Popular Canadian photography publication Photo Life has announced that the March 2021 issue will be its last. In a letter to readers on its website, the Photo Life team says that while it has weathered many of the storms the industry has faced, the pandemic was one it could not overcome.

Photo Life announced the unfortunate closure after 45 years of operation in a few short paragraphs:

Dear readers,

It is with a heavy heart that we must announce that the March 2021 issue of Photo Life is the last one we will publish.

This decision was extremely difficult to make, but it was necessary. The world of print-magazine publishing is rocky, to say the least. Photography has been undergoing major transformations, and its industry is experiencing increasing difficulties. Our little boat has weathered many storms at the confluence of these two daunting currents, but the final blow—the pandemic—has had many consequences, including significant losses in advertising revenue.

Therefore, it is unfortunately no longer possible for us to continue to sustain the pace, the financial weight, and the responsibility of this enterprise, which relies on the hard work of only four people on staff.

Your support over the years has been our motivation. You have always been our inspiration to do better, to produce high-quality content, and to reinvent. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love and support and for appreciating the images and stories of so many great Canadian photographers.

This great adventure is ending, but it’s certainly not the last we want to experience as photography lovers.

The Photo Life team

All subscribers to the magazine (print or digital) will have received the March 2021 issue automatically, however, this issue will not be available on newsstands. This final issue was available exclusively through the organization’s online store through the end of January, and those final issues were shipped to customers on February 11. Some back issues of the magazine are available here. At the time of publication, the March 2021 issue — along with many past issues — was sold out.

Photo Life was established in 1976 and was known as Canada’s leading source for photography. According to the company’s website, each issue of Photo Life focused on filling the pages with inspiring content like interviews with photographers, thought-provoking long-form pieces, funny stories, articles on photography equipment, or ideas for improving techniques and storytelling approaches. The magazine was designed for all those who love exploring the world with a camera in hand.

The publication will no doubt be missed.