Meet Elizabeth Suter | Videographer/Producer/Editor/Ballet Teacher

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

Hi Elizabeth, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
That’s such a hard question! Honestly, I left it blank and came back to it. I still don’t have a great and profound answer. I think I was born to be in a creative career. Throughout my life the only time I truly feel fulfilled, happy or complete are when I’m creating something. It could be building a headboard for my bedroom, teaching a ballet class, or filming. It doesn’t matter…when I’m creating something, I feel at home.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I knew that I wanted to pursue a creative career pretty early in life. I started dance as a very young child and kept studying dance until after I graduated high school. At nine years old, I auditioned for a repertoire children’s ballet company and was a member until I turned 18. We were required to sew our own costumes and build our own sets. It was truly an immersive experience. No one over 18 was allowed back stage. From lighting, set changes, props…we did it all. We performed full-length ballets and toured within the south eastern states. Sixty kids from middle Tennessee dedicated over 32 hours a week to classes, rehearsals and creating costumes, sets and props for our performances. It was the best time of my life. I think I might be one of the few people that wishes I could go back to being nine years old again! That early exposure to ballet and the opportunities that the performance life can offer, led me to a career in film and television. The skills I learned through dance are skills that I use everyday.

As an adult, I had gotten married at 19 and he wanted me to quit performing. I took a job at a ballet school teaching part-time and working as a medical biller at a doctors office fulltime. During that time, I think I kind of lost my way. To say I was unhappy is an understatement. Being out of a creative field was soul-sucking to me. I became depressed and gained a lot of weight. Even though I was teaching, I didn’t feel like I was doing what I was born to do. I didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t have a college education so I felt like I didn’t have many options.

When I turned 23 I was attending a church service and they asked for volunteer camera operators. I applied even though I had never touched a “real” camera. I just thought, “I can do that!” I had no idea that it was going to become a career for me. After 6 months of volunteering, I was hired as a part-time intern, 6 months later, the broadcast manager left and I applied for that position. That position allowed me to learn how to light, shoot, edit and so much more. They provided me with a mentor who taught me everything he knew. He shared his knowledge and that gift is something I’m forever grateful for. I worked at that mega-church for almost 3 years. It was an intense 3 years. I got a divorce and moved out on my own…however, I kept pursuing my new passion. Even with the substantial amount of debt my ex-husband had left me with, I didn’t quit. It pushed me harder to follow the career I was born to do.

After 3 years at the church, I wanted to hone my skills. I was “good” at a few things, but I didn’t feel like I had mastered any one facet of production. I applied for a position as a full-time videographer and got it. That position not only taught me more than I could’ve ever learned in college or at church, it allowed me to travel! Because of that job, I learned the art of lighting, storytelling and videography. That job allowed me to visit 46 states and film major music artists, Super Bowl, MLB games, and so much more.

Today, I work with two nonprofits. Beyond the Call was founded by my best friend, Tracie. She and I now travel all over the world documenting WWII veterans first-hand accounts of the war. We have filmed over 25 veterans stories and have submitted one of our documentaries for an Emmy. Through this nonprofit, we have helped veterans talk about things they never thought they could. They’ve healed and been able to share with their families stories that would never have been told. Beyond the Call is preserving those stories so they’re never forgotten. We are documenting those experiences for future generations in the hopes that we don’t repeat the same mistakes.

The second nonprofit is a children’s ballet company, Middle Tennessee Youth Ballet. We help children in the middle Tennessee area to further their dance education through scholarships and fundraising. I want to give children the opportunity to study dance like I did. I want to help families that can’t afford the expense of classes, costumes, shoes and workshops. If it weren’t for ballet, I wouldn’t be where I am.

In the middle of developing my career and creating these wonderful organizations, I got married to a photographer. Richard has been my biggest fan. He’s extremely supportive and understands that this passion of mine is not just a career, it’s what makes me who I am. We’ve been married for 12 years. We don’t have children, but we do have dogs. We’ve rescued 2 boxers!

My fulltime gig is as a producer and editor with a local network. I started this new job in April of this year. They have been phenomenal. They allow me so much creative freedom and allow me to work on various projects where I can still shoot, light, write, and create.

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is there’s no ONE way to do something. After I left the church, I was told by coworkers that I had to film something a certain way or I had to use a certain camera or lens. Why? Don’t be afraid to try something or use something in a different way. Magic happens when you discover a new skill or a new way to achieve a beautiful result. Don’t let people box you in. Don’t be afraid to fail. I have NEVER done anything that I didn’t recover from or wasn’t able to fix. Because of that, I will never be afraid to try. I will never be afraid to fail. I will just try again. Some of the most incredible things in my life came out of trying something I was told wouldn’t work. You only truly fail when you don’t try.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d have to spend a day kayaking on the Harpeth or Caney Fork. We’d take a day to hike the window cliffs in Cookville. A day shopping downtown Nashville. The Gulch has a ton of options and restaurants. Maybe visit the Bluebird Cafe. We’d then have dinner at Kayne Prime Steakhouse. The wagyu steak is phenomenal We’d spend a day in my hometown of Gallatin, Tennessee. We’d go to the square and experience true small town hospitality. Afterward, we’d end up on my back porch. We’d listen to the windchimes, the water fountain and good music while sipping on some great wine. On the last day, we’d go back downtown for the best magic show and dinner at House of Cards.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many.

My mom who sacrificed so much for me to dance. For a lot of my childhood, she was a single mom of FOUR children. She worked her fingers to the bone so we could have a good life. The one time I told her I would quit dance so we could save money, she looked me straight in the eye and said, ” you will NEVER quit dance.” She said it so matter-of-fact and with such an intensity, it scared me a bit.

My first dance teacher, Cheri Coleman. She is the type of person who’s passion is contagious. She is truly one of the most creative, intelligent people I know. Her ability to teach, not only dance, but work ethic, sewing, building, and much more is THE reason I am where I am in my career today.

Michael Valetta who mentored me through my early production days. I never attended college but he taught me everything he knew. He shared his knowledge for TV and film. He devoted so much time to me and never asked for anything in return. He literally gave me the ability to build a career in a filed I truly love.

Website: https://www.elizabethsutermedia.com/

Instagram: @elizabethsutermedia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-suter-4640791a4/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethsuter