Marrakech is a city built for the camera, though it rarely gives up its best frames without a little patience.
The light here does most of the work: it slides low across the pink ramparts in the late afternoon, turns the tadelakt walls of the palaces to honey, and softens the chaos of the medina into something almost painterly.
To shoot it well you have to move with the day, from the cool blue courtyards of the early morning to the smoke and lantern glow of Jemaa el-Fnaa after dark.
This guide is organised the way a photographer actually works a city, by subject and by time of day rather than by a single route. You will find the obvious icons here, the Koutoubia minaret and the cobalt corners of the Majorelle Garden, because they are famous for good reason.
You will also find the quieter frames, a shaft of light in the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a rooftop cafe above the tanneries, a doorway in the souks that most people walk straight past.
A few practical notes before you start. Always ask before photographing people, especially the performers and water sellers of the main square, as many expect a small tip and a refusal should be respected.
Interiors like Bahia Palace and the madrasa can get very busy by mid morning, so arrive at opening for clean compositions. And keep your gear discreet in the narrow lanes: a smaller camera or a phone often earns you more natural moments than a large rig.
