Morocco Photography Guide

Best locations and light in and around Marrakech

Jemaa el-Fna earns its reputation at sunset and in the blue hour just after, when the smoke from the grill stalls, the lantern light and the call to prayer from the Koutoubia minaret all converge. For architecture, the Bahia Palace courtyards and the Saadian Tombs reward early arrival before the crowds, while the carved cedar and zellij of the Ben Youssef Madrasa are best in soft mid-morning light. Jardin Majorelle and the cobalt YSL-blue villa photograph beautifully on a bright morning before the queues build.

Out of town, the canonical golden hours apply: the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, when shadows lengthen and the light turns warm. The Agafay 'stone desert' an hour from the city glows at sunset with the Atlas behind it. On a longer trip, the Aït Ben Haddou kasbah on the road toward the Sahara photographs extraordinarily in the late afternoon from the opposite riverbank, and the orange Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga are as vivid as the postcards at dawn.

Souk etiquette and photographing people

The single most important rule in the Marrakech souks: ask permission before photographing people, every time. A spice seller behind his cones of cumin, a woman at a loom, the water-sellers in their fringed hats on the square — each deserves the choice. The phrase to use is 'mumkin sura?' (may I take a photo?). Many will say yes with pleasure; some will ask for a small fee, and 5–20 MAD is fair and generous; some will decline, and that decision must be respected without argument.

Candid western-style street photography sits uneasily in the medina. Long lenses used to shoot people unnoticed who would have declined if asked are widely considered disrespectful — and on Jemaa el-Fna they can cause real friction with performers. The most rewarding portraits come from connection, not distance: take a moment to talk, accept a glass of mint tea if it is offered, and the resulting frame reflects that warmth.

Gear and practical notes

The souks are tight, shaded spaces: a versatile zoom (24–70mm equivalent) or a fast mid-range prime is far more useful than a long telephoto. If you head to Agafay or the Sahara, dust is pervasive — bring a sealed bag and lens cloths and change lenses sparingly outdoors. A polarising filter helps with the desert sky and the Atlas snow but is not essential. The Marrakech sun is intense; shade your lens against flare and keep the camera out of direct sun between shots.

• Bring extra batteries — cold desert nights on a Sahara or Agafay trip drain them faster than expected.
• A small tripod or gorilla pod pays off for dawn dune shots and blue-hour frames over Jemaa el-Fna from a rooftop café.
• Phone cameras with computational photography handle the Marrakech light remarkably well — you are not obliged to lug heavy gear through the souks.
• Keep your camera discreet around Jemaa el-Fna, where the performers, henna artists and snake charmers expect payment for being photographed.

Drone rules in Morocco

Flying a drone in Morocco requires authorisation from the Moroccan Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). Operating without a permit is illegal, and drones are routinely confiscated at customs on arrival — including at Marrakech Menara (RAK) airport — and in the field. The authorisation process is bureaucratic and slow. For nearly all visitors the advice is to leave the drone at home: Marrakech and its surroundings are extraordinary enough at ground level, and the legal risk simply is not worth it.

Frequently asked