Meet Louise – Our Retoucher with Technical Precision and Creative Finesse

Whenever we need extra support during busy periods, Louise is the one we call — and we’re so grateful to have her as part of Team Chimli.

With a background that combines technical sharpness and a strong eye for color, form, and structure, Louise is a grounded and collaborative retoucher who understands both the fine details and the bigger picture.

Louise lives in Nacka, just outside Stockholm, and has worked full-time as a retoucher since 2017 after graduating from the Digital Imaging program at Fotoskolan STHLM. But her journey didn’t begin with images — it started with math and physics.

I originally planned to become a civil engineer, but I realized it wasn’t the right path for me. When I left the program, I wasn’t sure what to do next, so I began taking independent courses in photography and image editing. I had always been interested in photography, and when I found the Digital Imaging program at Fotoskolan STHLM, everything just clicked. It felt like someone had created a program specifically for me.

It quickly proved to be the right decision. She landed a job immediately after graduating and has worked as a full-time retoucher ever since. For several years, she retouched images for H&M’s social media channels — content published multiple times a week and seen by thousands of followers worldwide.

It was an incredibly fun period. We worked as a team with photographers, stylists, and set designers, and I learned so much.

Professional, Collaborative — Always with Sensitivity

Louise doesn’t impose a strong personal style when working with clients. Instead, she listens carefully, interprets, and works to realize the photographer’s vision.

It’s not always easy to describe an image with words. People often use terms that mean different things to different individuals. That’s when it’s important to truly listen and understand what the client actually means — not just what they say.

Her sense of structure and workflow makes her not only a skilled retoucher, but also an efficient problem solver.

I love optimizing workflows and eliminating unnecessary repetitive tasks. If something can be automated, I’ll happily automate it. I’d rather spend my time giving the image that final touch that makes it shine.

Se fler av Louises arbeten på hennes hemsida.

When Louise works remotely with Chimli, she follows the exact same workflow as Emelie and Christine to ensure that the final result always feels cohesive — regardless of who completed the retouching.

A Friendship That Turned into Collaboration

Louise and Emelie met during their studies and immediately connected.

“We’ve always shared a similar mindset when it comes to efficiency and workflow. We’ve bounced a lot of ideas off each other over the years. It’s incredibly valuable to have someone to exchange thoughts with — it keeps you from getting stuck in your own patterns.”

For Louise, being part of a team where creativity and collaboration go hand in hand is especially meaningful — something that can sometimes be missing in traditional freelance life.

“It’s wonderful to be able to support each other during busy periods or when someone gets sick. It creates a completely different workday when you’re part of a team — even if we work remotely.”

Creativity Beyond Work

Louise’s creativity doesn’t stop at retouching. In her spare time, she grows vegetables, ferments food, knits, sews, spins yarn, and bakes sourdough bread — just to name a few things. Her interests shift with the seasons, and her curiosity is constant.

“I definitely go through creative phases. I love learning new things and tend to go all in on something for a while before moving on to the next project. That curiosity and desire to learn definitely make me a better retoucher.”

If she could choose a dream project, she would publish a book about cultivation, craftsmanship, and reuse — filled with beautiful imagery and inspiring text. Either an educational guide or a thoughtful coffee-table book designed to spark reflection.

At Chimli, we love having Louise on our team — not only because she delivers razor-sharp retouching with sensitivity and precision, but because she brings warmth, drive, and wisdom to everything she does. It simply feels more secure having Louise along on the journey.

Follow her creative craft projects on Instagram at Tantverkaren!