Moonstories Photography

A Warm, Unscripted Approach to Wedding Photography

Moonstories Photography is the business of Janine, a wedding photographer based in Burgdorf near Bern who describes herself as a "Fotografin in Bern, schweizweit und Ausland" (a photographer in Bern, working throughout Switzerland and abroad). She photographs weddings, couples and elopements in Switzerland and across Europe, and the site marks the start of the business with "SINCE 2018". Her aim is warm, cinematic wedding and couple photography with a focus on real emotion, natural moments and a timeless look.

She calls her style a mix of documentary photography and emotional storytelling, and explains what that means in practice: "Ich beobachte, begleite, halte fest - ohne zu inszenieren" (I observe, accompany and record, without staging). At the same time she pays attention to light, movement and mood so that each picture tells the couple's story the way it felt. She believes the most beautiful pictures come when a couple is simply themselves, whether they are laughing, running, dancing or quiet.

What the Photography Covers

The footer of every page sums up the offer: wedding photographer in Bern, couple shoots, pregnancy shoots, families, and destination weddings. Elopements in Switzerland are named as well. The site's portfolio, headed "Stories", lists the work behind that claim, and it covers a wide range of settings. The page title describes these as cinematic wedding reports from Bern and across Switzerland, and each entry names the place and the couple:

• an Italian summer wedding at the Trinkhalle in Interlaken, Bernese Oberland (Gina and Nils)
• a romantic wedding at Schloss Liebegg in Gränichen (Chiara and Jérôme)
• a couple shoot in the mountains of the Bernese Oberland (Vivi and Hinrich)
• a pregnancy shoot at the Attic West Studio in Bern
• a cinematic couple shoot in Lisbon (Anastasia and Eugene)
• a destination wedding in Tuscany (Nadine and Dominic)
• an after-wedding shoot in the Swiss Alps in Appenzell (Anais and Fabian)
• a wedding in the Blumenkopf glasshouse in Frastanz, Austria (Noemi and Pascal)
• a boho wedding at the Maxililian in Solothurn (Bettina and Adrian)
• a civil ceremony at Schloss Greifensee and in Zurich (Annika and Yvo)
• a couple shoot in the mountains of Graubünden (Jessica and Gian)

For couples marrying in Switzerland, that spread matters: castle weddings, a civil ceremony, a glasshouse, mountain shoots and a boho wedding all appear, in several regions of the country.

The Trinkhalle Inspiration Shoot

One portfolio project is documented in detail. In March 2023 Janine and a photographer friend, Nikola Häsler Photography, staged an inspiration wedding shoot at the Trinkhalle am kleinen Rugen in Interlaken. The page names the suppliers: Melanie Kämpf Bloom & Paper for flowers, Meister Couture for the dress, Mannesach Modeboutique for the suit, Goldschmiede Nikola for jewelry, Jenni's Cakeart for cake and sweets, Carpe Home for candles and Moon & Sparks for stationery.

She describes it as "Ein Konzept, mit Mut zur Farbe" (a concept with the courage to use color), and she is candid about it. She writes that the project is not meant to say this is how a perfect wedding must look, that she knows that much decoration is not realistic for every real wedding, and that a wedding can be just as beautiful in a more minimal form, because it is about the couple and celebrating with the people they love. Her point is to encourage couples to think outside the box and celebrate exactly the way they want.

Janine's Background and Philosophy

On the about page she writes that photography, for her, is more than a craft; it is a language that helps us understand moments often overlooked in everyday life. She believes in the power of quiet, genuine moments, "die kleinen, feinen Details, die oft nur im Hintergrund passieren, aber alles aussagen" (the small, fine details that often happen only in the background but say everything). She does not work from a script: her photography is not staged or planned, it happens in the moment, and her images reflect reality rather than an idealized version of it. It matters to her that couples feel safe in front of her camera and do not have to prepare anything.

She describes herself as cheerful, curious and sometimes a little chaotic, fond of good food, coffee and travel, and dreaming of living by the sea one day. She lives in Burgdorf near Bern with her partner Simon, who she says carries a lot of the business in the background. Music runs while she edits, folk, indie or hip-hop depending on the mood, and the household's Birman cats, Luna and Lui, apparently consider themselves employees. A testimonial from Stephanie Widmer says Janine has an incredibly pleasant, warm manner and makes people feel natural in front of the camera.

Languages and Booking

The site is written almost entirely in German. A few English lines appear, such as "LET'S CONNECT" and an invitation to "reach out", but the substance of every page is German, and the site does not say whether she works in English. Couples from abroad should raise language in their first message. Booking starts through the "LET'S CONNECT" link. The portfolio page points to a separate "Details" page for her offer, where she invites couples to look at what she provides.

What the Site Does Not Settle

Outside that Details page, the site gives no prices, hours of coverage, number of images delivered or editing turnaround. It does not say how travel to a mountain venue or a destination abroad is charged, whether a second photographer is available, or what the deposit and cancellation terms are. These are the questions to put to her directly.

Who This Suits

Moonstories suits couples who want documentary, emotional photography with a cinematic, warm look, and who are comfortable not being posed. The portfolio shows her at home in castles, in the mountains and at a civil ceremony, as well as abroad in Tuscany, Lisbon and Austria, so couples planning an elopement or an alpine wedding in the Bernese Oberland or Graubünden will find relevant examples.

It is a less natural fit for couples who want a strictly directed, formal set of pictures, or who need prices and package details in English before a first contact. Couples from abroad should confirm language and travel costs early.