Synthetic saponites containing photosensitizing dyes (1,1′-diethyl-2,2′-cyanine (pseudoisocyanine) or tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)) in the interlayer space were complexed with nanocrystalline anatase. The photostability of the dyes in the dye-clay-anatase hybrids upon visible light irradiation was improved, possibly because of the separation of the dyes from the anatase surface by the thin clay layer.