Foto8 was established in 1998 as the website foto8.com. In 2001 it published the first issue of "8 magazine". Over the next decade it published 29 further issues of the magazine and five individual photo books. The magazine offices in London were also home to HOST Gallery, a contemporary gallery of photojournalism.

In November 2011 Foto8 closed its doors for the last time and ceased trading soon after. After 13 years of innovation and excellence, Foto8 founder and director, Jon levy, called time on its programmes of publishing, exhibiting and learning in photojournalism.