About

Early Years - 1974

Photocity was established in 1974 by Mario Mintoff, whose passion for photography started during his initial years working with one of Malta's primary photo processing firms. Mario initially began operations from his birthplace at Merchants Street, Valletta, where he converted part of his house into a makeshift photo laboratory and studio. Churning out high-quality services through keen attention to detail ensured that Photocity became synonymous for outstanding photography services. As word spread, Photocity grew from humble beginnings into a trusted name in the local photography industry.

A New Location - 1987

Photocity moved to South Street, Valletta in 1987 and is still found there. Because of its central location, Photocity has gained a reputation as the place for those photography enthusiastsas well as professional photographers. 

The shop's accessible location and great reputation drew various clients over the years. Photocity turned to be the heart of the Maltese photographic community through all those years with Mario's capability to capture life's most memorable moments.

National Event - 1990

Such a significant event in the history of Photocity occurred in 1990 when Mario Mintoff was chosen to be an official photographer during the first Papal visit by His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the Maltese Islands. Such an event provided national exposure to Mario's work as some of his photographs gained popularity during that visit. He was identified and put into further assignments which would guarantee Photocity would be the photography studio relied upon for important national events.

Embracing Technology - 1996

By 1996, Photocity stood at the pinnacle of innovation in the local photography market. Its mini-lab system introduced the industry to faster and more efficient photo development systems. This meant that films could now be taken to develop and print within one hour, an improvement from the norms that the old photographic ways of handling tradition portrayed. It further amplified the status of Photocity in efficiency and customer satisfaction. It was during this period that Mario became the official photographer of the popular Maltese TV Show 'Xarabank'.  Guests on the show were provided with a printed photo of their participation by the end of the programme - something that was quite innovative at the time.

The Digital Age - 2000

When the digital photography concept started to emerge, Photocity welcomed the change with open arms. In 2000, Mario Mintoff began the digitisation of Photocity operations. The shop will introduce digital photo printing services where people can print from digital files and enjoy all that the latest technology has in store. Photocity was one of the first studios in Malta to begin using digital photography and printing, whereby it was always in fashion but also remained committed to its quality and customer care. Mario started using digital equipment for professional assignments, including event photography.

Celebrating Success - 2000 - 2001

The turn of the millennium brought even more recognition for Mario Mintoff and Photocity. In 2000, Mario was appointed as the official photographer of Valletta F.C. during their historic football season, which saw the club secure six trophies. His dynamic and detailed sports photography was widely praised. In 2001, he was once again chosen as an official photographer for Pope John Paul II’s second visit to Malta, reinforcing Photocity’s role in capturing historic events. In 2005, Photocity moved to larger premises at the corner of South Street and Old Bakery Street, Valletta. Photocity occupied these premises for a period of 10 years till 2015.

Official Photographer for Key National Events in Malta - 2007 - 2014

Continuing the Legacy - 2022

Commitment to excellence remains unmatched with Photocity. In 2022, once more, it is Mario Mintoff who has been appointed to record the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Maltese Islands - a continuation of the Photocity tradition which gave service to all Malta's most important national and religious events. Today, Photocity offers a wide range of services: from the traditional development of films to digital photo printing, producing every kind of personalised gift, and covering any type of event.

A Modern Photographic Hub 

Today, Photocity is operating from its fully refurbished shop at 57, South Street, Valletta, the original site which it occupied back in 1987. With over 50 years of experience, Photocity combines its deep-rooted history with modern innovations. Customers can have pictures printed instantly from a range of digital sources - through mobile devices, USBs, and email, and even order prints online to be sent directly to homes. From film photography to developing 35mm film and high-resolution scanning, Photocity has always been in devotion. While including the area of photo printing, the firm has dipped itself into the personalised arena, showing mugs, cards, and gifts; however, it backs the same original service of photo restoration and quality framing solutions. Since 2022, Mario Mintoff has slowly started out on his retirement, with his son Karl Mintoff gradually taking over the photography business. Karl plans to continue building upon the legacy left by his father at Photocity by bringing it more up to date with the latest technologies in photography printing whilst ensuring efficiency in its customer-oriented services.