I’ve been to Marrakech three times and had very little hassle. I’ve never used a guide but I did actually write some tips on my last trip which was 2018 I’ve just fished them out so I’ll post below….
Street style covert overt shooting.
Make a big deal of photographing your partner who is stood next to the person you wish to shoot. Take the photo of your partner and then twist and shoot the real subject.
Similar to the above pretend to shoot something else nearby, that interesting wall or plant, turn around and fire at the intended target.
If you want some gorgeous ‘classic’ Moroccan architecture and interiors there are many upmarket riads and hamans you can wander around and explore. Some you will be able to access for free but should make yourself known and ask if you can look around. Some only allow residents and diners. We enjoyed a stunning lunch at the Riad El Fin and I was able to photograph it’s beautiful interior and exterior however the cost of lunch was my passport inside!
If your unsure just ask. Moroccans in the Médina can speak as many as four to five languages speaking very good English, excellent French, Arabic and Berber! People here like to be consulted and talked to, don’t be shy be bold and discuss what you can do, what you can’t, where you can go, where you can’t and what you can photograph. Don’t forgot your taking photos of people in their workplaces. If some foreigner turned up to your office and started taking your photo you may be a little cautious. So most of all be incredibly respectful and you won’t go too far wrong.
If your like me you’ll stick out as a tourist like a sore thumb and that’s fine, I try to do my best to stick out like a sore thumb as that’s the most I can hope for as a white man who needs a large sun hat, sunglasses and a mound of sun cream. On that note let’s discuss sunglasses. They are a bit impersonal and it’s much better to make eye contact with your subject or at least it helps when your apologising afterwards.
Any way back onto the obvious tourist. Don’t expect to turn up to a potential picture making scene and suddenly blend in. If however your prepared to be patient and stick around for a while, stand by that post or sit on that wall you will start to become part of the scene and if there long enough it will be others who will be new to the scene of which you are already part of. You can then photograph new comers to your scene as they won’t be so cautious of you.
Stand in a shop doorway and look out. The goods on display can nicely frame the scene and you can shoot people who walk into the scene. They will walk past oblivious to you. It helps if your partner has bought something from the shopkeeper!
Go overt. There will be many opportunities to shoot people who are working in the souks especially the tanneries, dyeing and wood working areas. There are numerous people, making tiles, dyeing cotton, doing carpentry etc. Ask people if you can take their photo. Most will say yes but some may ask for money. If your cool with that then pay about ten dirams, about 80 pence. They may pose for you awkwardly so say ‘au naturel’ which roughly translated will mean ‘as you were’.
Do respect respect people foremost and women in particular and people praying may not wish to be photographed.
If your shooting people’s wares such as blankets on walls or meat hanging up they will appreciate if you ask them first . You don’t need to and I tend not to but I will get picked up from time to time. In which case I simply apologise.
As for focal lengths of course this is very personal but my take is that I find 35mm-50mm perfect in the Médina itself, shots will be much better up close rather than sniping from afar with a 70-200mm.
Shoot from the hip. A small mirrorless flip up camera helps a lot. Or use a full frame like me and be bold.
Don’t expect to hit every scene you find. It’s a game. The fisherman doesn’t catch every fish and you won’t get every shot you see. Your success rate should increase with your confidence though.
Scenes often develop and die within a few seconds so always have your camera switched on in hand ready to raise to your eye, a wrist strap will provide some security. So many people have a camera on a strap dangling around their neck or sling over a shoulder. I wonder if they wouldn’t be more comfortable with the camera in a soft bag where it’s easier to carry, less prone to damage and just as easily reachable when you can be bothered to take a photograph.
Learn to pre visualise a scene. Seen a suitable subject but the picture hasn’t quite yet emerged? Pre focus on a spot near to them and when ready raise camera and fire.
If moving quickly set a suitable shutter speed 1/250 as minimum. A camera that can set a minimum shutter speed is really useful in this regard.
Listen., be aware of your surroundings. What’s that noise? A moped coming up behind you? Step out of the way, frame a shot with them going through it.
Find a nice archway, frame the shot wait for people to walk in it, a figure in a scene adds a lot. Look mildly annoyed at the person who has just ‘spoilt’ your photograph by walking into your scene;-).
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a guide may make you more conspicuous. I didn’t enjoy the souk, too much hassle and even involuntary eye contact makes you a prospective customer. And that’s before I was tricked by the fake EXIT signs to lure me further in !! 
