Real Photography Company, St Pauls, Bristol, UK.

The Real Photography Company are a Bristol-based Community Interest Company incorporated in July 2017, producing exciting photography projects, and managing Community Darkrooms at St Pauls Learning Centre, Bristol.

We aim to revive and refresh traditional and alternative photography, with a programme of workshops, exhibitions and events, plus high quality Darkroom facilities available 7 days a week for photographers in Bristol and beyond, with a low cost Membership scheme.

Darkrooms Inductions

We require everyone to attend a Darkroom Induction, prior to booking Darkroom sessions.

Free of charge - book your place here.

Darkroom Memberships now available.

The Hole World - Ukraine Fundraiser Pinhole Photography Festival

Thurs 26 May via Zoom

A fundraiser for the 5th Ukraine Pinhole Festival with pinhole photographers from around the world.

Donate here

Printing in Black and White - Darkroom Evening Session

Mon 20 June

A friendly and informal evening session making black and white prints from negatives.

Outdoor Alternative Photography Workshop in Frome

Tues 28 June

Free workshop at Frome Library Gardens as part of Photo|Frome Festival.

For details and booking see Workshops

Windrush Community Project

We continue this exciting community project with a Caribbean themed pinhole photography workshop in April and the official launch of the Pioneers Photo Book to celebrate Windrush Day 2022 on Wed 22 June. We will give away free copies of this beautiful commemorative book to local schools, libraries and community groups. For more info see our Events page.

Outdoor Photography Exhibition

A Little Piece of Summer!

A selection of beautiful experimental images made during last summer's Outdoor Photography Workshops now on view at St Pauls Learning Centre, and in a new Online Gallery

In a series of outdoor workshops taking place in St Pauls, St Werburghs and Eastville Park, Bristol, participants selected leaves, flowers, grasses and found items such as feathers, to make images. We made our own light sensitive paper using everyday kitchen ingredients, such as turmeric and home-made developer out of coffee and washing soda, and created images in sunlight, no cameras required.

For more details about the processes used see our Resources where there are downloadable info sheets, videos and presentations. Outdoor Photography Workshops are supported by Quartet Community Foundation.

My Bristol

At St Pauls Learning Centre, Bristol, we mounted an outdoor exhibition on the side of the building; My Bristol; a selection of images made by participants of community photography projects - displayed on Grosvenor Rd for everyone to see.

Other funded community photography projects include:

Chemistry Workshops 2019 - 20 with local schools, Cabot, Glenfrome, St Werburghs, St Barnabus and Evergreen, funded by the Royal School of Chemistry.
Photo-Social Project 2019 - 20 bringing people together for a variety of workshops, talks, exhibitions and other events, funded by the Big Lottery,
Photography course, workshops and exhibition in 2019 - 20 for the Over 50's Inner City Photographers funded by Bristol Ageing Better,
School Science Project with five local primary schools 2018 - 19, funded by the Ogden Trust,
My St Pauls Community Photography Project, 2018 - 19 funded by Bristol City Council, working with local groups including Over 50's, refugees and asylum seekers and people recovering from addictions.