MAYAN STUDIO

MAYAN STUDIO is the wedding photography brand of Mário Abreu, a photographer based in Montreux on Lake Geneva, who often works alongside his wife and creative partner, Andrea. The studio's address is Rue Gambetta 22 in Clarens. They photograph weddings throughout Switzerland and across Europe, and their homepage sums up the positioning in English and French: "Based in Switzerland, Working Across Europe". For couples planning a Lake Geneva wedding, and especially one at a luxury hotel on the Swiss Riviera, their site names the venues they know and how they photograph each one.

Two photographers, one approach

Mário writes that he trained in fine arts and that his work is influenced by fashion, cinema and natural light, mixing editorial direction with sincere emotion. He approaches each celebration with artistic direction and emotional sensitivity, combining structure and intuition. He has been married since 2004, and says that is why he understands marriage not only as a photographer but from lived experience.

Andrea, he writes, brings a refined feminine sensitivity and a calm, intuitive presence. Her role is to observe with intention, catching subtle emotions, spontaneous reactions and delicate interactions, with a particular eye for small gestures and family dynamics. Her presence lets them photograph moments from different angles at the same time, notably during the preparations, the ceremony and the liveliest parts of the day. Together, the about page says, they combine "structure et émotion, direction et instinct" (structure and emotion, direction and instinct) to offer an experience that is at once editorial and deeply human.

Their homepage puts the philosophy in two short lines: "Nous ne photographions pas des poses. Nous photographions une présence" (we do not photograph poses; we photograph a presence).

How they direct a couple

The weddings page describes the method. First, Mário guides the couple gently, proposing elegant direction and simple, natural poses; then he steps back and lets the couple's connection take over. He pays attention to the details: every exchanged look, every tender gesture, every discreet expression. The homepage describes their direction as gentle but precise, never forced or artificial, and says they compose images where setting, light and the moment work together, from the architecture of a venue to the texture of a veil or the layout of a table.

Their homepage frames each wedding as an editorial narrative in which every moment becomes a chapter of the couple's story, more an emotional and visual journey than a plain reportage, and says they look for authenticity in shared glances, discreet embraces and meaningful silences. The about page adds that they believe wedding photography should be natural, elegant and meaningful, and that their role is to guide when needed and observe when the moment is real.

Venues they know around Lake Geneva

The "Autour du lac Léman" page, written partly in English, lists venues where Mário says he has photographed real weddings and that he knows and photographs regularly:

• Grand Hôtel du Lac, Vevey. A Relais & Châteaux five-star hotel on the lakeshore, which he calls one of the most refined wedding venues on Lake Geneva. He lists a lakeside ceremony option, elegant high-ceilinged reception rooms, Michelin-level gastronomy and private gardens. His own approach there: golden-hour portraits by the lake, architectural compositions, flat lays in window light and intimate couple sessions in the gardens.
• MONA Montreux. A modern lakefront venue on the Montreux promenade, with rooftop spaces, large halls with floor-to-ceiling windows and direct access to the promenade. There he uses clean lines for editorial compositions, sunset light for outdoor portraits and the city lights in the evening.
• Le Mirador Resort & Spa, Chardonne. A five-star hotel above the Lavaux vineyards, with panoramic terraces over the lake and the Alps and a spa that he suggests for wedding preparations.

His notes on the region mention the Lavaux vineyards (a UNESCO World Heritage site, as the page points out), panoramic views of the Alps and golden sunsets over the water. He writes that knowing these places in depth, their light, architecture and atmosphere, lets him anticipate the best moments, and that the late-day light reflecting off the lake gives a soft diffusion that suits editorial portraits.

Where they work

Beyond the Riviera, the weddings page names Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux, and the about page speaks of intimate weddings on Lake Geneva and celebrations in Italy and the south of France. They work with couples, the about page says, in Switzerland, France, Italy, Portugal and across Europe. Each year they accept only a limited number of weddings, to guarantee a personal, fully dedicated experience.

One review on the homepage is from Alicia and Ruben, whose civil wedding in Aubonne he photographed in April 2024. They write that he was "fantastique du début à la fin" (fantastic from start to finish), put all the guests at ease, made everyone laugh and was very professional with a real artistic touch.

Language

Most of the site is in French, but the venue page includes English descriptions and the homepage uses English headings such as "DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN SWITZERLAND". That signals they address international couples. The site does not say in so many words which languages they work in on the day, so couples should simply ask.

What the site does not settle

The site publishes no prices or packages; there is a quote-request button on the homepage and an FAQ section ("À vos questions") in the menu. The site's pages do not say how many hours a wedding day covers, whether Andrea joins every wedding (Mário writes that she often accompanies him), how many images are delivered, how long delivery takes, or whether albums are offered. Travel costs for weddings elsewhere in Europe are not mentioned.

Contact

MA.Y.AN STUDIO, Rue Gambetta 22, 1815 Clarens. Email mayan.studiophoto@gmail.com, phone +41 78 616 26 96.

Who they suit

MAYAN STUDIO suits couples planning an elegant wedding on the Swiss Riviera, particularly at the Grand Hôtel du Lac, MONA or Le Mirador, who want editorial, fashion-influenced images with light direction rather than long posed sessions. The two-person team suits days with separate preparations or a lot happening at once.

Couples who need published prices before first contact will have to ask, and couples who need a photographer fluent in English should confirm it in their first message.