Making Pictures - Sharing Stories
PicStoryBelfast is a community portrait and storytelling project rooted in the belief that every person has a story worth telling. Launched in February 2023, the project began with an open invitation: Come as you are. Sit for a portrait. Share what matters to you.
It all started on Berry Street, where passers-by stopped to take part, curious about the camera and open to conversation. From there, the project moved to the back of 2 Royal Avenue, and before long, we were invited to trial a regular fortnightly session in the main hall—a space that has become a true home for the project.
2 Royal Avenue is more than a venue—it’s a community hub and unique cultural space in the heart of Belfast. It reflects the same values at the core of PicStoryBelfast: openness, creativity, and connection.
The project was founded by local photographers and friends Gary McNally and John Hanvey, who between them have over 20 years’ experience and a shared passion for portraiture and community-led storytelling. Having been active in camera clubs for years, they wanted to create something different—a platform not for competition, but for connection.
In December 2024, PicStoryBelfast officially became a Community Interest Company (CIC), thanks to the invaluable support from Stephen and Helen at WorkWest, Belfast City Council, and the thoughtful guidance of Josh Watts at Innovate Social, whose belief in the project helped shape it into a sustainable community initiative.
They’ve also been joined by Frank, Gary’s nephew and now the team’s Apprentice. Frank plays an active role in setting up the mobile studio, learning about cameras, lighting and composition, and chatting with curious visitors who stop by to learn more about the project. His growing skills and enthusiasm are a testament to the spirit of PicStoryBelfast—one generation passing knowledge and creativity to the next.
Through hundreds of portraits and personal reflections—joyful, moving, complex, and quietly powerful—PicStoryBelfast continues to celebrate the everyday people who shape the soul of the city.
Whether you're a long-time resident, a new arrival, or a visitor passing through, your story is part of Belfast’s story—and we’d love to hear it.
