In Conversation with Jakob Lilja-Ruiz

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Jakob Lilja-Ruiz. Known online as @portra_papi, Jakob has built a devoted following for his nostalgic, grain-rich images that blend environmental portraiture with cinematic landscapes. After leaving his 9-to-5 in California to chase his dream of full-time photography, he hit the road with a camera, a car, and a deep curiosity for the American Southwest. In this interview, Jakob shares how his heritage, love for storytelling, and endless miles of desert road have shaped a body of work that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Thanks for chatting with us Jakob! Can you share what inspired this body of work?
This combination of Environmental Portraiture and American Topographics guides the viewer through a story that mirrors the sense of loneliness one can feel while wandering through a barren landscape. The warm colors of the desert are enhanced by the grainy aesthetic of the chosen film. Nostalgia is evoked, pulling at memories of American Western films and the spirit of adventure associated with this region.

What prompted your move to the Southwest?
I moved to the Southwest nearly four years after quitting my job in California to pursue my dream of becoming a full-time photographer. At that point, creating images completely consumed my life. After saving up a small nest egg, I decided to pack up my tiny apartment and sell all of my belongings to live out of my car and fully focus on chasing photos for a summer.

How has your background influenced your work?
Growing up with a Native background was always part of my identity. Being raised by a single mother who immigrated from Sweden meant that my Navajo roots became distant memories — passed down only through stories. All I wanted to do was explore the mountains of the U.S., inspired by my male role models, the dirtbag adventurers like John Muir, Fred Beckey, and John Zahorian.

When did you first connect with photography as a creative outlet?
School was a constant struggle for me throughout childhood, so being able to express myself through images became something I deeply connected with. My desire to escape my small countryside town of Petaluma served as the catalyst for years of road trips that slowly revealed the landscapes of California and Oregon.

What drew you to the American Southwest specifically?
Years later, a journey to the American Southwest reignited my interest in family history—though, admittedly, that interest had been shaped more by Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns than anything else. Until then, Yosemite had been my personal slice of heaven on Earth, but the desert was something entirely different. Towering granite peaks were replaced by deep, endless canyons and cliffside views that made it feel like you were standing on the edge of the world.

How does the desert landscape compare to other places you’ve photographed?
Just like the landscape, the people of the desert wear the same scars of time. From small mom-and-pop stores to old, dilapidated structures, this land feels like an era frozen in time. Character is baked into every town in a way that endlessly fascinates me as a photographer.

What keeps you photographing the desert? What’s next for you?
I’m grateful to spend a significant chapter of my life capturing these places before modernization changes this core part of American culture. There’s still so much to explore and preserve through my lens.

About Jakob

Growing up as a first-generation American sparked a deep curiosity about the world around him. Influenced by the legacy of “dirtbag” adventurers who roamed the country in pursuit of rugged landscapes, Jakob found his own path through photography. Over the past five years of traveling with a camera—more than three of those years dedicated solely to film—he has refined a visual language rooted in imperfection and emotion. The warm, nostalgic color palette of film, combined with the medium’s tactile unpredictability, drives his pursuit of beautiful, fleeting moments shaped by soft, natural light.

He has built a loyal following online, where his evocative imagery and unique perspective continue to inspire fellow artists, adventurers, and photography lovers around the world.

Explore more of Jakob’s work:

Instagram
Website