SPE West - Society for Photographic Education

What an AMAZING 63rd annual SPE National conference!! A robust schedule of artist panels, portfolio reviews, print shares, amazing swag from all the cool vendors and of course closing the weekend out with the infamous dance party!! Big thanks to the board, student volunteers and YOU for making this happen! See yall next year in Minnesota! 🦆🎞️💛 What was the most memorable part to your time at #speatl ?! @spenational @spe.contingent @spe_pride @spemccaucus @spewomens #spewest #speforward #photographiceducation #spe2026

Call for Proposals - Link in bio! 2026 SPE West Chapter Conference - Shared (Un)realities: Photography, Truth, and Meaning in 2026 📍  Sacramento, California 📆  November 5–8, 2026  🎓  Hosted by Sacramento State University Deadline: May 24, 11:59pm PST Acceptance Notifications: July 1, 2026 Presentation Date: November 7, 2026 Theme: Shared (Un)realities: Photography, Truth, and Meaning in 2026 Photography has long claimed proximity to truth. Today, that claim is unstable. Generative AI produces plausible fictions. Political discourse normalizes visible falsehoods. Social media platforms distribute images through opaque algorithmic systems. Audiences increasingly inhabit distinct visual and informational environments, with diminishing shared reference points. Formats may include: * 20–40-minute presentations * 60–90 minute panels (3–4 presenters) * Roundtable discussions Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged. Proposal Guidelines Individual Presentations: * Title * Abstract (300–500 words) * 5–8 images * Brief bio (150 words max) * Headshot  Panels: * Panel title * 500-word overview * Individual abstracts (250 words each) * Bios for all participants Eligibility Proposals are open to both members and non-members of SPE. All accepted presenters must be current SPE members in order to present at the conference.  Submissions will be evaluated on conceptual rigor, clarity of argument, and relevance to the conference theme. Review Process
All proposals are reviewed by the SPE West conference committee. 📠 Questions: [email protected] @spenational @spe_pride @spemccaucus @spe.contingent @spewomens @sacstatephoto

The 4 images from “MARKS” that I used for my thesis show earlier this month.

We're so excited for SPE's 63 Annual Conference Catalyst for Exchange in Atlanta this week!! Get ready for a jammed pack weekend of amazing programming, exhibitions, portfolio reviews and much more!! Can't wait to see yall there!! 📸 📸 📸 @spenational #speatl #speatlanta #speforward #photoeducation #spe2026

Our last introduction for the new team is our Social Media Manager Kayla Holdgreve - @kaylasuzanne Kayla Suzanne Holdgreve is a photographer and archivist originally from Ohio. With the use of traditional and alternative photographic processes, family archives and text, Holdgreve explore ideas of home, autobiography and memory. She currently lives and works as a photographic archivist in the Bay Area, California.  We’re all so excited to be apart of SPE West and look forward to continuing the building of our photo communities! 🥳📸✨ @spenational #spe #speforward #photoeducators #photographiceducation #SPEWest

Join me in welcoming our Treasurer Lisette Bourne - @Lisettelbourne Lisette Bourne is a Southern California native but has lived all over the state. As both a student at an international boarding school in the Midwest, as well as a foreign exchange student in Japan, she grew to love photography at the early age of sixteen. She's passionate about the education of her photography students and has been a visual arts educator for 24 years. Lisette's lens-based artwork can be viewed in various galleries throughout Southern California. Welcome Lisette! 🥳📸✨ @spenational #spe #speforward #photoeducators #photographiceducation #SPEWest

Our next introduction is our Vice Chair and Secretary Joaquin Palting - @joaquinpalting Joaquín Palting is a Los Angeles based artist and academic. His art practice investigates how the photographic image operates in the era of post-indexicality. He is currently a Lecturer at San Diego State University and serves as Vice Chair of the Society for Photographic Education (SPE) West Chapter. Welcome Joaquin! 🥳📸✨ @spenational #spe #speforward #photoeducators #photographiceducation #SPEWest

We’re so excited to introduce our new crew to SPE West Region! First up is our new Chair Yvette Marthell - @love_and_light_labs Yvette Jessica Marthell is a photographer, educator, and experimental image-maker based in Long Beach and teaches photography across Southern California. Her work moves between analog and digital processes, exploring identity, emotion, and the human experience. Marthell is committed to fostering community, dialogue, and experimentation within contemporary photographic practice. Be sure to give Yvette a big congrats when you see her at national in Atlanta! 🥳📸✨ @spenational #spe #speforward #photoeducators #photographiceducation #SPEWest

And that’s a wrap on the SPE Conference! A huge thank you to our incredible speakers and to everyone who joined us over the past three days. It was an inspiring weekend filled with learning, connection, and creativity. We’re so grateful for everyone who made it possible!

Day 2 was incredible! We got to hear from so many amazing speakers and connect with such inspiring people. We’re so thankful for everyone who’s been here with us, here’s a little recap of what went down!

Day One Recap! Thank you to everyone who joined us for an amazing start to the SPE Conference! We can’t wait for the next two days of inspiring talks and creative learning. See you there!

SPE West Exhibition @spe_west - Opening Reception f-stop pedestrian gallery, UCR ARTS @ucrarts Thursday, November 06 - 6:30PM to 8:30PM 3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501 Opening Reception at UCR ARTS California Museum of Photography, featuring the SPE West Exhibition in the f-stop pedestrian gallery. (3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501) On View — November 5–9, 2025 The SPE West Exhibition brings together the creative voices of more than 46 photographic artists—educators, students, and professionals—whose works embody the diverse practices and perspectives shaping contemporary image-making across the Western region. This exhibition celebrates the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and community that defines the Society for Photographic Education (SPE). Hosted in the f-stop pedestrian gallery at the UCR ARTS California Museum of Photography, the exhibition coincides with Downtown Riverside’s Monthly Artswalk, offering visitors an evening to experience photography that spans both current and past projects from SPE West members. The collection represents a vibrant cross-section of the photographic landscape—from conceptual explorations and social documentary to experimental processes and emerging digital dialogues. We extend our sincere gratitude to UCR ARTS for hosting the SPE West Chapter Conference and for their continued commitment to photographic education and visual culture. This exhibition stands as a testament to the power of shared vision, dialogue, and artistic collaboration within our regional and academic communities. Featuring the work of @cbuphotography & @cbudesign faculty and students.