Photo Credit: Tom Zimberoff

Renowned portrait photographer Tom Zimberoff reflects on what separates a simple photograph of a person from a portrait that really resonates.

Over a career spanning photojournalism, magazine covers, and portraits of cultural icons—from Groucho Marx and John Lennon to Steve Jobs and Dennis Hopper—Zimberoff has approached portraiture as something deeper than documentation. At its core, he says, portraiture is a collaboration.

In this thoughtful conversation with Photo Artfolio, Zimberoff explores the ethics of photographing people, the craft behind powerful portraits, and why identity—not circumstance—should remain at the center of the frame.

Photo credit: Kayin Ho

Whether you’re just beginning to discover the magic of photography or an experienced photographer, it’s always helpful to review some tips on how to make your images even stronger. Check out our list of ideas with corresponding images to illustrate each one.

Photo credit: Lisa Fotios

Whether you’re creating a portfolio for a website, applying for a grant or preparing for a portfolio review, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by where to start and what to include. Read our step-by-step guide on how to curate a cohesive body of work that will have the strongest possible impact.

Photo credit: Brooke Cagle

Whether you’re a photographer just starting out or an established professional, getting more exposure for your work and learning news skills are both critical to expanding your career. Participating in online photography community, a photography forum, or sharing your work on social media networks are just some of the ways you can put your work in front of the people you’re most hoping to reach. We’ve put together a list of some of the top sites to generate exposure for your work as well as learn new tools to improve your craft.

Photo credit: Samantha Gades

If you’re looking for a little extra creative inspiration, check out this selection of some of our favorite quotes from photographers whose work has shaped our understanding of the world. We’ve paired each quote with images curated to further inspire you in your photographic journey.

Photo credit: Marjan Taghipour

A photo story is a combination of art and journalism. As with a written essay, the elements of a photo essay should be structured in a way that easily conveys a story to the viewer. Each individual photo contributes to the overall story, theme, and emotions of the essay. The photos you choose must not only be compositionally and artistically strong, but also informative and educational. Finding photos that have both qualities can be very challenging, but the result can be very powerful. We’ve put together a guide to help you hone your story-telling skills and create an effective and emotionally impactful piece. If you’re planning to apply for our photo story grant, be sure to read this guide before you submit your application.

Photo credit: Alex Andrews

There are so many online options to purchase photo gear or order prints from that it can be hard to know where to begin. We’ve put a selection of our top choices together to help you search for your next camera, trade in your old gear for something new or order quality prints.