By using a photogenerated space-charge field to reorient the spontaneous polarization, we report an approach towards the optical control of switching in a surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal that exhibits two stable orientational states. The space-charge field was generated on the surfaces of the SSFLC device, by sandwiching the FLC between two photoconducting layers, or within its bulk by doping. In the second case, we observed the formation of a grating, stable at least for months, which can be easily erased and rewritten. Experiments have been done to probe its photorefractive nature.