Sebastian Klehn

A Basel Photographer for Documentary Wedding Stories

Sebastian Klehn is a wedding photographer from Basel, working out of Pratteln, who says he brings experience from over 100 weddings. His site describes the approach in one line: he accompanies the day like a friend with a camera, "unauffällig, mittendrin und ohne Kitsch" (inconspicuous, in the thick of it and without kitsch). No stage directions and no "bitte lächeln" (please smile), he writes, but real emotions, spontaneous moments and honest stories. He photographs weddings in Basel, across Switzerland and beyond, and the portfolio backs that up with a wedding at Kitchen & Soul in Baden-Baden, just over the German border.

The reviews on his homepage, all shown as five-star Google reviews, repeat the same point from the couple's side. One says he has a talent for disappearing into the crowd of guests while still catching every important moment. Another couple writes that he mingled with the guests so well that they were asked several times whether he was a friend taking pictures. A third mentions that during the couple shoot he uses a little fitting music and simple tricks to relax the pair in front of the camera. The site also shows a count of 40+ reviews.

Packages and What They Cover

The offer page lists two wedding packages. The six-hour reportage starts at CHF 2,550 and includes a personal get-to-know-you meeting, support with the wedding planning, a 50-page wedding guide with tips and tricks, an online gallery for the couple and their guests, a slideshow of the highlight images, one roll of film (analog photos), Polaroid pictures taken during the wedding, and travel anywhere in Switzerland. It can be booked Monday to Sunday.

The second package covers a civil ceremony: three hours for CHF 1,190, with the get-to-know-you meeting, planning support, the online gallery and travel within Switzerland included. From May to September it can only be booked on weekdays, which matters for anyone hoping to pair a Saturday registry-office wedding with a short shoot in high season.

The page lists popular add-ons without prices: a get-to-know-you shoot before the wedding, a natural linen album with 40 pages or more, additional film photography, a second photographer, express delivery of the images within 2 weeks, and framed fine art prints. Further down, a separate album section gives a figure of its own: a wedding album from CHF 450.

Six hours is the starting point, not the norm. Klehn writes that he accompanies most couples for around 8 to 10 hours, which in his experience is the right length to record the day in all its facets without missing anything important. A couple budgeting from abroad should treat the six-hour price as the floor and ask for a quote at the length they actually need, since the page does not publish an hourly rate for the extra time.

Style and Approach

Two principles sit at the center of his offer page. The first is that pictures are unposed, genuine and emotional: he records the wedding as it happens, with the focus on honest images that reflect the couple's own story. Group photos are part of it, he writes, but the special moments and emotions are what make the day. The second principle is personal connection. He wants to be at the wedding not only as a service provider but as part of the party, a friend with a camera, and he argues that this closeness builds the trust that makes intimate, emotional pictures possible.

Whether he is the right photographer, the page says, is decided in the details, and he suggests finding out over a drink or on a video call. The video-call option is the practical one for a couple planning from abroad. Once a couple fills in the inquiry form, his Welcome Guide arrives by email with further options and details on the packages, and the site points to an FAQ section for other questions.

Where He Has Worked

The portfolio page presents a selection from over 100 wedding reportages in Basel and across Switzerland, each titled with its venue and place. The list mixes city and countryside: Schmatz in Basel, the Baur au Lac and Belvoir Park in Zurich, the Kunsthaus in Zurich, Chez Smith in Zurich, a forest clearing in Buus, the Waldhaus in Birsfelden, the Standesamt Basel, Klus 177 in Aesch, the Sissacher Fluh, La Neuveville, Villa 12 and Sandoase in Basel, Hofgut Birseck in Arlesheim and Liesberg, plus an after-wedding shoot in Riehen. For a couple choosing a venue in the Basel region, that list is a useful sign of which places he already knows. The homepage also notes that he photographs on a voluntary basis for Herzensbilder.

A Photographer and Singer Pair

His site has a page for Tanja, a wedding singer who works with him. She writes that she has sung at over 30 weddings, trained at the Freiburger Musical- und Schauspielschule, has performed in musicals and small-stage shows, and also works as a kindergarten teacher. The two present themselves as a well-practiced pair offering photography and live singing from one source.

Her packages are priced openly. For a free or church ceremony, CHF 550 covers up to four songs, coordination with the officiant on site, a preliminary meeting and running order, equipment and backing tracks, and setup with a 1-2 hour soundcheck. For a civil ceremony or christening, CHF 450 covers up to two songs on the same terms. A 45-minute live set during the aperitif costs CHF 660 with equipment and setup. Her sample songs include "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing", "I See The Light" and "The Rose", and she takes individual song requests. She describes the packages as a guide and invites couples with other ideas to write.

What the Site Leaves Open

The site is written in German, with a few English phrases in the navigation and headlines. It does not say whether he works in English on the day, which a couple from abroad should ask in the first message. Beyond Switzerland, it states no travel terms for weddings abroad. The add-ons carry no prices, and the full-day rate that most couples actually book is not published, so the Welcome Guide or a direct quote is the only way to see a realistic total. Delivery times are not stated for the standard package, although one review mentions that the images were ready very quickly.

Who This Photographer Suits

Klehn suits couples who want the day documented rather than directed, and who like the idea of a photographer who blends in with the guests. The analog film and Polaroids in the base package are a distinctive touch. The portfolio covers everything from forest clearings to the Baur au Lac, so a formal venue is no obstacle. Couples wanting a heavily staged, posed style will find the site openly argues against it, and anyone who needs a German-free planning process should confirm the language question before booking.

Booking and Contact

Inquiries go through the form on his site, by email to hello@sebastianklehn.com or by phone on +41 79 535 50 06. The address is Schlossstrasse 39, 4133 Pratteln. The singer's page asks couples to check their spam folder if no reply arrives and to confirm that a "Vielen Dank für eure Nachricht" (thank you for your message) confirmation appears after sending; if it does not, they should write directly to the email address. His wedding work is on Instagram at @sebastianklehn.wedding.