The photorefractive properties of the iron-doped Pb(Zn1/3Nb 2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PZN-PT) relaxor ferroelectric single crystals were investigated by two-beam coupling experiments. The Fe:0.01 wt%- and the Fe:0.1 wt%-doped 0.91PZN-0.09PT single crystals were grown with the flux solution method. The Extinction spectrum, the electro-opric coefficient, the light-induced absorption change, and the photoconductivity were measured in these samples. The maximum gain coefficient reached to 21 cm-1, which is about twice as large as that of undoped PZN-PT. The grating formation rate decreases with the Fe concentration. 2004 American Institute of Physics.