Photographing Seville: the Plaza, the Lanes and the Two Weeks to Avoid
Seville has the opposite problem to most cities. There is no shortage of places to photograph — there are too many, and nearly all of them fail at the wrong hour. A session that works here is organised by light, not by map.
5 photo spots in Seville — click a pin to open the full guide
Real shots from Seville
The Plaza de España is a trap by mid-morning
It is the most photographed place in the city and deservedly so: a brick semicircle two hundred metres across, tiled bridges over a canal, and forty-eight alcoves each tiled with a Spanish province. It is also where the most sessions go wrong.
The reason is simple. It is an open space facing the sun, and the brickwork starts to glare by mid-morning. By eleven the stone is burnt out, faces are squinting, and the azulejos have lost the colour that justified coming.
The answer is to go early. First thing the plaza is nearly empty — the coach tours arrive later — and the light comes in low and sideways, which is exactly what the reliefs need. It is the highest-value hour of the day in the whole city.
If you can only come in the afternoon, stay under the arcades and beneath the bridges, where there is built shade.
Santa Cruz holds up when nothing else does
The old Jewish quarter is a maze of whitewashed lanes, patios full of pots and orange trees. Its practical virtue is that high white walls bounce light rather than taking it head on, so it works at midday, when the plaza no longer does.
That makes it the natural second stop: Plaza de España at sunrise, Santa Cruz afterwards. The order matters.
Two warnings. It is a genuine maze and easy to get lost in, and some lanes are too narrow for a large group. With a pushchair it is uncomfortable.
Las Setas, so the whole set is not arches
The Metropol Parasol is an enormous timber structure in the middle of the old town with a walkway across the top. Aesthetically it has nothing to do with the rest of the city, and that is its value: it stops the whole session being arches, tiles and whitewash.
Twenty minutes here changes the rhythm of the set completely. The walkway is ticketed and has opening hours; the square below is free and already gives you the shape.
The river at the end of the day
The Guadalquivir gives the last light. From the Triana bridge you have the Torre del Oro on one side and the Triana facades on the other, and the water holds the sky's colour for several minutes after the sun has gone.
It is the logical close to a long session, and it needs no ticket, permit or timing beyond the sunset.
What clients say about this kind of shoot
As helpful and kind as possible
Alvaro was extremely helpful in pinpointing the exact details of my surprise proposal and made sure the moment was as special as it could be. He was very responsive beforehand, and guided us through a professional photo shoot after the proposal. I'm grateful to have been paired up with him.
— Luis P. on Álvaro G.
I highly recommend Gabriel! He captured my surprise proposal in Sevilla perfectly, from choosing the ideal location to making sure everything went smoothly. I was nervous about the proposal and all the planning, but Gabriel’s professionalism and communication really put me at ease. The photos are incredible, and the photoshoot afterward was so much fun! He’s friendly, talented, and made the whole experience special. I’m so glad I chose him to capture our unforgettable day!
— Daniel K. on Gabriel N.
Gabriel was fantastic to work with and execute a surprise proposal at Plaza de Espana! His recommendations and expertise were on point, and the photos turned out remarkably well. Highly recommend using Gabriel’s services!
— Tim W. on Gabriel N.
My fiancé and I are so grateful to them. We didn't know them at all, but Rafa and his team have been a key part of this adventure. They're warm and approachable, the way they treat you couldn't be better, and we really clicked from the moment we met them. They take photos that are ART.
— Elena P. on Víctor C.
We had an amazing experience with Eduardo at Plaza de España. He was super patient with us despite us arriving a little late, and he made the most of the time we had. The photos came out absolutely beautiful! We’re so happy with the experience and would definitely recommend him to anyone visiting Seville. Thank you, Eduardo
— Thuli on Eduardo G.
A friend recommended we talk to them, as she was very happy with her wedding coverage, and right from the start we had a really good feeling about them. Doing the pre-wedding shoot with them was a brilliant decision, because Rafa is very professional and warm, gave us great advice and helped us feel confident in front of a camera, which was essential for us to feel comfortable and for the photos to turn out so well. Photos they sent us shortly afterwards and that were perfect to use for our wedding invitation :D We were in touch throughout the whole process and everything was made easy for us, which you really appreciate for such a special event. On the wedding day there were two teams (one at my partner's house and another at mine) and I was lucky enough to meet Víctor, another top-notch professional who helped my family and me a lot, and the photos turned out wonderful. We also booked video and I think it was absolutely the right call, because some moments never come again. Of course the photos turned out great, but where they surprised us was with the albums (we ordered a large one for ourselves and two extra ones to give to our families). After the hard job of choosing the photos, we added a few more pages and the result was spectacular, far better than we expected, with exceptional quality and exquisite presentation. We will definitely be counting on them for future occasions. Thank you.
— Ramon R. on Víctor C.
The Real Alcázar: check before building a day around it
The gardens and courtyards are probably the most beautiful thing in the city. It is also a ticketed monument with timed capacity and restrictions on professional photography sessions.
For personal photographs during a normal visit there is usually no issue. For an organised session with a hired photographer, check the current conditions before planning the day around the Alcázar rather than after.
When not to come
Two weeks a year when Seville is wonderful and a photo session is not viable:
- Semana Santa. The centre fills, many streets close for the processions, and moving between two points can take an hour.
- The Feria de Abril. The city decamps to the fairground and everything else runs at half speed.
If you are travelling then, assume the session will be in outer neighbourhoods or at first light.
And the heat: July and August routinely pass 40°C. In summer there are two usable hours, at dawn and at the end of the afternoon. April, May, October and November are the good months — and see the seasonal guide for how that compares with the rest of Spain.
A route that works
- Sunrise — Plaza de España, empty and side-lit
- Mid-morning — Santa Cruz, shade and whitewash
- Midday — stop; it is the worst light and the worst heat
- Afternoon — Las Setas or Triana
- Sunset — the river from the Triana bridge
Four stops within walking distance, in the order the light opens them.
The photographers covering Seville work this city weekly and will fit the route to your date, the sunset time and how far you are willing to walk.
Frequently asked questions
What time of day should I photograph the Plaza de España?
First thing in the morning. It is an open space facing the sun, and the brickwork starts to glare by mid-morning — by eleven the stone is burnt out, faces are squinting and the azulejos have lost their colour. At sunrise the plaza is nearly empty, the coach tours have not arrived, and the light comes in low and sideways, which is exactly what the reliefs need; if you can only come in the afternoon, stay under the arcades and beneath the bridges.
Can I have a photoshoot in the Real Alcázar of Seville?
Check before building a day around it. The gardens and courtyards are probably the most beautiful thing in the city, but it is a ticketed monument with timed capacity and restrictions on professional photography sessions. Personal photographs during a normal visit are usually no issue; for an organised session with a hired photographer, verify the current conditions first.
When should I avoid Seville for a photoshoot?
Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril — two weeks when the city is wonderful and a session is not viable, with streets closed for processions and everything else running at half speed. And the heat: July and August routinely pass 40°C, leaving two usable hours at dawn and the end of the afternoon. April, May, October and November are the good months.
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