What is the photography etiquette in Morocco (people, places)?

Morocco is one of the most photogenic countries on earth, and that is precisely why I spend time on this with every client. The medinas, the dye pits of Fes, the spice pyramids, the doorways painted that impossible shade of blue — it is tempting to shoot constantly. But the most important rule is simple and human: ask before you photograph a person. A gentle gesture toward your camera and a questioning look, or "mumkin?" (may I?), works across any language barrier. Many people will smile and say yes, genuinely pleased; others will shake their head, and that "no" deserves the same respect you would want at home. Snatching a candid shot of a face without permission is the fastest way to cause real offence.

Older people, rural women and anyone at prayer warrant extra care — in conservative areas a woman may consider a photograph of her face genuinely improper, so I always err on the side of not raising the camera at all unless she has clearly welcomed it. Children are a softer case but I still encourage asking a nearby parent. The water-sellers in their fringed red costumes on Jemaa el-Fnaa, the snake charmers, the henna artists and the monkey handlers are effectively performers, and they will expect a few dirhams (5 to 20) if you point a lens their way — agree the gesture before you shoot rather than after, to avoid an awkward demand.

For places, the headline restriction is religious sites: non-Muslims cannot enter most working mosques (the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the celebrated exception), so the photograph you take is from the outside, and you should never poke a camera through a mosque doorway during prayer. Avoid photographing anything military, police stations, royal palaces and border or checkpoint areas — these are taken seriously and a guard will rightly stop you. In souks, some stallholders dislike having their goods photographed because they fear copying, so a quick nod toward the owner keeps things friendly.

My practical advice after countless trips: lead with connection, not the lens. I have watched clients buy a little mint tea from a stall, chat for two minutes, then ask for a portrait — and walk away with a far better photograph and a far better memory than any stolen frame. Put the camera down in the moments that matter, tip the performers you photograph, delete a shot if someone changes their mind, and treat the tannery foreman or the carpet seller as a host rather than a backdrop. Do that and Morocco will open up to your camera in ways the rushing tourist never sees.