Armenia's National Gallery earns over 14 million drams from photo shoots

The National Gallery of Armenia generated 14.445 million drams in revenue from paid photography sessions held inside its exhibition halls last year, fueled in part by a growing demand for wedding photo shoots.

According to data provided to Panorama.am, a total of 375 photo sessions took place across the gallery’s halls throughout the year, including numerous wedding shoots.

National Gallery Director Marina Hakobyan said the service is available to anyone who registers in advance and receives official permission.

“The number of wedding photo shoots is steadily increasing,” Hakobyan told Panorama. “Today, museums face serious challenges when it comes to public engagement and these photo sessions help address that issue to some extent.”

She rejected claims that photo shoots disrupt regular visitors, noting that leading museums around the world often operate under far more crowded conditions.

“Four people entering for a photo shoot cannot seriously disturb other visitors,” Hakobyan said. “Even if there is some minor inconvenience at the moment, I see this as a positive change. When a couple chooses a cultural space for such an important day, it reflects a shift in awareness.”

Hakobyan added that wedding photos taken in front of works by artists such as Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky and Martiros Saryan, as well as Renaissance masterpieces, point to a deeper cultural connection.

All exhibition halls at the National Gallery are available for photography sessions, though couples most frequently choose the European and Armenian fine arts sections, she noted.