Ex-Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison began writing " Photograph " on a luxury yacht in the South of France in May 1971 . Starr had hired a yacht , the '' Marala '' , for the duration of the Cannes Film Festival , after attending Mick Jagger 's wedding in St Tropez with his wife , Maureen Starkey . The Starkeys were then joined in France by Harrison and the latter 's wife , Pattie Boyd , for the Monaco Grand Prix . This period coincided with Starr 's first success as a solo artist , with the Harrison-produced single " It Do n't Come Easy " , although he would continue to focus on his career as a film actor , beginning with a role in '' Blindman '' ( 1971 )
Cannes Film Festival
1971 Cannes Film Festival
Photograph (Ringo Starr song)