First Impressions Photography

First Impressions:

Over the past six weeks, a remarkable creative journey unfolded in Preston. Brought together by a shared passion for their city, a diverse group of people who call Preston home took part in a storytelling and photography project that captured the essence of their lives and surroundings.

“First Impressions” is more than a photography project — it’s a collective portrait of Preston through the eyes of its people. Facilitated by ourselves and acclaimed photographer Garry Cook (Enjoy The Show), the project invited local residents, from diverse backgrounds to explore their relationship with the city, using the power of images and stories. Each participant brought their own unique perspective, resulting in a vibrant patchwork of lived experience, creative expression, and heartfelt reflection.

Over the six weeks, participants developed not only photography techniques but also storytelling skills — learning to frame their thoughts and emotions about the city through a visual lens. The result? A stunning collection of photographs that document the beauty, the challenges, and the spirit of Preston. From overlooked corners to moments of community, these images offer an honest and moving social commentary on the city and the people who make it special.

We started off at Preston Bus Station. We did a photo walk and several weeks later the First Impressions launched an outdoor photography exhibition at Winckley Square, Preston, Lancashire. Showcasing the work of seven Preston photographers, telling stories about Preston. Each story, which includes styles as diverse as art photography to photojournalism, telling stories about how each person feels about the proud city of Preston. Participants range in age from 17 to quite old.

Blog Preston covered the event and wrote an article which can be found here.

This project was made possible through Crowdfund Lancashire, a Lancashire County Council initiative that supports grassroots creativity. Backed by a range of supporters and kind donors through Spacehive, with supporters ‘Happy to support this wonderful project – can’t wait to see the work produced!’

The project has been facilitated by Dave Clayton of Wot Wud U Do and photographer Garry Cook. It was part of the #crowdfundlancashire program by LCC, with support from the Friends of Winckley Square Gardens.

We’re especially grateful to Friends of Winckley Square for their unwavering support throughout the project. Their involvement helped ensure the project was rooted in one of Preston’s most cherished green spaces — a place that has long been a meeting point for stories, history, and community.

As the images go on display and conversations grow from them, we hope “First Impressions” continues to inspire others to look again at the places they live, to notice more deeply, and to share what they see.

This is Preston. Seen. Shared. Celebrated.