We report monolayer studies and LB deposition of mesogenic porphyrin derivatives, namely octaoctyl porphyrin (OOP) and its Zn(II) complex (ZOOP). The molecules, which form columnar mesophases, have been found to spread in stable monolayers which show two horizontal mixed phase regions in the isotherm. LB mono- and multilayers have been deposited as a function of mean molecular area (MMA) and have been characterized by optical spectroscopy and scanning force microscopy.