Spéos is a private higher education course. For 36 years, Spéos has been one of the reference schools for professional photography in France.
> Discover the premises of Spéos Paris by watching this video
Spéos is also recognized internationally and ranked in the Top 5 best photo schools in the world for several years by different independent rankings:
- TopTeny
- Jebiga
- Webneel
- Resource mag online
- Superprof magazine
- Nonstop signs and graphics
- Cultura fotografica
- Mott
- Pixpa
- DailyHawker
- Expert Photography
- Auxilo
- Scholarship Positions
- Format
- Trip Odissey
- Shotkit
- For Paris Lovers
- Photo Workout
- Fix the photo
- College Gazette
Key figures
- 1985: year of foundation
- Campuses: Paris, Biarritz
- 4,000 professional photographers in more than 50 countries
- 35 nationalities (including India, China, USA, Russia, Korea, Latin America, Middle East, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland …)
- An average of 200 students each year
- 18 studio sets in Spéos Paris
- Black & White Printing: Spéos has one of the largest labs in Paris still in activity. Possibility of organizing introductions to analog photography with film development and black & white printing in the Spéos laboratory. Students will be introduced to the Stop System, a method developed by Spéos that allows to quickly take control of prints and masks. These optional sessions will take place on demand and at the end of the school year only, once students have acquired all the essential knowledge and techniques within professional photography.
Key Information
International school awarding accredited diplomas
- Spéos diplomas are recognized by the French State with the Title of Photographer RNCP level 6 and the school has received numerous accreditations.
- The international and multicultural aspect of the school lies at the heart of Spéos. Spéos is the only school to offer professional photography programs in English since its creation in 1985 – which is a first for France!
- Spéos offers programs in English and French in Paris with a wide choice of professional photography programs in 1 year, 2 years or 3 years, as well as programs in 5 months and photography workshops in Paris and in Biarritz.
- The school also offers online photo courses with an immersive online course in Commercial + Fine Art Portrait Photography.
Exclusive partnerships
Spéos is the only photo school to offer unique and exclusive specialized professional photography programs with prestigious partners:
- Photojournalism with Agence France-Presse, one of the world’s three major news agencies.
- Creative Documentary with Magnum Photos, the famous photographers’ agency created, among others, by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa.
- Photojournalism with Polka, a magazine specialized in photography and reporting.
Awards
- Students and Alumni regularly win awards and some are recognized worldwide.
- Spéos supports young graduate photographers through: the photo gallery dedicated to Alumni, loaned studio use, referencing in the online directory.
Heritage and research
- Spéos Photo School is also very concerned with ongoing research and in preserving a very significant French National Heritage site since 1999: The Nicéphore Niépce House Museum.
This is the location where the very first photograph in the world was taken by the true inventor of photography, Nicéphore Niépce, some years before Daguerre and Fox Talbot. The Museum was awarded the prestigious label “Maison des Illustres” by the French Ministry of Culture in 2013, with sponsorship of the Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Fine Arts. - Correspondence of Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography, is compiled in a book of 1,600 pages written by a descendant of Niépce and a researcher of the CNRS. This book is fully available online (in French only).
- Spéos continues to invest in research into Nicéphore Niépce’s inventions.
Festivals
- Spéos regularly hosts photo events within its facilities, notably for the past 4 years with Fotofest Paris, the world’s second biggest photo festival after Arles.
- The school regularly participates in other events: International Festival of Photojournalism Visa pour l’image in Perpignan, International Photo Fair of Bièvres …
Where does the name Spéos come from?
The name Spéos comes from the Greek σπέος (speos), which means “den, cave” and refers to the allegory of the cave presented by Plato in Book VII of The Republic. It depicts men turning their backs to the entrance and seeing only their own shadows and those of external objects projected on the walls of the cave. This is a situation comparable to the pinhole and the camera obscura, both precursors of the camera, where an image of reality is projected inside the box. This allegory also illustrates the conditions of man’s access to knowledge, as well as the transmission of knowledge — both of which are the very missions of the school.
> Learn more about Spéos history
Video of the End-of-the-year Exhibition 2023
Everyday life at Spéos Paris, Photo & Video School
Spéos History
Since its foundation, Spéos has trained thousands of photography students and communication and image professionals. The school has developed its activities in the following domains: training, consulting/audit, Internet services, research/publications.
The name Spéos comes from the Greek σπέος (speos), which means “den, cave” and refers to the allegory of the cave presented by Plato in Book VII of The Republic. It depicts men turning their backs to the entrance and seeing only their own shadows and those of external objects projected on the walls of the cave. This is a situation comparable to the pinhole and the camera obscura, both precursors of the camera, where an image of reality is projected inside the box. This allegory also illustrates the conditions of man’s access to knowledge, as well as the transmission of knowledge — both of which are the very missions of the school.
How to get to Spéos Paris
Come by visit Spéos (preferably on appointment)!