bees Knees.

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?
One of my mentors is David Sutton. He is a photographer in Evanston, IL, and is always there for me to turn to when I am in need of business advice.

My husband, Justin Amolsch, has given me support and encouragement since the day we met! He has been my on-location assistant, my Social Media Director, and my muse.

David and Justin actually have teamed up in the recent past. Justin was in Chicago working during the holidays, and I was here in Denver. I called David for some advice, and he answered the phone by saying “I’m just about to pick up your husband for lunch!” and I said “That’s perfect, I need both of you on this dilemma – put him on speaker!”

Website: www.crimsoncatstudios.com

Instagram: @crimsoncatstudios

Facebook: @crimsoncatstudios

Image Credits
Crimson Cat Studios