Wright for the job

Edward Wright is happy to go to any lengths to get the best pictures for his clients

Monaco-born Wright is not complaining: it has taken drive and passion to get here. At one point, his life could have taken a different course: "I studied marine archaeology, photography was just a hobby I picked up from looking at National Geographic. I thought travelling the world with a camera would be fun, I didn't understand how complicated the business was.”

After one technical photography course at university and a lot of self-tuition, he set up the Monaco-based Ed Wright Images seven years ago. He is now regarded as one of the region’s most talented photographers. "There are a lot of affluent people here. When you do a private job for them they'll think of you for bigger projects later. Being anglophone is a bonus, many people prefer to speak English. Word of mouth is also vital; it’s how most of my clients are referred to me." And the word going around must be good: Wright has just had his best year, with figures up 150 per cent on 2008. "Perhaps in the current crisis my services are more in demand because businesses want to create a new image."

Portraits, often in black and white, make up another core part of the business. He prefers to go to his clients: "I have a proper portable studio with lots of equipment - the results are the same and it's more convenient for everyone." In his opinion, an important difference between a professional and amateur shot is in the post-production - editing, cropping and retouching.

In addition to portraits, Wright covers weddings, christenings, private parties and professional events, including corporate functions at the Grand Prix and Monaco Boat Show. His packages range from a simple DVD to a beautiful, hardcopy printed book. “We’re tactile creatures,” he points out, “it’s much nicer to have something in our hands than only see it on a screen; a book tells a story.”

Many celebrities have been caught in Wright's lens but you'll never see one of these shots in OK or The Sun. "I was brought up in Monaco [his grandfather relocated from the UK in the 1920s], people know me. I would never snap Paparazzi style; I want to live and work here, not make a quick buck."

His discretion and decency allow him to get up close and personal in a way that a pap rarely manages: "I was on a yacht at the Cannes film festival and the celebrity photographers were on the jetty, flash bulbs popping. I knew I was getting the best shots but would never sell them. At the end of the day, I was getting paid for the job and that was enough for me."

To see more of Edward Wright's shots check out our photo gallery (all photos: Edwright Images) or his website: www.edwrightimages.com

Hannah Marshall