General Questions
In order to follow Spéos’ professional photography programs, students are required to bring the following equipment with them:
– A digital camera (DSLR or hybrid mirrorless) + lens(es).
For the lenses, a 50mm for full format and 35mm for APS-C.
It is also possible to choose a zoom lens, either 24-70mm or 24-105mm (preferably with constant aperture of f2.8 or f4).
– A computer (laptop or desktop), which meets the following minimum technical requirements to use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop:
- operating system: macOS Big Sur (version 11.0)
- CPU (processor/chip) / Apple Silicon M1 or Multicore Intel® i9 generation
- RAM: 16GB unified memory minimum, 32 GB recommended (or more)
– Adobe subscription giving access to “Lightroom Classic” (LrC) and “Photoshop on desktop”.
The most affordable subscription is Creative Cloud for Photography (20GB) for €11.99 (2022-2023): https://www.adobe.com/fr/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html
– Please note that you can obtain student discounts with Adobe and Apple by means of a Spéos school certificate or student ID.
– For backups:
- a 1TB hard drive + a backup software (e.g. Carbon CopyCloner)
- memory card reader with USB connection (USB 3.0 or USB C)
- USB tethering cable compatible for shooting in connected mode / a 5m USB extension cable
Optional equipment:
- transmitter/receiver kit
- remote flash trigger compatible with Speedlite flash
- flash meter, e.g. Sekonic L308-X
- zoom lens (70-200mm)
- tripod for outdoor shoots
- lighting tripod with umbrella holder
- graphic tablet (Wacom Intuos Pro M)
The school provides the following equipment:
Studios: Spéos supplies the studio lighting equipment, available to students during their studio classes and tutorials. Large format digital cameras are at their disposal during the specialization phase.
Professional lighting kits can also be borrowed from Spéos for outside shoots.
Computer Rooms: Spéos is equipped with Apple Mac workstations and Eizo calibrated graphics monitors. Students can bring their own laptops, external hardware, USB keys or other devices to work on their photos.
Supplies: Photo supplies (papers, prints, backdrops…) – when used during class work – are provided by Spéos free of charge. Supplies used for personal work (such as portfolio and exhibition prints, website subscription fees or business cards) are at the students’ expense.
The programs delivered at Spéos are accredited by the French government at the highest level of the professional certification.
To obtain the “Titre de Photographe” (a professional certificate in photography) registered with the RNCP level 6 (“Répertoire National de la Certification Professionnelle”) – certification RNCP39859 registered on 28/11/2024, delivered by Spéos, candidates need to successfully follow the corresponding program or have significant work experience validated via a VAE procedure (“validation des acquis de l’expérience”).
For the other Professional Photography Programs, Speos delivers a private school diploma along with transcripts.
Overall, the most important thing for us is to prepare our students to work professionally: they will gain real-life professional know-how that will show through their books and websites.
Courses at Spéos are taught in English and/or in French according to the program.
For all our programs (except the summer workshops), students who aren’t native speakers of either English or French need to have a language level validated by an English or French language test at B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The language requirement needs to be submitted at the beginning of a given program.
We have a housing file at students’ disposal.
For short stays, the hotel/hostel is the easiest option.
We will provide you with addresses according to your budget.
Of course! If you have the possibility to come to visit us, we are happy to guide a tour for you, and answer any questions you might have.
> Click here to know more.
Anyone who claims to be a member of Spéos to look for models or to propose shoots, please be vigilant and check directly with the administrative team at +33 1 40 09 18 58 or by e-mail info@speos.fr
> Contact Spéos
Paris
You should budget approximately the following amounts:
- Transportation: the cheapest way is to buy the Navigo travelcard for about 65,00€ per month, which allows you to travel in Paris by bus and subway.
- Living expenses: 450-500€ per month
- Housing:
- A room in someone’s home: 400 – 600€ per month
- Studio (furnished): 600-900€ per month
- 2 room apartment (furnished): 900-1500€ per month
Spéos is located in the east of Paris in the triangle Bastille/République/Nation.
The address is 8 rue Jules Vallès, 75011 Paris.
The nearest subway station is Charonne on line 9.
Our office is open from Monday till Friday from 9am to 6.45pm.
Professional Photography Programs
In order to follow Spéos’ professional photography programs, students are required to bring the following equipment with them:
– A digital camera (DSLR or hybrid mirrorless) + lens(es).
For the lenses, a 50mm for full format and 35mm for APS-C.
It is also possible to choose a zoom lens, either 24-70mm or 24-105mm (preferably with constant aperture of f2.8 or f4).
– A computer (laptop or desktop), which meets the following minimum technical requirements to use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop:
- operating system: macOS Big Sur (version 11.0)
- CPU (processor/chip) / Apple Silicon M1 or Multicore Intel® i9 generation
- RAM: 16GB unified memory minimum, 32 GB recommended (or more)
– Adobe subscription giving access to “Lightroom Classic” (LrC) and “Photoshop on desktop”.
The most affordable subscription is Creative Cloud for Photography (20GB) for €11.99 (2022-2023): https://www.adobe.com/fr/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html
– Please note that you can obtain student discounts with Adobe and Apple by means of a Spéos school certificate or student ID.
– For backups:
- a 1TB hard drive + a backup software (e.g. Carbon CopyCloner)
- memory card reader with USB connection (USB 3.0 or USB C)
- USB tethering cable compatible for shooting in connected mode / a 5m USB extension cable
Optional equipment:
- transmitter/receiver kit
- remote flash trigger compatible with Speedlite flash
- flash meter, e.g. Sekonic L308-X
- zoom lens (70-200mm)
- tripod for outdoor shoots
- lighting tripod with umbrella holder
- graphic tablet (Wacom Intuos Pro M)
The school provides the following equipment:
Studios: Spéos supplies the studio lighting equipment, available to students during their studio classes and tutorials. Large format digital cameras are at their disposal during the specialization phase.
Professional lighting kits can also be borrowed from Spéos for outside shoots.
Computer Rooms: Spéos is equipped with Apple Mac workstations and Eizo calibrated graphics monitors. Students can bring their own laptops, external hardware, USB keys or other devices to work on their photos.
Supplies: Photo supplies (papers, prints, backdrops…) – when used during class work – are provided by Spéos free of charge. Supplies used for personal work (such as portfolio and exhibition prints, website subscription fees or business cards) are at the students’ expense.
Registrations for the various programs are open all year round.
Candidates can apply online by submitting the following documents:
- the completed Enrollment form
- Curriculum Vitae / Résumé
- Statement of intent / Letter of motivation
- Portfolio of 10-15 photos
Complete applications will be examined by the Admissions Board, who personally informs each candidate as to its status.
If accepted, students have to confirm their enrollment by means of a tuition deposit or by paying the totality of the fees.
Unfortunately, Spéos cannot offer any scholarships or financial aid. Please contact your home university, government or private associations as to funding possibilities.
In France, employees can sometimes benefit from a “Professional Transition Project” (PTP, ex-CIF) or use their “Personal Training Account” (CPF, ex-DIF), which allows them to have all or part of their training financed by organisations such as Transitions Pro, AFDAS or any other OPCO.
These are long procedures and it is strongly advised to prepare the file at least 6 months before the start of the training. Only Spéos’ certifying trainings (delivering all or part of the blocks of competences) can be taken in charge by these financing schemes.
For international students, Spéos has concluded a partnership with the Caisse d’Epargne, allowing you to obtain easier account opening conditions. For more information, see the conditions (PDF in French). With this partnership, it is possible to have a state-guaranteed student loan with BPI France. Visit the BPI website for more information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Spéos.
Our Professional Photography Programs are built as a coherent whole. You cannot choose your courses “à la carte” as they are linked, and it is necessary to pass them all, so as to professionally work in photography.
There is no upper age limit to apply for our programs.
Very varied – certain students are in occupational redeployment, others are university students, some are self-taught photographers who come to Speos to update their techniques.
At Spéos all aspects of professional photography are taught. If you already master certain skills, you will progress very fast, quickly be able to use all our facilities on your own, and focus on those aspects that are new for you.
The school’s mission is to prepare students to meet current market demands and accompany them in becoming successful photographers in the field of their choice. Thus, Spéos only hires professional photographers, actively working at a top level in their domains and up to date with the latest trends.
Classes take place in small groups for a personalized and tailored approach, allowing students to develop their own style and personal direction (excellent student/teacher ratio).
All Spéos programs emphasize hands-on practice, which requires a strong personal investment by students and a real desire to become a professional photographer.
Spéos provides students with spacious facilities equipped with state-of-the-art equipment available outside of class (18 studios in Spéos Paris).
In order to support and help graduates take their first steps in photography, Spéos has set up the Alumni Care Program, which aims to promote their work throughout the world. The Alumni network has 4,000 professional photographers in more than 50 countries.
Our most important selection criterion is your personal motivation. We welcome beginners and more advanced participants in our various programs.
Since we review applications as we receive them, and since places are limited, we advise you to apply as early as possible. Afterwards, you might be put on a waiting list and will only know at very short notice whether you can join the program.