where to stay in old Venice as Photographers

We stayed at an Airbnb called Ca’ Franchi which was perfectly located in our opinion. It offered a rooftop terrace which provided some great photo opportunities. You should be able to find it by searching on the site. Our host was Martina and she was wonderful in helping us navigate Venice, as well as sharing some of the local gems.

We've stayed at Al Ponte Mocenigo a few times. The hotel and rooms are beautiful inside, it's very reasonably priced for the location, and the people who run it can't do enough for you. It's only one vaporetto stop from the train station, right next to the San Stae church on the Grand Canal. Very convenient whether you're walking around or using the vaporetto (get some great video on a vaporetto ride up or down the Grand Canal at the "blue hour"). From the hotel it's an easy walk to get into the San Polo, Santa Croce, and Dorsoduro districts, where you'll find excellent photo ops in campos and from the hundreds of small bridges over side canals in the old neighborhoods.

The Cannaregio area is on the quiet back canals, mostly a residential neighborhood. It's even possible to get pix without people in them. The reflections on the canals during the Golden Hour is incredible . I can't call myself a photographer, but even I have gotten some spectacular evening pix.
Good luck!

The photography opportunities in Venice are all over the place. I don't think it much matters exactly where you stay, though somewhere closer to the Grand Canal is probably a good idea. I got used to very long hikes in Venice lugging my camera bag and trip around. The vaporetto can help, but they don't run nearly as frequently at night or in the early mornings. Walking is just more practical. Your feet will probably be sore no matter where you stay if you are going to cover a lot of scenes for photos.

My favourite spots for photos were Burano as early as I could get there, and the Rialto bridge. Lots of interesting light and angles around Rialto early in the morning, at sunset and after dark. Sometimes, the smaller back alleys had great photo opportunities, but sometimes the buildings were just too close and blocked the light. I found it best to take note of where the canals were a bit wider, and had a bend or corner, and then go back when the sun was going down (or get out early the next day). Shots from any of the larger bridges after dark can be quite nice with the lights reflecting on the water. The best shots of the grand canal are from the vaporetto that has an outside seating area at the front or back. This can be hard to accomplish as everyone wants those seats so try to board at the start of the route. Also try riding some of the less used routes that go into less touristy areas. I rented an apartment close to Rialto bridge as it was easy to get the vaporetto, and fairly central. You are going to walk a lot so where you stay will come down to whether you want something quiet and off the beaten path, or something closer to the grand canal and shops, but noisier.

Thankyou to everyone who has replied. All tips useful.

I was on a photo tour in Venice just a few weeks ago. I like to book a room near St. Mark's Square because it is central and many vaporetto lines leave there.

I recommend making a list of the photo opportunities you want, but you won't be able to do everything anyway. In the end there is a great motif on every corner. Get up very early and take pictures of the heavily frequented places (St. Marks for example), visit less frequented places during the day (Giudecca, Arsenale for example) and start your tour again in the evening.

I mark the photo spots in google maps. Above all, I try to find out in advance from which point the desired photo can be taken best. This is important because you can't just cross the street if you find that your chosen photo subject looks better from the other side. You then walk a while somewhere to find a bridge over a canal that takes you to the other side. So think carefully about where you want to stand - you will find out by looking at many, many photos of other photographers.

Your feet will thank you after this trip - no just a joke but due to the many stairs it gets pretty exhausting after some days :-)

If you like you can check out my photos - visited places are mentioned: https://www.flickr.com/photos/calabrones/albums/72157664047409537

For 4 days I did nothing else but take photos and my list of desired motifs is still very long ......

Mignon, I really enjoyed your beautiful photos, thx for sharing. I'm returning to Venice in about six weeks.
Safe travels!

I can't recommend a lodging, but I would be looking for upper levels to photograph from.

This free department store rooftop terrace (you may need to get a timed ticket for access) https://www.dfs.com/en/venice/service/rooftop-terrace
The bell tower on the island of San Georgio Maggiore - it is right across the canal from Piazza San Marco, or the Bell Tower in San Marco itself.

It really depends on your photography interest.

Venice is a magical place. It is more magical with a reduced crowd, imho, but that's not always possible during the day. But if you want to shoot golden hours, shortly after dawn and before dusk, very few places are it's equal, regardless of where you are in the city.

We stayed in the Dorsoduro on our most recent trip (2017, not that recent, atc). Was quiet and largely tourist free at most times of the day, though when you get out towards the Guggenheim and the Academia, you get into some crowds, not any that rival St. Marks or the Train to Rialto to St. Marks and Cruise Ship to St. Marks main drags.

I would highly recommend any After Dark tours you can find. As I called it, San Marco After Darko was a highlight of our stay, and without crowds, the basilica is magical, eerie, and amazing. And you can take pictures, which I gather they don't really allow during the day. My wife and I just looked at her photobook from that trip (and I'm about to write up my report, 6 years late), and she is still in love with the photos she shot that evening. There was rain coming in, so something like an apocalyptic overcast background to her shots of Piazza di San Marco, the bell tower, and the church. Otherworldly.

Should mention, wife is the BFA Photography one of us, while I'm the self taught, non-photographic partner. I dunno that she has enjoyed shooting anything as much as Venice on that trip, and the After Dark more than anything else.

Magical place. Especially when the day trippers F off to wherever they came from, likely a monstrous cruise ship.

There is no prohibition on photography at San Marco. I took photos in the church (including the Pala d'Oro) and the museum. The Treasury was still closed in September, so I don't know about the rules there.

Santa Maria Assumto on Torcello does prohibit photography (for no discernable reason); the staff watches for, and upbraids, offenders.

@Pat

Thanks a lot.