Julia Aubry

A wedding photographer in the Gruyère

Julia Aubry is a photographer in the canton of Fribourg who lives in the Gruyère, which she calls the most picturesque region of the canton. She discovered photography more than ten years ago, a passion that began, she writes, after a move and her discovery of Switzerland's nature. Today she photographs weddings, couples, families, portraits, newborns and brands. Her wedding page is headed "Des instants précieux Gravés Pour Toujours" (precious moments engraved forever), and her FAQ says she is based in the heart of the Gruyère and travels gladly throughout Switzerland and across Europe.

Her site title names Gruyère, Bulle and Fribourg, and her homepage lists the places she regularly photographs as Lausanne, Fribourg, Bern, Geneva, the Gruyère, Montreux and Vevey, with other regions possible on request.

Style

In her FAQ she describes her style as elegant, luminous and timeless. In her words, "Je m'attache à capturer des instants sincères et raffinés, où chaque émotion est sublimée avec délicatesse": she sets out to record sincere, refined moments, with every emotion brought out delicately. She mixes an artistic sense with a documentary eye, paying particular attention to natural light, details and color harmony. On the day she is discreet and attentive, guiding gently when needed while letting spontaneity come through.

Her about page adds a slightly different emphasis: a dynamic, elegant and romantic style focused on emotion and the look of the surroundings, where spontaneous, lively moments sit alongside classic poses, giving the pictures a natural feel. The wedding page is aimed at couples who want natural, unposed images, an elegant aesthetic, and the freedom to enjoy their own day. The same about page is candid about what drives her: each time she photographs moments of happiness, she writes, she feels a deep sense of reverence and joy, and she calls her work "pas seulement une profession, c'est ma mission" (not just a profession, it is my mission), namely to preserve the warmth and beauty of each unique moment so the memories stay with the couple. Her homepage adds that she works with natural light and the Swiss landscape, and that she guides people without experience in front of the camera so they feel at ease.

She does not use flash as a rule. Natural light comes first, and flash is used discreetly when conditions demand it, either briefly or with a more elaborate lighting setup, particularly at indoor receptions.

Three wedding packages

Aubry publishes her wedding prices in full, which makes her one of the easier photographers to budget for. Every package starts with a meeting in person or online.

The Cérémonie package costs CHF 500 for 2 hours of photography, covering the ceremony, group photos, a couple shoot and help with posing. A wooden box with a USB stick is available on request for CHF 30.

The Apéro package costs CHF 900 for 4 hours and adds photos of the apéro to the ceremony, group photos, couple shoot and posing help. A wooden photo box with a USB stick and the 30 best photos printed is available on request for CHF 80.

The Party package costs CHF 2,500 for up to 12 hours: the couple's preparations, the ceremony, group photos, the couple shoot, the apéro, dinner and dancing, with help on posing. The wooden box with a USB stick and the 50 best photos printed costs CHF 100 on request.

All three packages deliver 60 edited photos per hour through a personal online gallery that stays accessible for 6 months. The FAQ describes 60 per hour as an average that can vary with the day, for example with moves between locations, and says couples often receive more. More edited images can be added as an option. She does not hand over unedited photos, since they do not reflect her finished work.

Editing, delivery and posing help

Every image gets a light, natural retouch, and more thorough retouching is done where needed, particularly for the couple. The gallery link lets the couple mark favorites, download images and share the gallery with guests. For couples who have never done a photo shoot and do not know how to pose, she says most of her couples feel the same; she gives simple, natural directions to put them at ease, and she organizes and directs the group photos herself so they run smoothly.

Booking

Booking starts with getting to know each other and talking through the couple's vision and the plan for the day, with room for all their questions. If they decide to go ahead, she draws up a contract setting out the service and its conditions, and the date counts as reserved only once the contract is signed. The contact form asks for the type of session, the preferred date and the location. She can be reached on +41 79 455 4112 or at julia.aubry.suisse@gmail.com, and she posts her work on Instagram as @julia_aubry_photo.

The wedding page lists ten wedding galleries, from Laetitia and Antoine to Pauline and Diego. Laetitia and Antoine's testimonial calls her "très professionnelle et à l'écoute de nos attentes" (very professional and attentive to what we wanted), and says they booked her for their wedding after a photo session and were not disappointed.

What the site does not answer

The wedding packages do not state a delivery time. Her portrait packages give a preparation time of 10 days to 1 month depending on the season, but the site does not say whether weddings follow the same timing. Travel costs for weddings are not listed: the portrait prices mention fuel costs, but the wedding packages say nothing about travel, which matters for a wedding far from the Gruyère or abroad. The site is written in French and does not say whether she works in English, so an English-speaking couple should ask in the first message. It also does not mention a second photographer.

Who she suits

Aubry suits couples marrying in the Gruyère, around Fribourg or in Montreux, Vevey and Lausanne who want elegant, natural pictures and clear prices from the start. The short Cérémonie package works for a civil ceremony or a small wedding, and the Party package covers a full day at a price well documented in advance. The caveats for couples from abroad are the French-only site and the open questions on travel costs and delivery time.