Gaziantep is a city you photograph with your appetite. Listed by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy, it is famous for baklava, pistachios and kebabs, and a great deal of its visual character comes from the places where food and craft are made and sold: copper workshops, spice stalls, courtyard cafés in old caravanserais. For lifestyle, travel and couple sessions with a strong sense of place, it has few rivals in south-eastern Türkiye.
The old city on foot
The historic centre spreads out below the castle and can be covered on foot in a morning.
- Bakırcılar Çarşısı. The coppersmiths’ bazaar, where craftsmen still hammer trays and coffee pots at their benches. Hanging copperware reflects warm light into the narrow lanes. Ask before you photograph an artisan, and consider buying something if you take up his time.
- Zincirli Bedesten and Almacı Pazarı. A covered market and the adjoining lanes of dried peppers, aubergines, spices and nuts hanging in strings. Colourful, busy and best on a weekday morning.
- The historic hans. Several restored caravanserais have stone courtyards with arcades, now used as cafés and shops. They give shade, symmetry and a quieter setting than the streets outside. They are businesses, so ask the management before setting up a session.
- Tahmis Kahvesi. A historic coffee house with a wooden interior, a classic stop for a cup of menengiç, the local pistachio-family coffee.
- Bey Mahallesi. A neighbourhood of traditional Antep houses built in pale local stone, with carved details, heavy doors and inner courtyards. Many have become cafés, museums and small hotels. The honey-coloured walls are an excellent portrait background.
The castle and the museums
Gaziantep Castle crowns the mound at the centre of the old city. It was badly damaged in the earthquakes of February 2023, so check the current state of access and restoration before planning anything around it. It remains a landmark in the skyline from the streets below.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum holds Roman mosaics rescued from the ancient city of Zeugma on the Euphrates, including the famous “Gypsy Girl”. It is a museum to visit and admire; professional or commercial photography in ticketed museums generally requires official permission, and personal photography rules are set by the museum.
Food as a subject
A lifestyle session here can follow a day’s eating: a breakfast of katmer, baklava makers stretching dough thin, an usta at the grill. Many shops are proud of their work and happy to be photographed, but always ask the owner first, avoid the busiest service hours, and respect any refusal. Kitchens are workplaces, and a photographer who already has good relations with local businesses will open doors that a stranger cannot.
Climate and light
Summers are hot and dry, with intense overhead sun from late morning to late afternoon. The covered bazaars and courtyards are your refuge at those hours, and the pale stone bounces soft light into shaded spots. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the old town. Winters are cold and can be wet. The low sun of early morning and late afternoon suits the stone architecture all year.
Day trips
The Euphrates lies to the east. Boat trips from Halfeti, in neighbouring Şanlıurfa province, pass the partly submerged old town and the fortress of Rumkale on its cliff. It makes a striking setting for couple and travel portraits but needs most of a day including the drive. Aerial shots over the water require a registered drone and the proper permission.
How to choose and book a photographer
- Decide what you want: posed couple portraits, a documentary record of your trip, or food and brand content. They call for different skills, so look for galleries that match.
- Ask to see whole sessions, not single images, preferably shot in the bazaars and Bey Mahallesi.
- Confirm how many edited photos you will get and when they will be delivered.
- Discuss whether the photographer will arrange access to hans, cafés or workshops.
- Ask about travel fees for Halfeti or Rumkale.
- Have the date, duration, deposit and cancellation terms set out in a written agreement.
Dress modestly for the bazaars and mosque surroundings, wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles and leave room in the schedule for tea.
Find professionals in our photographer directory, where Gaziantep photographers can also add a free listing. For further reading, we have more Türkiye photography guides.
Cover photo: AntepKale2 (cropped).jpg by Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
