Best Template & Structure for Grid Navigation & Gallery Showing

I am building a Website in Squarespace for the first time and have been having the hardest time finding a template and navigation structure that will allow me to render my photographs in the way I'd like. I've been trying desperately to make the following below work in the Avenue template.

I'd like to create a grid navigation that starts as an Index or Folder in the top navigation and then has cascading grids for navigation and viewing photos. For example, I'd like to create a top navigation called "Portfolio" with a sub-category "Calendars" - when you select Calendars, you would get a grid of thumbnails that show years like 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 etc. When you select a year, e.g. 2020, you would get a Grid of the 2020 Calendar photos with each one opening in a Lightbox. Ideally I'd also like to have the photo title and description either render under each thumbnail image or show during the pop up. I am even open to having the 2020 Calendar photos display in a slideshow as long as I could include the title and description.

Anyone have suggestions for the best template and approach to accomplishing this, even if it means moving away from the Avenue template?

I am looking for the same sort of navigation, did you ever find a solution for this?

Do you have a sample of this?    I have something similar set up on my site.   Most thumbnails are clickable to take you to a page of multiple thumbnails and can then be chosen there or click to even more thumbnails.   NO custom code.   

Something like this? www.victoriakirkinteriors.com 

My pages are set up as index pages and can do this in the old 7.0 Avenue template no custom code.   Check your template. 

I'm Also looking at he same sort of navigation on my website, Please Have you find any solution for that?.

I found this guide for image navigation in version 7.1

https://bamn.digital/blog/how-to-add-images-to-your-squarespace-website-navigation