Unique eye photography business opens first Channel Islands branch

Wednesday 31 July 2024

A groundbreaking French photography business which captures accurate images of its customers’ irises has opened a branch in Jersey – after it 'caught the eye' of a local business leader while he was on holiday.

Iris Galerie Jersey opened its doors on Hillgrove Street last Saturday less than a year after branch director Ivo Le Maistre Smith found himself captivated by the unique concept.

Iris Galerie's first store opened in Paris in 2021, after founder Emeric Wehbeh was inspired to photograph the beauty of eyes during the pandemic as masks covered everything else.

Pictured: Ivo Le Maistre Smith has opened the first Iris Galerie in the Channel Islands.

The concept is also informed by a longer tradition of photographing irises that began with Francis Giacobetti and his portraits of the 1980s.

The images shared on Iris Galerie's social media pages soon created a stir online.

Since opening, the business has expanded to over 100 locations worldwide, mostly in Europe – and now Jersey, which is the first branch in the Channel Islands.

Pictured: The tradition of photographing irises began with Francis Giacobetti and his portraits of the 1980s.

The innovative retail experience offers customers the chance to immortalise their own iris by transforming it into a piece of art with photography, AI and high-quality printing.

The prints, which are made by a professional laboratory on-site, range from 20cm to 150cm and start at €49.

It was a concept and a business model that transfixed Mr Le Maistre Smith when he was on holiday in France last September, and drove him to set up Iris Galerie in Jersey.

Pictured: The innovative retail experience offers customers the chance to immortalise their own iris by transforming it into a piece of art with photography, AI and high-quality printing. 

"I was looking for something, an idea or a concept for a retail business at the time, and came across the Iris Galerie," said Mr Le Maistre Smith, who has held Head of Business Development roles at several local charities.

The islander reached out to Iris Galerie weeks later and started negotiations in November about establishing a Jersey branch.

"It was in February when this started to feel like something real," he said. "I knew it wanted to do this, and I was lucky enough to find the perfect site."

Pictured: Mr Le Maistre Smith assured islanders that the Jersey store is all "up and running" now and people are welcome to visit.

The Hillgrove Street store had its "soft opening" on Saturday due to some hesitance about whether the complex and highly-sophisticated technology would play ball, but Mr Le Maistre Smith assured islanders that it is all "up and running" now and people are welcome to visit.

Final touches are being made to the exterior of the building over the coming weeks.

Mr Le Maistre Smith's enthusiasm for the business makes it clear why waiting for the paint work and signage to be completed was not an option.

Pictured: Final touches are being made to the exterior of the building over the coming weeks. 

He said: "What Iris Galerie have done is create a system of photography and back-office AI that enables us to capture the perfect image of people's iris.

"Behind the scenes, after we take the photo, there is lots of work going on with expensive and sophisticated equipment and AI technology to get rid of blemishes, reflections, hints of the flash.

"All of our technology is linked into their larger network. We are an Iris Galerie, like any other."

Pictured: "Everyone's irises are interesting and attractive, and it's an art form that is totally non-elitist, because everyone can participate in it."

Mr Le Maistre Smith added: "Jersey is a great place for a branch.

"It's a concept that's popular with everybody. I've never seen an unattractive iris.

"Everyone's irises are interesting and attractive, and it's an art form that is totally non-elitist, because everyone can participate in it."

While it is just Mr Le Maistre Smith and his wife running Jersey's Iris Galerie – which he describes as "his baby" – at the moment, the gallery director is currently recruiting additional staff to help out.