In 1996 she was a founding member of MARE - Die Zeitschrift der Meere, a magazine dedicated to photo reportage and picture essays. Since then she have been mare's image director, responsible for its photographic concepts and visual narratives. In 2010 Stauss organized the relaunch of the German edition of Reporters without Borders' annual photo book, and continues today as Project Manager. The relaunch received the Kress Award that year.
Complimenting these editorial activities, she curates photographic exhibitions, teaches photo editing seminars and was a master for World Press Photo 2006, 2007 and 2008 Joop Swart Masterclasses, and member of the 2013 WPPH contest Nature jury.
Stauss lives with her family in Berlin.