Do you need a "photographic memory" or unusual imagination to use a memory palace?

No — it's a learnable skill that works for ordinary memories; the palace does the heavy lifting, not raw talent.

This is the great misconception. Memory champions almost universally report average memories — they use methods, not gifts. You already have the two ingredients: a place you know (everyone does) and the ability to imagine something silly happening there. The vividness improves with practice, but even clumsy, half-formed images placed at real locations dramatically outperform rote learning from day one.

Tip: Start expecting it to feel awkward and slow. Fluency is a matter of reps, like any skill.