What Is a PSPA File and When Do I Need One?
Learn when to use a PSPA portrait package instead of manually uploading photos.
Written by Alex Reyes
Updated at July 15th, 2026
Table of Contents
📦 What Is a PSPA File?
A PSPA file is a portrait package provided by a school photographer. It includes portrait images and the student or staff information needed to match each photo to the correct person.
This information may include:
- First and last name
- Grade
- Teacher
- Homeroom
- Other identifying information supplied by the photographer
🎓 When Should I Use a PSPA File?
Use a PSPA file when importing a complete set of school portraits into Creator Studio.
The PSPA import:
- Creates people records
- Matches each portrait to the correct person
- Imports available grade, teacher, or homeroom information
- Makes the portraits available for portrait layouts and rules
This is the recommended method for importing official school portrait sessions.
📸 When Should I Use Manual Upload Instead?
Use manual photo upload for images that do not need to be connected to a person record, including:
- Candid photos
- Event photos
- Classroom photos
- Individual images
- Supplementary project photos
Manual upload is not a replacement for a PSPA import when the portraits include structured student or staff data.
✅ Which Option Should I Choose?
| Photo Type | Recommended Method |
|---|---|
| Complete school portrait package | PSPA import |
| Portraits with student or staff data | PSPA import |
| Candids or event photos | Manual upload |
| Individual images without portrait data | Manual upload |