Biography
Being a former Iowa farm boy in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – Douglas Tjelmeland’s (chumaland) visual passions developed growing up on a large grain, livestock and horse farm. My passion for the horse is still immense having raised, trained, showed, judged, and taught riding for years professionally. However, my other newfound passion as a youth was shooting pictures when times seemed simpler. The images I shot then were with a Polaroid Land camera which were much loved by my family and friends as life was during that time. Don't forget about the Quaker Oats pin hole project from 4-H camera club!!!
After graduating in 1983 from Iowa State University during the agricultural crisis I finally secured a career in Ag Pharmaceuticals and was also farming in our family’s farming business. I was discovered in the mid-west and was offered an experience in the modeling industry moving to Milan, Italy the fall of 1989. I developed and advanced to the upper echelon in Europe living in and working out of Paris, London, Milan, Madrid and all over Germany before moving to New York City and signing with CLICK Talent Management. After more development and agency networking I was then represented by 22 agencies all over the world and still as an old man now (LOL) maintains active with his mother print agent CLICK and acting agent FLICK in Los Angeles.
As a model I majored worldwide campaigns that included Perry Ellis, Corneliani, Lacoste, Henry Cotton, Valentino, exclusive Ralph Lauren Polo and others. Some of my other clients have included American and British GQ, American and British Esquire, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Mondo Uomo, FHM, Calvin Klein (fit model), PGA, Donna Karen, J Crew, Brooks Brothers, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Delta Airlines, Victoria’s Secret men’s undergarments , top designer runway shows internationally and vast national and international catalog clients. I rounded my career by studying Meisner technique in New York and keeping that craft alive. Then represented by William Morris and CED in NYC to his current agent FLICK in LA. Something said about loyalty in this industry and like a good horse knows!! LOL Now to play Salvador Dali off Broadway and going back again 2025.
I bring 35 years of experience in front of the camera modeling and then studying acting to re-develop my youthful passion behind the camera of creative vision for the past 29 years. What a journey from a farm boy from Iowa. Throughout my extensive career I have learned from and shot with some of the world’s greatest photographers such as Fabrizio Gianni, Bruce Weber, Yost Wildbolz, Victor Skrebneski, Kurt Marcus, Herb Ritts, Gilles Bensimon, Pamela Hansen, Nadir, Calliope and Peter Beard to name a few. Goggle them!! And yes, a bit braggy but proven of who I've worked with with worldwide. Honored and humbled as a farm boy. I always extend my experience to my clients when and where ever I shoot.
With my magnitude of experience, knowledge, creativity, and integrity I have developed my visual passion and journey into a successful business creating beautiful images. I create images wanted and needed for advertising (fashion and commercial), promotional, personal presentation (models, actors, performers), weddings, and family or individual portraiture. I have assisted agencies developing beginning and established talent to pursue careers in the exciting fashion, acting, music and any other professional endeavors in the states and abroad with beautiful images. I have a great network of talented and well-rounded professionals who assist my productions – wardrobe stylists, set design, hair stylists and make-up artists that are really cool!!!!
In front of camera Career
