Photozine Resources

At the intersection of photography and self-publishing lies the dynamic world of photo zines—a powerful medium that combines visual storytelling with personal expression.
I have curated this list of resources that will hopefully expedite your journey to making your first photo zine. If you have any questions or would like to recommend a resource that is not on this list, send me a note at jeff@jeffphillips.me.
If you’re interested in digging deeper, check out my upcoming workshops (online and in-person).

What is a Photo Zine?

Zines (and photo zines) are a form of self-expression and DIY publishing. They come with a unique set of attributes compared to professionally produced books. The difference between the two can be problematic to define.

A zine is often a small production filled with text and/or images that is intended for limited circulation. Zines are often handmade and less polished than your average book or magazine — and that's sometimes their primary appeal. They are often printed in the studio or at home and bound by hand-sewing.

However, zines can be commercially printed, and this is my recommended method for visual artists that create zines or photo zines that contain an abundance of imagery. Modern commercial printing companies offer an astounding range of creative choices of sizes, formats, materials, binding, coatings, customizations, and other options that expand the possibilities for self-publishing beyond what’s possible in a studio or at home. These services are targeted at marketing and communications professionals in corporate settings or for designers in creative agencies that make booklets, brochures, signage, and other printed materials for their clients.

This is where artists like us can Hack the Marketing Industrial Complex. I coined this term and I say it tongue-in-cheek; it’s not a real thing. The goal is to use these powerful tools to create our own booklets that can help us raise awareness about our arts practices— and in the process we are getting our work out into the world.

While working with many artists over the years, my assessment is that the definition of the zine itself is irrelevant. You’re making something–or producing something—that is largely under your creative control. Your zine is born from your idea, your inspiration, you make the creative choices. You can work alone or collaborate with others; the decision is yours.

Here’s a 45-minute photo zine webinar I did during 2020, produced by New Orleans Photo Alliance as part of their #quarantivity webinar series. Like me, it’s a bit old now—but still relevant!

Check out this full-length, free video of the workshop:

Video: Make a Photozine! workshop with Jeff Phillips

Zine History

Throughout the history of zines, their DIY ethos, ability to provide marginalized groups a voice, and capacity for personal expression have made them a continually evolving and relevant medium.

A Brief History of Zines from Mental Floss is an essential read for understanding the important history of zine making and how it has remained a compelling platform for almost a century.

A Brief History of Zines (from Duke University) and this one from Cornell University Library both provide and academic dive deeper into the past, positing that zines may have first been made in the year 1517. Short read, and totally worth the time.

Zines as Part of Music History

Riot Grrrl: The '90s Movement that Redefined Punk (video)

Photo Zine Libraries

Institutions that house zine libraries serve several purposes, both for academic and wider communities. They are often created and managed by educational institutions, museums, not-for-profit organizations, and even private collectors for the purpose of preservation of culture, research, promotion of free expression, community engagement, and for the support of independent publishers.

These destinations can be an inspiring place to begin your zine making journey–and they may even want to collect your zines, too.

Barnard Zine Library has a supermassive index of worldwide zine libraries. Start here!

Barnard Zine Library (Barnard College, New York, NY)

Some of the following libraries are not on the Barnard list, so check them out, as well.

Joan Flasch Artists Book Collection at School of the Art Institute (Chicago, IL)

Denver Zine Library (Denver, CO)

ABC No Rio Zine Library (New York, NY)

QZAP Queer Zine Archive Project (Milwaukee, WI)

Papercut Zine Library (Cambridge, MA)

Zine Archive & Publishing Project (ZAPP) (Seattle, WA)

Salt Lake City Public Library's Zine Collection (Salt Lake City, UT)

Print Pomona Art Book Fair (Claremont, CA)