BPIC was formed in 1996. The original club was called the Staff Association Photographic Club, and it was based in an ancient wooden building in the grounds of the Belfast City Hospital.  Membership of the club was then open only to those who were members of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (as was then) Staff Association.

In 1996 we were 'evicted' from our building to make way for what is now the Renal Unit at BCH, moving to our current home at Morton Community Centre.  A short time later, the Maysfield Camera Club was evicted from the old Maysfield Leisure Centre.  The membership of the Maysfield Camera Club joined us at Morton and the two clubs were amalgamated, retaining the name of the Staff Association Photographic Club.

We maintained our ties with the EHSSB Staff Association until 1999, when we broke all our connections.  As this was a break from the past, there was no need to retain the 'Staff Association' in the name of the club.  The name of the club was then formally changed to 'Belfast Photo-Imaging Club' - with a membership of 17 !

The name was chosen because, even in 1999, digital imaging was in its infancy, and we chose to recognise that fact in our name. Little did we know that film would become redundant, and digital imaging would prevail.