Rivera-Ortiz was born into a poor family in the barrio of Pozo Hondo, outside Guayama on the Caribbean coast of Puerto Rico, the eldest of ten children (including four half-siblings and two stepsisters).

Holyoke and Springfield colleges as part of the Massachusetts Migrant Education summer program, where he was offered his first courses in photography and film development.

[14] Following his graduation, he worked as a journalist for newspapers (e.g. Democrat and Chronicle)[15] and magazines (e.g. Elle),[citation needed] but soon turned to photojournalism and documentary photography.

[26] He has exhibited photographs showing the dignity of the Dalit ("Untouchable") Caste of India[8][27] and the Aymara living in the arid altiplano of Bolivia.

[29] In 2012, the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism featured Rivera-Ortiz' work on poverty in the developing world in its collection of 50 Great Stories produced by alumni over the past century.

Rivera-Ortiz established the Foundation in 2010 to support underrepresented photographers and filmmakers from less developed countries with awards, grants, exhibitions, and educational programs.