Deleven Photography

Deleven Photography is the business of Dave (David Leuenberger), a wedding photographer from Kriegstetten in the Solothurn region who says he photographs throughout Switzerland and in nearby countries. His about-and-FAQ page is unusually open about money and logistics: it publishes an hourly rate, a guide price for an all-inclusive day, what files a couple receive and how long delivery takes.

Who is behind it

Dave writes that his career as a professional photographer began in early 2019, but that he built his knowledge and skills over the previous 20 years. He describes himself as a proud husband and father of two. Over those years he has worked across several kinds of photography: portrait, macro, concert, lifestyle, event and brand work. Weddings, he says, are his real passion.

He is open about not having trained formally. He has not completed a photography apprenticeship or studied the subject, and he presents his work instead as lifelike and authentic, built on experience. His stated belief is that every wedding tells its own story and that his job is to hold on to the most romantic and meaningful moments in a couple's life. The aim he gives is not just to take photos but to create memories.

That background matters when reading his style. Concert and event work trains a photographer to catch moments without directing them, and he pairs that with portrait experience for the posed parts of the day. The FAQ makes clear that he leans toward natural results rather than heavy editing.

Two ways to book: by the hour or all inclusive

The price answer on the page is direct. His service is charged at 180 CHF per hour when a couple book by the hour. For couples who want full-day coverage, he offers what he calls an "All Inclusive" package, which he is happy to work out individually.

The all-inclusive package works like this. The couple send him the planned schedule for the day and tell him which parts they want photographed; the page lists getting ready, the couple shoot, the ceremony, the meal and the afterparty as examples. He then fixes a price for that, so the couple no longer have to watch the clock. As a guide price he says to expect around 3,000 CHF, provided there are no very elaborate special requests.

The two models suit different weddings. A small civil ceremony with a short portrait session afterward fits the hourly rate. A full day from preparation to the dance floor is what the package is for, and the fixed price removes the worry of overtime.

What couples receive

The FAQ spells out the delivery:

• An online gallery that the couple can share. It stays online for at least 1 month, and guests can download the images from it at a slightly reduced size.
• A download link for the full-size images, in JPG format, valid for 30 days.

He adds a clear warning: he tries to keep all photos safe indefinitely but gives no guarantee, and the couple are responsible for their images and for backing them up. For a couple from abroad this is the most practical line on the page. Download the full-resolution files as soon as the link arrives and store them in more than one place, because the link expires and the photographer does not promise to keep an archive.

Delivery times

He gives rules of thumb and says they depend on the number of photos and on how busy he is. For a small shoot with fewer than 100 images, allow about one to two weeks. For a wedding, which he puts at 600 to 1,000 images, allow about three to five weeks.

Retouching and camera nerves

Two of the FAQ answers deal with how people feel in front of the camera. To the worry of not being photogenic and feeling uncomfortable on camera, he answers that almost everyone feels that way, that part of choosing a photographer is liking them and feeling safe with them, and that he will make sure the couple feel comfortable during the shoot.

To the question of whether he can make someone look slimmer, he says his experience with posing and camera angles helps people look good, but that he believes natural beauty is the best way to shine in photos. He therefore does not do extensive retouching or alterations. Couples who expect heavily edited images should look elsewhere; couples who want their wedding to look like the day they had will find that reassuring.

Booking and travel

His advice on timing is "Je früher, desto besser!" (the earlier, the better). He says he is usually booked about a year in advance, or as soon as the date of the ceremony is known, and that bookings go to whoever asks first.

On coverage area he writes "Ich fotografiere in der ganzen Schweiz. (und auch im nahen Ausland)" (I photograph all over Switzerland, and also in nearby countries). That makes him an option for a venue anywhere in the country, although the page does not say how travel costs are charged.

The contact details on the page are his postal address, Oekingenstrasse 29, 4566 Kriegstetten, and the phone number +41 78 868 90 87. There is also an email link and a contact form.

What the page does not settle

A couple planning from abroad will still have questions for the first message. The page does not say whether there is a minimum number of hours on the hourly rate, how travel outside the Solothurn region is billed, or what deposit, payment schedule and cancellation terms apply. It mentions no printed albums or prints, only the online gallery and the digital files. It also names no second photographer and no video.

Language is the other open point. The site is written entirely in German and addresses couples with the informal "du" and "ihr." It does not say whether Dave works in English. An English-speaking couple should ask directly, especially if the planning calls and the day itself need to run in English.

Who it suits

Deleven Photography suits couples who want natural, lightly edited images and who like knowing the numbers before they write: an hourly rate for a short civil wedding, a guide price for a full day, a stated delivery window and a clear list of what they receive. The willingness to travel across the country helps couples marrying away from the Solothurn area.

It suits less well a couple who want a printed album included, a long-term archive held by the photographer, or confirmation in writing that the whole process runs in English. Those are questions to settle at the start, and the page itself invites them: its last line asks couples who want to know more to get in touch.