Felix Speller on Capturing Stillness, Story and the Soul of Architecture
people • PHOTOGRAPHERS
British photographer Felix Speller has built a reputation for images that quietly articulate space, form and emotion. His work moves beyond documentation to reveal the narratives within design and interiors, the play of light, texture and composition that makes a building breathe.
After studying fine art, Speller found his creative voice behind the camera. Today, his portfolio includes collaborations with some of the most respected architects and designers in the world, from residential interiors to iconic hotel spaces such as IZZA in Marrakech. Known for his meticulous eye and sensitivity to light, he approaches every project as both observer and storyteller.
In this exclusive Designeers interview, Speller reflects on how he fell in love with interiors photography, the importance of collaboration with designers, and why emotion, patience and curiosity remain the most essential tools in his work.
Words: designeers
NOVEMBER 2025
WEBSITE: .felixspeller.com
INSTAGRAM: @felixspeller
DESIGNEERS
How did you first fall in love with photographing architecture and interiors, and what keeps that passion alive?
Felix Speller
While studying fine art, I discovered that my real passion wasn’t in painting or sculpture but in documenting them. Photography became a natural extension of that process. I was always drawn to empty spaces filled with interesting light; quiet moments where architecture and atmosphere met. After assisting photographers across fashion, documentary and still life, I realised that interiors allowed me to merge structure, storytelling and emotion.
DESIGNEERS
When you step into a space for the first time, what are you instinctively looking for?
Felix Speller
When I walk into a room, I look for narrative and rhythm. A room tells its own story, but it often needs refining to translate to camera. I adjust furniture, play with natural light and find the right balance between precision and atmosphere, that’s when the space truly comes alive.
DESIGNEERS
Interior designers often say their work lives or dies by photography. What makes for the best collaboration between photographer and designer?
Felix Speller
Passion inspires passion. Working with someone that really cares about their projects is always inspiring. I’ll always push to create the best possible images, but of course it helps when the client cares deeply about their work. It’s always wonderful to see clients actively engaging with the shoot, helping to make critical decisions and feeding back on what they do like so I can steer the shoot into a direction where we are both happy.
DESIGNEERS
If you could give designers one piece of advice for preparing their spaces before a shoot, what would it be?
Felix Speller
Don’t over-prepare. Bring flexibility and an open mind. A space will evolve throughout the shoot, and allowing for those adjustments always produces stronger images.
“I’m endlessly drawn to vintage lighting; it has such presence and history. The right fixture can completely transform a space, casting not just light but mood and character.”
Felix Speller
DESIGNEERS
Is there a detail you love to capture that designers often overlook?
Felix Speller
Transitional spaces, i.e., how one room opens into another, or glimpses that reveal the flow of a home. They create a cinematic sense of movement and continuity.
DESIGNEERS
Which artists, photographers, or even films influence your approach to interiors?
Felix Speller
The biggest influence on my work is the Japanese fine-art photographer Rinko Kawauchi. The way she approaches her overlooked subjects creates an ethereal quality that you don’t often see. Her images are truly beautiful. This atmospheric beauty is the thing that I’ve tried to bring to my own practice.
DESIGNEERS
How do you see interior and architectural photography evolving in the next few years, especially with digital, AI, and immersive media?
Felix Speller
I think we will see interiors elevating and moving into the direction of fashion in the future, with more freedom to express and elevate subjects with the photographer’s own input rather than the traditional role that it’s played as documentation. There will likely be a move away from the constraints of the tripod in the future as camera technology evolves, meaning we won’t need to slowly and precisely capture frames to bracket our images. The idea of simultaneously capturing multiple exposures at once would open up a world of opportunities.
DESIGNEERS
Dream dinner guest?
Felix Speller
My great-grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away whilst he was still relatively young, so there was no crossover in our lives, but from photos I’ve seen of him, he was my doppelgänger, and I’d love to know if we had similar personalities and beliefs or if the similarities are only skin deep.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite hotel in the world?
Felix Speller
IZZA in Marrakech - a tranquil haven that transports you away from the bustle of the souks. This hotel will always have a special place in my heart; it’s one of the most refined and elegant establishments I’ve ever had the chance to work with. Every conceivable detail has been considered.
DESIGNEERS
Design hero?
Felix Speller
Charlotte Perriand, a visionary designer whose influence has inspired a lot of the projects that I love to be a part of.
DESIGNEERS
Most photogenic interior you’ve ever shot?
Felix Speller
Tarek Shamma’s family home in Cairo, Egypt. I was already in love with design from the region, but nothing could have prepared me for this place. The quality of the light was sublime, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and the interior was a heady mix of beautifully patinated antique pieces and timeless contemporary Egyptian design.
photography credits:
portrait by Sherifa Hamid
