About Tony Bynum

Tony Bynum stands in a river with his camera in had during a photo shoot.

Tony Bynum is a Montana-based photographer, media professional, scientist, and conservationist. Current projects include a long-term photography project in Central Montana, focusing on Square Butte and its changing land use. In October, he completed a conservation photography project, “Grasslands of Montana,” for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. In Septermber of 2025 Tony completed a two week assignment about Native Americans and Buffalo restoration, for the French Magazine Terre Sauvage a prominent French nature and travel magazine that focuses on the planet's wild and authentic nature, featuring in-depth articles, stunning photography, and stories on environmental protection and adventure. The name translates to "Wild Earth" or "Savage Land". And in October, he completed another commission for Montana Quarterly, focusing on The Mannix Ranch and their Old Salt brand. Earlier this summer a film he helped produced, “The Real Yellowstone” was airing in limmited screenings in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Scotland. Before that, I worked on a mix of commercial photography projects for Montana Casting Company and several national clients, traveling frequently between the Highlands of Scotland and the United States, and co-producing and photographing a documentary-style film about the rural people of the Scottish Highlands, climate change, politics, and the changing landscapes.

Tony holds a Master of Science in Resource Management degree (watershed restoration), an undergraduate degree in Geography and Land Studies, and a minor in Environmental Studies. Tony is an enrolled member of the federally recognized Confederated Tribes and Bands of Grand Ronde (Oregon). During a successful career as a senior tribal environmental scientist for the Yakama Nation, Tony accepted a two-year special assignment to the EPA in Washington, D.C., and was the special assistant to the Assistant Administrator, and later became the Acting Senior Indian Program Manager. Tony then moved to Montana to raise a family.

Tony became a senior Environmental Scientist and project manager for Portage Environmental for the next five years. In this Native-owned corporation, he managed EPA scientific studies across Indian Country in the lower 48 and Alaska. He also managed media and strategic planning projects for several tribes in Montana and Alaska. The Secretary of the Interior appointed Tony to the Bureau of Land Management’s Central Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC), a federal advisory council, where he served for three years, one as the Chairman. Tony is considered an expert in Federal Tribal Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management in Indian Country. Tony has worked in various roles on numerous conservation projects in Montana and Idaho that have helped protect and enhance millions of acres of public land.

Montana-based photographer and conservationist Tony Bynum shares his story about photography while photographing a Blackfeet Tribal member, outfitter, and guide, Alger Swingly, on their home waters, the Missouri River in Montana. Summer, 2023.

Tony’s photography business began in Washington, D.C., and later grew in Montana to become his full-time pursuit. He combined his science, policy, and love of the outdoors in Montana and created a conservation-based photography business. Since 2006, Tony has produced images on over 300 magazine and book covers. Hundreds of his pictures are seen annually in newspapers, national advertisements, annual reports, book covers, art galleries, and dozens of outdoor publications. He’s covered front-page stories for the Washington Post. He’s traveled the world creating images for some of the biggest brands in the outdoor space. As a conservationist, Tony regularly works with nonprofit organizations, collaborates on documentaries, works as a film scout, and speaks on conservation, photography, and the business of photography. Tony’s fine art, wildlife, and landscape photography can be seen and purchased. Finally, Tony’s photography assets include the very specialized skill of U.S. Senate campaign photography, including dozens of tandem shoots, where both stills and video are captured on the same set.

Tony is the past president of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA). His favorite pastime is exploring the wild outdoors with his family and friends. Photographing the band Perl Jam in Missoula, MT, remains one of his most memorable photographic highlights. Tony thinks the most important aspect of producing for his clients is to have multiple plans and be ready to execute the plan that WILL get the job done right!

Read Tony's Professional Bio