Hi, I’m Romina

romina-schwaiger-missoula-montana-photographer
romina-schwaiger-missoula-montana-photographer

I’m a photographer based in Montana, but I took a bit of a scenic route getting here. I grew up in Austria, moved to Ireland when I was 19, and ended up stateside in my early twenties.

My love for photography started way back in middle school. I’d dress up my friends, shoot through rolls of film, and flip through fashion magazines for hours.

As I got older, I became obsessed with wild landscapes, which taught me the technical side of shooting manually. That hasn’t changed, but I found I loved creating with other people just as much. Now I bring the two together, making portraits out in nature.

Rumi has this quote I love, “Tear off the mask, your face is glorious.” That’s really what I’m here for, to reflect back the version of you that feels most like you.

WORK WITH ME
Sunset beach silhouette of photographer Romina Schwaiger walking her dog along the ocean shore in the PNW
Sunset beach silhouette of photographer Romina Schwaiger walking her dog along the ocean shore in the PNW
Missoula Montana photographer Romina Schwaiger smiling outdoors in a sunlit field while hugging her dog
Editorial pet portrait of a tan dog lying in grass with a small yellow wildflower balanced on its head in Montana
Editorial pet portrait of a tan dog lying in grass with a small yellow wildflower balanced on its head in Montana
Action pet portrait of a tan dog running through bright white snow outdoors in Montana
Action pet portrait of a tan dog running through bright white snow outdoors in Montana

This is Ruby, my ride or die.

Here is a visual diary of self-portraits I’ve taken over the years. <3

Atmospheric fine art long exposure night portrait under the Milky Way sky with fire spinner in PNW
Atmospheric fine art long exposure night portrait under the Milky Way sky with fire spinner in PNW
Fine art long exposure portrait of a figure sitting on mossy rocks in a flowing forest creek in the PNW
Fine art long exposure portrait of a figure sitting on mossy rocks in a flowing forest creek in the PNW

This is a little about me // I feel most alive in wild open landscapes // Sometimes I forget words in both English and German mid-sentence and then just… never recover // I take self-portraits in nature as a way of channeling something primal - it’s spiritual practice as much as art // Getting into my body is how I come back to myself // I believe in the healing power of the earth and the interconnectedness of all things // Most days you can find me frolicking outside with my pup Ruby, at the gym, or deep in the editing zone // I will never say no to cake, especially anything chocolatey and covered in whipped cream // Based in Missoula but give me a cool location anywhere and I'm there //

Fine art portrait of woman in black dress wading in Seeley Lake Montana with snow-capped mountains in background
Fine art portrait of woman in black dress wading in Seeley Lake Montana with snow-capped mountains in background
Fine art experimental motion blur portrait of woman in green dress crouching in grassy field near Mt Sentinel Missoula
Cinematic fine art winter portrait of woman in open-back red gown standing on frozen lake under overcast sky in Montana
Cinematic fine art winter portrait of woman in open-back red gown standing on frozen lake under overcast sky in Montana
Black-and-white photograph of a woman standing in a forest stream, pulling her face, with trees reflected in the water in PNW

"The purpose of life is to find your gift, but the meaning of life is to give it away." – Pablo Picasso

Sunlit outdoor portrait of woman in red dress posing under large pine tree surrounded by yellow wildflowers at Rattlesnake Wilderness Missoula
Moody fine art portrait of a woman embracing herself in a foggy field surrounded by mist in the PNW
Moody fine art portrait of a woman embracing herself in a foggy field surrounded by mist in the PNW
Atmospheric fine art portrait photography in Montana featuring a woman in a red gown in a foggy evergreen forest
Atmospheric fine art portrait photography in Montana featuring a woman in a red gown in a foggy evergreen forest