Julia Cumes, Founder of Photo Artfolio

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” — Dorothea Lange

I'm Julia Cumes, a photographer and the founder of Photo Artfolio. My work has taken me around the world documenting social issues, cultural stories, and the human experience, as well as creating long-term narrative projects closer to home.

Throughout my career, I've experienced firsthand how important mentorship, encouragement, and a supportive photography community can be. Those experiences inspired me to create Photo Artfolio—a platform dedicated to helping photographers gain recognition, connect with a wider audience, and find opportunities to grow.

Through curated exhibitions, photography awards, and features such as Photographers to Watch, we celebrate compelling photographic work across genres and career stages. I'm particularly interested in discovering distinctive voices and creating opportunities for photographers whose work deserves greater visibility.

You can learn more about me and see my work at juliacumes.com and on Instagram @juliacumes.

—Julia Cumes

Photo Credit: Jenn Einhorn

Lipe Borges, Photo Artfolio Communications

Lipe Borges is a Brazilian photographer, educator, and lighting director with a background in Social Communication. After traveling extensively through South and Central America documenting people and places, he established a photography studio and founded the first photography school in his hometown in Brazil, where he spent seven years photographing and teaching.

Now based in the United States, Lipe collaborates with photographer Julia Cumes as a lighting director on documentary and commercial projects. He also leads communications for Photo Artfolio, bringing his passion for photography, education, and creative community to the platform.

Learn more about his work at lipeborgesphoto.com and on Instagram @lipeborges.photo.

Photo Credit: Julia Cumes

You Can Find Photo Artfolio’s Artist Opportunities Listed on the Following:

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📷 STREET RHYTHMS 🥇 1st Place — “Buenos Aires” by Giuseppe Cardoni A street transformed into a stage. Movement, reflection, and the decisive moment come together in a single frame. A mirror carried through the city becomes more
📷 "Pushkar Camel Market" by Michael Holtby The Human Portrait Exhibit Smoke drifts. Camels gather. The desert breathes. In the midst of movement and noise, a moment of quiet reflection emerges. Every line, every wrinkle, every glance spe
📷 Photo by Danny Bittencourt (@dannybbittencourt) Water slips through the fingers, quietly, impossibly. A small gesture holding weight, tenderness, and release. Some images whisper instead of shout. #PhotoArtfolio #DannyBittencourt #FineArtPhotog
📸 EXTENDED DEADLINE — Street Rhythms New Deadline: May 18 (Monday) ✨ You asked. We listened. More time to edit. More time to select your strongest images. More time to join photographers from around the world in this global online exhibition
📷 Between Earth and Sky – Rising With The Morning Light Photo by Giovanna Aryafara (@giovannaphotography) From our Photographers to Watch series Suspended between shadow and light, the ordinary becomes transcendent. A moment of stillness, glo
📷 Sweeping Beneath the Sacred Light Photo by Giovanna Aryafara Light pours through the trees like something sacred. A quiet gesture, a daily ritual, transformed into poetry. Some photographs don’t just capture a moment… they hold a fee
Which street photographer has been inspiring you lately? Tag them or drop their name below 👇 📸: James Pryor #streetphotography #photograhycontest #streetphoto #photoartfolio
📷 Photo by James Pryor A fleeting blur passes by… but some faces remain. Grit, tenderness, exhaustion, presence. A street portrait that lingers long after the moment is gone. ✨ Our next call is open: Street Rhythms Movement. Energy. Life i
📷 Photo by Daniel Dalea A path carved in silence. One figure moving forward, held between shadow and sky. Stillness… with just enough motion to carry it. ✨ Our next call is open: Street Rhythms Movement. Energy. Life in motion. 💰 $1,000 i
📸 LAST CALL — Street Rhythms Deadline May 13 ⏳ Final days to submit. The streets are still moving… are you in? 🏆 AWARDS • 1st Place — $500 • 2nd Place — $350 • 3rd Place — $150 🚫 AI-generated imager