Thai lenswoman of the moment talks about her ascent to the top.

Chutharut Pornmuneesoonthorn won’t get a job as a hairdresser anytime soon. Her latest hair handiwork graces itself in contrast to the new cut of her decade long boyfriend Jakkapong “Song” Siririn, the bassist of Paradox known for his crazy stunts and cross-dressing costumes. The supposed-to-be-straight ear-length bob is lopsided, and looks like more of a zig zag than a line. Maybe it’s an intentional attempt to complement Jakkapong’s famed eccentric yet amicable behaviour, but, as bad as it might sound, the cut is definitely of street fashion material. He teases her about it, but is adamant she doesn’t change or fix it.

Not that Chutharut needs to attend a beauty school to become a hair stylist to mark her place in the world when she’s already been the toast of the photography community for quite some times now. Among the glittering sea of straight- and gay-male-dominated fashion photography world, Chutharut stands firmly, proudly and deservedly among the top of the top. She has been as much in demand as other household names, and her work can be spotted in high-end-magazine editorial shoots as well as hip fashion house catalogues from Sretsis to Greyhound.

Petite and laid back, Chutharut speaks at a slower pace with the slightest changes in tone and volume, but she cracks jokes with a deadpan face followed by a tiny smile. Set against the loud rambunctious world of clothes and bitchiness she inhabits, Chutharut, with a surprisingly reserved exterior and subdued manner, is somehow an oddball yin in the chaotic world of yang; a slower walker in the fast moving world, but equally as erratic, as you can see in her photos.

Her works are also of a peculiar nature as they call for further contemplation rather than force feeding their fashion message. Every picture with Chutharut’s stamp on it transpires to be awe-inspiring and thought provoking. That’s how Chutharut works her flowing magic - accidental beauty being captured through a keen eye and fine craftswomanship. Her works command attention and repeated viewings with their cool, collected subtleness combined with well-hidden edges and a shadowy sense of weirdness - the kinds of pictures that leave lasting impressions rather than instant but fleeting shock and awe; high fashion at its most creative. But don’t ask Chutharut to pigeonhole her style, for it will leave the pint-size lenswoman flabbergasted for a long while.