Michael Christen

Editorial wedding reportage from Bern

Michael Christen is a wedding photographer based in and around Bern who describes his work as editorial wedding reportage. His homepage headline reads "Bern, Schweiz, weltweit" (Bern, Switzerland, worldwide), and he says his home ground is around Bern, Solothurn and Lucerne while he works across all of Switzerland. His site is in German.

He sums up his approach in one sentence: "Ich verbinde dokumentarische Reportage mit einem editorialen, stilvollen Blick" (I combine documentary reportage with an editorial, stylish eye). A large part of the day, he writes, is photographed unobserved and genuine, and an equally important part in deliberately composed, aesthetic images that also stand on their own. Whether it is a small, intimate ceremony, a destination wedding or a big party, the result is a gallery with a recognizable signature, "mit rotem Faden" (with a common thread) from morning until late at night, rather than a random collection of pictures. He calls the visual language clear and modern.

Who he is

His about section is refreshingly informal. He is 34, married his wife Lea in 2025 and lives with her in and around Bern, which he calls his home: the place to rest, discover new things, enjoy festivals or just be. He is sporty (except, he admits, in his winter fattening phase), rides a road bike, runs and walks their dog, Pacho. People describe him, he writes, as humorous, annoying and extroverted, and he says he hides that well at weddings because he knows what the day is about: the love between two people, a day that happens only once, not the perfect picture or other side issues.

That, he says, is why he loves wedding photography: he gets to record wonderful, emotional stories and give them an aesthetic that stays timeless and is immediately recognizable as his. Elsewhere on the page he describes photography as a description of life, made of light and shadow, usually not perfectly in focus, and all the more wonderful and unique for it.

He is a single photographer rather than a studio team, and the site is branded Michael Christen Photography.

How booking works

The FAQ on booking is answered in full. Couples write through the contact form with a few details, and he says the date, the place and an approximate guest count are enough. Next comes a personal conversation, online or in person in Bern, to see whether the two sides fit, humanly and in terms of content. He explains why that matters to him: at their wedding, the couple takes him along on a very intimate, personal and emotional journey, so the chemistry between couple and photographer has to be right.

For couples planning from abroad, the online option is the practical one, and the fact that he treats that first conversation as a real test of fit is a good sign for a relationship that has to work at a distance.

The meeting the week before

The second FAQ block explains how he stays in touch before the wedding. He always sets up a meeting, usually in the week before the wedding, to go through everything again. By then, he points out, the weather forecast is usually known, the final timeline is fixed, and details like getting ready, the first look and the couple shoot can be discussed once more. He also usually contacts the best man, maid of honor or master of ceremonies, because couples often do not know everything that is planned for their day, and there are surprises waiting for them. That way, he writes, he is always in the right place at the right time and does not miss an important, funny or emotional moment.

Venues he knows

His homepage names three favorite wedding venues around Bern:

• Restaurant Schöngrün, Bern. He describes an exclusive setting with a light-filled orangery and a terrace that also works for free ceremonies, excellent food and an attentive, well-practiced host team.
• Schloss Hünigen, Bern region. A quiet venue whose garden he compares to an oasis, suitable for free ceremonies indoors and out. Because guests can stay the night on site, he says the day runs in a very relaxed way.
• Zehendermätteli, Bern. Right on the Aare, in a quiet, natural setting close to the city, which he recommends especially in summer.

Recent galleries on the homepage are from Tess and Mauro, Muriel and Joel, and Géraldine and Nicola.

What past couples say

The homepage shows three reviews in German. Andrea and Nino write that he supported them with valuable tips during the preparation, was at their side all day with his charming manner, and caught a surprising number of real moments. Celine and Alexander say everything ran smoothly beforehand and that on the day he was calm itself, almost like an old friend of the family. Viola and Christoph write that it clicked from the first meeting and that he was always present but never intrusive, fitting in well with their guests.

What the site leaves open

The homepage lists FAQ questions on price, how far ahead to book, whether he covers weddings outside Bern, how long he stays, whether a second photographer is needed for large weddings, what happens if it rains, how many images couples receive, delivery time and format, a guest gallery, and printing and sharing rights. The answers are not shown on the homepage, and there is a separate Preise (prices) page in the menu. Couples should read those pages or ask him directly; the homepage itself publishes no price.

The site does not say whether he works in English. For couples from abroad, that is the first question, along with travel costs if the wedding is outside his home area.

Contact is through the form on the site (ANFRAGEN), and he posts recent work on Instagram.

Who he suits

Michael Christen suits couples marrying around Bern, Solothurn or Lucerne, or elsewhere in Switzerland, who want a mix of candid reportage and strong, composed portraits, and a photographer who prepares carefully with them and with their witnesses. His venue notes make him an obvious name for couples booked at Schöngrün, Schloss Hünigen or the Zehendermätteli.

The caveats are the German-only site and the fact that his prices sit on a separate page, so couples should check both language and budget early.