The Price of Wedding Photography: How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Argentina?

When you finally decide to get married and the excitement of that unique moment settles in, the adrenaline of planning begins. And we say adrenaline to avoid saying the panic that can be caused by the quotes you receive, which we know vary widely, and that lingering feeling that “there’s never enough.” We know that often the price of wedding photography can seem too high. In this post, we will share our opinion on some issues we consider important when allocating a budget for your wedding photography and video.

First of all, you should consider your (and your partner’s) priorities when putting together the total budget. You can’t have everything, and you will always have to prioritize or even give up things you would like to have. List your priorities based on what you consider most important for you and your partner. It is very difficult for us to be objective about this for obvious reasons. If we were in your place, the budget for wedding photography and video would head the list! haha.

We know it is a cliché to say that wedding photos and videos are the only things that will last over time once the wedding is over. But honestly, it is the absolute truth. The food will have been eaten, the drinks consumed, the dress will be kept in a box (unless you used it for a trash the dress session, ha!). Wedding photos and videos are the only thing that will remain and bear witness to everything else that happened. And not only that: we fervently believe that, like fine wine, wedding photos and videos will gain even more value as time goes by. When the family grows, your children will experience what you felt that day through these images. We also very frequently see that when a beloved family member passes away, they are remembered and honored through photos and videos from that day. The happiness and emotion that can be captured during a wedding is truly unique.

How much does a wedding photographer cost in Argentina?

When you start asking for quotes for wedding photography and video, you will find that there is a huge variety of prices, even more than in other sectors of the “events” universe. This happens because of an infinity of variables that you should keep in mind when choosing who will be in charge of recording your wedding. Here is a post where we give you 10 key tips for choosing your ideal wedding photographer. For practical purposes and for the sake of this post, we will simplify it and divide them into 2 groups: the “cheap” wedding photographers and the “expensive” wedding photographers.

Who are the “cheap” wedding photographers?

It is complicated to give approximate figures in the current context in Argentina. As of the day we are writing this post (January 2024), the average price for a wedding photographer is about USD 1500. So, we could say that a cheap wedding photographer would be someone who charges USD 1000 or less. Of course, these values are approximate and purely for reference; they also vary depending on the number of photographers hired, whether or not the civil ceremony is included, and many other variables that exceed the scope of this post.

Within this group, we find, above all, photographers who are taking their first steps in weddings. They are forced to offer more competitive prices to start building their portfolio and, eventually, be able to charge more in the future. Of course, this is not a bad thing at all; we have all been in that position at some point. These photographers may not have truly professional equipment, and the result may be technically poor. Or they may not have backup cameras and gear in case the main camera stops working in the middle of your wedding. But above all, the main risk in this case is that they almost certainly will not have the necessary experience to resolve typical situations or problems at a wedding. And we know that you only get married once (or twice, or three times, but not 1000! haha!), and those moments will not be repeated to allow for correcting errors. In wedding photography, there is no “Take two.”

Another type of cheap wedding photographer is those who do this profession as something they do in their spare time as a complement to their main career. Perhaps they dedicate themselves to product photography or any other branch of photography and “every so often” shoot a wedding to earn some extra money. In this case, it is also important to note that a good product, fashion, or concert photographer may not be as familiar with the dynamics of a wedding and thus miss important moments. Or they may not know how to resolve situations that someone who works exclusively in wedding photography does all the time without getting too stressed. The last thing you would want is for your wedding photographer to pass their nerves on to you.

Finally, we can find wedding photography studios that are inexpensive and aim for volume over quality. The problem with this type of business model is that you probably won’t know for sure who will be in charge of covering your wedding, and above all, the time they will allocate later to the editing process. This can result in two different scenarios: either the editing takes much longer than it would for an average photographer, or it isn’t discerning enough to ensure a truly professional result.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, we celebrate that every couple can choose and prioritize where and how they allocate their resources. For some, the most important thing in the world is choosing their ideal wedding dress, other couples will dedicate more effort and energy to choosing a perfect wedding venue, and so on. But the most important thing we would like to rescue and highlight is that you are aware of the “potential risks” you are choosing to face.

So… who are the “expensive” wedding photographers?

It should be noted that the term “expensive” is highly subjective and depends on each couple’s perception of value. An expensive wedding photographer would be someone who, in the judgment of the person considering them, charges a price higher than the value they contribute with their work. Therefore, we would prefer to refer to this group as higher-priced wedding photographers.

This group includes photographers who charge above what most others charge. This would be around USD 2,000 or more.

Within this relatively small group, you will primarily find the most sought-after and renowned photographers in the wedding industry. Whether they are better or worse than those who charge less is also very subjective, as there are always exceptions. The important thing to highlight is that, beyond the style, a “costly” wedding photographer gives you the added value of knowing they will always have sufficient experience to resolve unexpected situations, such as a ceremony being delayed from daytime to nighttime, a camera breaking, or intuitively anticipating the moment your father gets emotional and sheds those tears that are gold dust for a wedding photographer or videographer.

Something that “more expensive” wedding photographers also tend to have is fluid communication. In our opinion, a response to an email or message should not take more than 24 hours for someone who claims to be a true professional. Cheap photographers likely have many more clients to respond to and manage, and may not be able to reply in a timely and proper manner.

Finally, expensive wedding photographers can justify their rates by openly showing their work and, above all, showcasing the experience and comments of the clients who have passed in front of their lenses. Nowadays, it is very easy to check the consistency of a photographer’s work through their online portfolio and social media. If a photographer tells you they have a lot of experience but can only show you a handful of photos from different events, allow yourself to be skeptical. It would be good if you could see at least a selection of photos from different moments of the same wedding and from several weddings… and if they are at the same venue where you are getting married, even better. The same should apply to reviews. Google has the answer for everything, and client feedback is no exception.

Conclusions regarding wedding photography pricing

In summary: what is expensive for one may not be for another, and it is totally subjective based on the budget you have and your priorities. If you are doubting whether or not to hire a wedding photographer or videographer, we (obviously! ha!) suggest that you do, even if you hire an “inexpensive” photographer that doesn’t represent a large percentage of your budget, so that you can have that memory for yourselves and for your children.

On the other hand, if you are sure that you want to have a good record of your wedding, you want everything to flow as naturally as possible, and you want to be worry-free regarding the result before, during, and after the wedding: hire Rodriguez + Mansilla, hahaha! Just kidding! Hire a photographer who provides you with sufficient evidence that the result and the process will be truly professional. You have no idea how many times we’ve heard: “I regret having skimped on my wedding photography,” and believe us, you do NOT want that to happen to you…

Did this article help you? Don’t forget that we have a section on our website entirely dedicated to tips for organizing your wedding. We recommend you visit it, and don’t forget that you can also contact us using the form found at the bottom of this page. Let’s chat!