Marrakech might be the most photogenic city in North Africa. Pink-ochre walls, carved arches, tiled fountains, palm groves, a stone desert and snow-capped mountains are all within an hour of each other. The hard part is not finding a beautiful place; it is being in the right one at the right time, without a crowd behind you.
These are the twelve places we take people for a photoshoot in Marrakech, from a one-hour holiday session to a full day with a stylist. Most can be combined in a single morning or a single golden hour.
A riad courtyard
The classic Marrakech portrait: a quiet courtyard with a fountain, orange trees, carved plaster and tiled floors, all in soft, bounced light. Riads are private, so there is no crowd, and the light inside stays gentle long after it gets harsh outside.
Many riads welcome shoots for their guests; others rent their courtyard by the hour. We know which ones say yes.
Photo tipStand your subject a step back from the open sky in the middle of the courtyard: the light wraps around the face like a giant softbox.
Pointed arches and a view
Moroccan architecture is made of frames. A horseshoe or pointed arch around a person, with palms or the Atlas behind, gives you a picture that could only have been taken here.
Photo tipShoot from inside the room towards the arch so the walls go dark and the view glows.
Zellige walls
The hand-cut mosaic tiles of Marrakech come in every colour, and a wall of zellige makes a background no studio can copy. Plain clothes in one colour work best against them: white, cream, terracotta or a single bold tone.
Photo tipZellige is shiny. Shoot in open shade, not in direct sun, or the tiles turn into a field of white highlights.
Ochre walls of the Medina at sunrise
At seven in the morning the Medina belongs to bakers, cats and a few delivery mopeds. The lanes are empty, the walls are warm pink, and the low sun bounces between them. It is the only time you will get the old city to yourself.
Photo tipLook for a single doorway or a painted door at the end of a lane, and shoot down its length for depth.
The rooftops at golden hour
Every flat roof in Marrakech is a terrace, and at sunset they fill with people, tea and the sound of the call to prayer. A rooftop gives you the minaret of the Koutoubia, the Atlas in the distance and a sky that turns from gold to pink.
Photo tipShoot your subject facing the sun just after it sets: no squinting, and the face catches the pink afterglow.
The souks and their craftsmen
For documentary or travel-style pictures, the souks are endless: lantern makers, potters, dyers and weavers working in tiny workshops. Always ask first; most craftsmen are proud of their work and happy to be part of a photograph, and buying something small is the polite way to say thank you.
Photo tipShafts of light fall through the slatted roofs around midday. Wait for someone to walk into the beam.
Majorelle and the famous gardens
The blue of the Jardin Majorelle is one of the most photographed colours in the world. Go at opening time to see it without a queue. Keep in mind that historic monuments and gardens often have their own rules for professional cameras and tripods, so a full shoot there usually needs permission in advance.
If you want the same palette with more freedom, a private garden or riad painted in blue and yellow gives you the look without the crowd.
Photo tipPhone or small camera, early morning, and a simple outfit in white or yellow against the blue.
The Palmeraie
Thousands of palms on the edge of the city, with soft sand paths, riding stables and camels. It is a favourite for couples and families because the light filters through the fronds and the background is always green and gold.
Photo tipBook a horse or a camel for the last hour before sunset and shoot into the light for glowing rims of hair and dust.
The Agafay desert
Forty minutes from the Medina, the stony hills of Agafay roll all the way to the Atlas. Flowing dresses, a camel caravan, a lone figure on a ridge: it is the easiest way to add a desert to your holiday album without a two-day trip to the dunes.
Pair it with dinner in a desert camp, and keep the camera out after sunset for portraits by firelight.
Photo tipChoose a high ridge so your subject stands against the sky, and use a long lens to stack the hills behind.
The Atlas foothills
Head south and in under an hour you reach the foothills of the High Atlas: red earth, Berber villages, walnut trees and long views. Sunset here gives you silhouettes against layer after layer of mountains.
Photo tipSilhouettes work best when people are separated: arms out, a pointing hand, a jump.
A private villa and its pool
For a more relaxed or more styled session, a villa in the Palmeraie or on the Ourika road gives you a pool, gardens and total privacy. It is our favourite place for engagement shoots, family sessions and fashion lookbooks.
Photo tipShoot the pool at blue hour, when the water lights up and the sky is still deep blue.
The studio
Not every picture needs a monument. For professional headshots, a personal brand or a team, a studio session gives you clean, controlled light and a result you can use everywhere, from LinkedIn to a press kit. See our portrait and corporate photography.
Photo tipBring two outfits: one light, one dark. It doubles the options in the same hour.
What to wear
Marrakech is already full of colour, so let it lead. Solid colours beat busy prints: white, cream, sand, terracotta, olive and a single strong tone like cobalt or red. Flowing fabrics move beautifully in the desert wind. A kaftan or a scarf bought in the souk is the perfect local touch. Comfortable shoes for walking between spots, and the good ones in your bag.
Book your session
A typical holiday session lasts one to two hours around sunrise or sunset and covers two or three spots close together. Longer sessions add the desert or a villa. Tell us the look you want, the dates you are in town and the number of people, and we will plan the route, the timing and any permissions.
We also shoot weddings and elopements, drone and aerial views and reels for social media all over the city.
Questions about photoshoots in Marrakech
What is the best time of day for a photoshoot in Marrakech?
The first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. The light is soft and warm, and in the morning the Medina and the gardens are quiet.
What is the best season for a photoshoot in Marrakech?
March to May and October to November have mild weather and clear light. Summer is very hot at midday, so we shoot at sunrise and in the evening; winter brings crisp air and snow on the Atlas.
Can we shoot in the Jardin Majorelle or in monuments?
Casual photos are fine, but monuments and famous gardens often have rules for professional equipment, and a full shoot usually needs permission in advance. We plan around this or choose private locations with the same look.
How long does a photoshoot in Marrakech take?
From one hour for a single location to a full day with several spots, the desert and a villa. Most couples choose one to two hours at sunset.
How do we book a photographer in Marrakech?
Send us your dates, the number of people and the look you like with the Get a quote button, or message us on WhatsApp. We reply with a plan and a price.
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