Andi Keller, willst-du.ch

Andi Keller is a wedding photographer and videographer based in St. Gallen who trades as willst-du.ch; every page signs off with the line "Willst du mit mir gehn?" (will you go with me?). His homepage invites couples to discover their favorite places around Lake Constance (the Bodensee) and in Thurgau, St. Gallen and Appenzell, and the footer describes his work as visual stories of couples from eastern Switzerland to central Switzerland. He films as well as photographs, and his most detailed wedding story pairs a photo gallery with a video.

How he approaches a wedding

Keller's homepage heading sums up the style: "Kein verfälschtes Lachen und Steife Posen", no fake laughter and no stiff poses. He writes that it matters to him personally to be on the same wavelength as the couple, so that they can let go in front of the camera, and that only then do the best pictures happen. His aim is to show a relationship the way the couple really feel and really are. Besides the highlights, he says, he also records the quiet, still moments.

He describes himself as more than the person taking pictures. The work, in his words, rests on mutual trust: making memories of the moment and, more importantly, enjoying the time together and having fun. He likes to work in places that mean something to the couple, including outdoors in nature or in the snow.

On the day itself, the Infos page says he aims to be as unobtrusive as possible and to blend into the party, so that guests barely notice "der Typ mit der Kamera" (the guy with the camera) or see him as a friend and helper. If something does not go to plan, he writes, there is always a solution and he is flexible.

What the wedding service includes

The Infos page sets out the service in four steps.

1. Before the day. At the first meeting he gives tips on planning the day's timetable so the couple can enjoy it without stress, and they receive a checklist. He draws, he says, on 7 years of experience accompanying weddings.
2. The reportage. He accompanies the couple for the whole day or as long as they wish, from getting ready to the first dance.
3. First photos. Shortly after the wedding the couple receive a few preview images to share with friends and on social media, since, as he notes, everyone asks to see photos within days.
4. Online gallery. A few weeks later, once the photos have been selected, edited and put together as the couple's story, they receive a gallery app for their smartphone, where they can share the pictures with everyone and allow downloads.

Around the wedding package he lists smaller bookings: couple shoots and engagement photos, which he suggests for save-the-date cards and invitations and as a chance to get used to the camera together; after-wedding sessions, for couples who want more or who want a rain-free day; and civil weddings at the registry office, described as the ceremony in a small circle and the aperitif that follows, told as a short story.

He also offers handmade albums from a bookbinder, which he says are built to last into the next generation, and a photo booth: a vintage-look wooden box made in eastern Switzerland, with accessories and prints available as extras.

Weddings on the site

The site shows four stories. Sara and Jan's wedding is the most detailed: their couple photos for the invitation were taken at the Fünfländerblick viewpoint in Eggersriet, a place that matters to them. The wedding day came a year after that first shoot, with the civil ceremony at Schloss Oberberg in Gossau held in between. The day itself brought a first look at the chapel by the Fünfländerblick, a church ceremony in the city of St. Gallen, an aperitif in the church courtyard, a vintage-car drive with group photos, and dinner and a party at the Rossbüchel restaurant, where a DJ took over after the first dance.

Alessa and Domenico married at Schloss Wartensee on the Rorschacherberg, above Lake Constance, where he took the couple behind the castle, away from the guests. He calls himself a "Wolkenmensch" (a cloud person) and says couples who like the soft look of those pictures are welcome to order a few clouds for their own session. The other two stories are couple shoots, between Uttwil and Altnau in Thurgau and at the Amphibienweiher in Kreuzlingen.

Two short testimonials appear on the Infos page. One couple write that the photos are exactly as they wanted them and that they are "absolut happy". Another client says the photos he and his wife received are by far the most beautiful pictures ever taken of them.

Contact and language

His studio is near the Olma Messen exhibition grounds in the city of St. Gallen, and he invites couples there for a first meeting. The contact page gives a phone number, +41 76 537 95 79, and an email address, andi@willst-du.ch, plus a short form. He also offers a free 35-page e-book wedding guide with a checklist, which the homepage says draws on over 9 years of experience.

The site is written entirely in German, and in an informal register that addresses couples as "ihr". It does not say whether he works in English. For a couple from abroad, that is the first question to ask.

What the site does not settle

• Prices. No prices are published for any service, including albums and the photo booth.
• Video. The site has a video section and Sara and Jan's story includes a film, but it does not say whether video is a separate booking or how it is priced.
• Delivery time. The site says previews come shortly after the day and the gallery a few weeks later, without a fixed number of weeks.
• Travel. No travel fee or radius is stated beyond the regions named.

Who it suits

Andi Keller suits couples marrying in St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell or around the Swiss shore of Lake Constance who want relaxed, unposed photos, and ideally a film of the day from the same person. The preparation help and the quick preview images are useful for couples organizing from a distance. The main caveats for international couples are the German-only website and the absence of published prices, so a first call or email should settle language and budget.