For the Pros : About the Speakers

The Bio of Pete and Liliana Wright

Drawing upon artistic styles that are both complimentary and diverse, husband and wife photography team, Pete and Liliana Wright, have become sought after for their edgy style and intuitive ability to capture clients’ personalities through photographs.

As a fourth-generation artist and a second-generation photographer, Pete was raised in North Carolina in an environment rich in art and photography. His own photographs were first published in regional newspapers when he was 14 years old. Growing up, Liliana, a South American, viewed the world through the lens of a camera as she experienced different cultures from around the world. Later, she obtained a degree in psychology and a minor in family and child development from East Carolina University, which resulted in relationships becoming a focal point in her photographs.

In 1997, PW Photography’s first studio opened in Greenville, North Carolina. The following year the company moved to Richmond, Virginia. The studio’s work has ranged from portraits and weddings to sports and editorials. PW Photography’s strength is anchored in its work philosophy. “We respect the occasions we shoot,” says Liliana. “These are special moments in people’s lives, not just another event we were hired to photograph.”

In order to stay on the forefront of the industry, the Wrights believe in continuing their education by attending classes and international conventions. “The minute you think you’ve learned everything, you stop moving forward,” says Pete. The studio also believes in participating in organizations that support their art. To that end, Pete has served several years as an officer for the Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA) and was Governor of the Capital District in 2007. Furthermore, Pete was recognized in 2007 as PPA “Photographer of the Year”.

PW Photography’s images have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Knot, Virginia Weddings, and Richmond Times-Dispatch. The Wrights have also shared their techniques, marketing advice and perspectives in publications and websites such as Professional Photographer, Studio Photography, Digital Photographer Philippines, Rangefinder, Los Angeles Weddings, the Collages.net Newsletter Pro-Tips Forum and F.J. Westcott Pro-Tips Web School.

Believing a successful business contains equal parts passion and business savvy, PW Photography has extended their vast knowledge to photographers by teaching and lecturing throughout the country. Lending their support to the studio are Collages.net, Westcott, Michel Co., Blossom Publishing, Unique Photo and others. In 2005, the studio started a Portfolio Building Workshop series that is targeted toward helping professional photographers sharpen their skills and develop their portfolios, while providing them with the necessary marketing information and contacts to successfully build their business.

In 2006, PW Photography took the program a step further by creating a Mentor Program. Through this monthly workshop, photographers are given exposure to top photographers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, the studio established a full scholarship to send a photographer to a national photography convention each year. Says Pete, “Our desire as photographers is to educate others on running a successful business and at the same time inspire them to truly enjoy their art.”