My model name is Chiara and I'm also a photographer under the name Toulouki.
In Jan 2021, I decided to revive my account here after many years of inactivity, (only from being on this site, I have been modelling throughout) and start to offer tethered remote shoots to a wider audience.
I work full time in the industry as a model, photographer, retoucher & tutor.

I have been a professional model for 15 years, modelling fashion, commercial, glamour & nude, but during 2020 I got really into self-portraiture and many of my shots were taken by myself with my Nikon D850.

Due to having to reinvent after breast cancer treatment in 2019 and then an immediate pandemic, I am now mainly a self-portrait artist with an online business in shooting bohemian jewellery, clothes & other advertising work.
I normally advertise for 1-2-1 shoots from my garden in the UK over the warmer months, and spend the rest of the year retouching photos for clients and giving 1-2-1 Lightroom & Photoshop tuition, but living in a super high risk household, it looks like 2021 will be another year of staying mostly away from meetings in person, which is why I'm now offering everything remotely.
When it is finally safe to shoot again in person, my garden is a large area all the way around my bungalow, decorated with several different sets during the summer months, including a gazebo, hot tub, a huge 5ft diameter teepee with bed / cupboards, etc. a bohemian caravan with its own veranda, etc. but of course these sets can still be used remotely when they are up over the summer.

I'm really excited about meeting more photographers for tethered remote shoot bookings and I would be very happy to guide you through the process if you are new to it and show you how you can very much retain control over the lighting, settings, styling and general direction of a shoot with me, just like a normal 1-2-1 shoot.
I appreciate it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but please do not assume it's not for you without at least reading a little bit about it / trying it first. I would be so happy to chat through any questions you may have over the phone or on here.

List of photographic gear I have:

Nikon D850 camera, full frame
Nikkor 16-35mm f4 zoom lens
Nikkor 35mm f2 prime lens
Nikkor 50mm f1.4 prime lens
Nikkor 85mm f1.8 prime lens
Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 zoom lens
Godox AD360 flash plus battery pack

Modifiers for the Godox:
- Small octabox with optional grid
- Small beauty dish with optional diffuser & grid
- Snoot with optional grid

Pop-up ring flash for speedlight (can be positioned directly on camera lens)
Several speed lights & triggers (3 or 4)
Pixapro LED 308D dimmable constant light
Small reflectors
One large 2m x 1.5m reflector
Coloured gels, various colours

I have all the necessary light stands, tripod, grip equipment, SD cards & plenty of Nikon batteries too

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Please please do not confuse remote shooting with my self portraiture. I can assure you that any photos taken on a remote shoot are solely yours and will have been directed entirely by you and your concepts & motivation. I am happy to guide and make suggestions if invited to do so, just like on a regular shoot, but you have complete control.
If you'd like to know more about how it works, please just send me a message & I'll gladly chat to you about it.

Self-portraits are a different thing entirely. You're probably wondering why I'm even posting them here. Well, I have a Patreon page where I showcase completely exclusive self-portraits and the entire shoot workflow for each one, including set design, prop making, sharing camera settings, light set-ups.. you can gain access to discounts on my remote image retouch tuition, signed prints, my custom made Lightroom presets, live video model / photography chat Q&A sessions and so much more.

Please do go visit http://www.patreon.com/toulouki to read more about this!

See the various bits of tuition on offer.. get the chance to be a fly on the wall during my self-portrait shoots and learn how, when and why I do what I do, to choosing lighting to how & why I pick final images over others..

Not that it matters at the moment considering I'm still going to be remote shooting for the forseeable future, (and hopefully work with lots of photographers overseas who I wouldn't typically get the chance to work with at all) but I'm based on a beautiful coastline in West Sussex just a minute's walk from a super pretty beach and have some fabulous locations within walking distance for remote work too. I am an optimist; I try make the best out of any given situation and generally feel lucky and grateful. I'm sure some think I'm bonkers but I'm just a creative, happy person. I love my life and the variety in each day.

I love: self-portrait photography, image retouching, styling, prop making, drawing, painting canvases, dress making, making shoot props, playing classical piano, styling, fashion, dancing around to anything funky, 60s music / fashion / life, tropical house music, I'm obsessed with Kygo(!) remixes, being warm, wigs & hairpieces, the sun, healthy eating, yoga, meditation, travelling, new experiences, motorbike rides, massaman curry, being by the sea, sunsets, photography & art exhibitions, baths, steam rooms, dogs, all animals actually..

I'm a toned, leggy, bendy, creative, unconventional, passionate, inquisitive, approachable, expressive bohemian with olive skin, dark eyes & chameleon qualities & I'm really looking forward to hopefully working with you and bringing your creative ideas into fruition!

Love,
Chiara

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