Hochzeitsfilm Schweiz

Hochzeitsfilm Schweiz is run by Anja Davatz, a videographer from Köniz, Bern, who specializes in candid, emotional wedding films. She films using iPhones, professional audio equipment, a drone and a stabilization system. Her approach prioritizes authentic moments and unguarded reactions from guests, rather than formal or staged coverage. You can reach her by phone at 076 498 08 21 or by email at anjadavatz@gmail.com.

Anja's Background and Approach

Anja holds a bachelor's degree in Camera Arts and has worked in photo and above all video since 2018, sometimes in journalism, sometimes in the communications industry, but she says always most happily at weddings. Her site emphasizes that she brings a calm, unobtrusive presence to weddings. She describes her method as being close to the action while showing unguarded, authentic moments without contrived setups. She says she often hears guests tell her they did not notice her all evening, because she moves discreetly with a phone rather than a large camera rig, and because guests are used to the sight of phones and relax in front of them.

Her philosophy centers on the idea that a wedding video is like a living photograph album, but it contains not just images but also voices, music, celebration, and the ability to relive the day more intensely than photos alone permit. She recommends that couples hire both a photographer and videographer, noting that photos can be easily sent and displayed while videos offer a different and complementary way to preserve memories.

She emphasizes that video creates a permanent record not just for the couple but for future generations. She asks how much we would give to hear our parents' voices and see their movements and laughter from their own wedding day. A wedding video, she argues, becomes increasingly valuable as time passes.

The Wedding Package and Pricing

Hochzeitsfilm Schweiz offers a stated wedding package with a clear structure and published pricing. The base wedding video package costs CHF 1,750 and includes 6 hours of her presence at the wedding, a finished video of approximately 5 minutes in length, a pre-wedding consultation where you meet and plan together, video delivery within a maximum of 6 weeks, and the use of at least 2 iPhones plus drone footage (weather and location permitting).

The video itself combines the ceremony and speeches with 1 to 3 licensed royalty-free songs of the couple's choosing. Anja notes that couples can select music that reflects their taste, and she acknowledges that their music preferences may change over time, but the song choice reflects what they loved at the time of their wedding.

A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure the booking date. The remaining balance is invoiced after the wedding. She describes this as industry-standard terms, and she goes through the full contract terms during a video call before the wedding day.

Add-On Services and Customization

Beyond the base package, several add-on services are available. Each additional hour at the celebration costs CHF 170. A 7-minute wedding film instead of the 5-minute version costs CHF 200. A 30-second reel delivered the next day costs CHF 120.

Couples can order additional videos delivered after the wedding: the complete ceremony, the complete speeches or the complete first dance, each at CHF 300. At CHF 400 each come the complete raw footage (a film several hours long, without color correction or music), a second videographer for four hours to add perspectives on the key moments (recommended from 70 guests), and guest messages, where an iPhone is left out for the whole wedding so guests can record a message for the couple, which she then edits together. An interview film, in which either the couple tell their story or relatives talk about them, costs CHF 500; it is produced a few weeks before the wedding and shown at the celebration, and childhood photos are welcome.

A livestream of the ceremony for guests who cannot attend costs CHF 500. If Anja may show the finished film in her portfolio, couples receive a 10% discount on the total price. Couples who prefer privacy can say so: she then shows neither the film nor any part of it on her website or social media. She also says she is open to discussing a lower price when a couple's date is not in high demand (she names summer Saturdays as the busy dates) and the budget is tight.

Equipment and Technical Capabilities

Anja's technical setup is modern and well-considered. Her primary camera is an iPhone 16 Pro, which she uses to film video in full HD or 4K, emphasizing the cinematic quality and color saturation possible with this device. If requested and for an additional fee, she will film the entire day using Sony A7 R IV and Sony A7 R V cameras instead, which she describes as very light-sensitive and well-suited for indoor ceremonies in dim locations.

She uses a DJI gimbal (stabilizer) to ensure shake-free footage. For audio, she uses black and white lavalier microphones from Rode, which she places on the bride and groom or on the officiant or pastor. This setup ensures clear ceremony audio even when babies are crying and guests are emotional in the background. She also uses tripods and monopods during the ceremony and operates a DJI drone for aerial shots when weather and location permit.

She notes that the iPhone handles most lighting situations well, but when a ceremony takes place primarily indoors in a dim space, she recommends switching to the Sony cameras for better visual quality.

Editing Timeline and Revision

The draft video is sent to couples for review through online sharing. The finished highlight film is delivered on a USB stick or via download link, depending on the couple's preference. One revision round is included in the standard package. After the initial revision, Anja is happy to accept further change requests but will invoice them separately.

The delivery time depends on the add-ons chosen. Anja says she tries to deliver as quickly as possible, and that in the extreme case couples wait a maximum of 6 weeks. Since summer 2024 she also offers content creation at weddings, with several short videos plus all the footage of the day.

Geographic Service Area and Travel

Anja lives in Bern and works as a wedding videographer across Switzerland. She says she is booked most often for weddings in the cantons of Aargau, Bern, Zürich, Zug and Luzern, and that she loves mountain weddings and out-of-the-way locations. The site describes travel costs in two places: the FAQ says the journey is charged on the basis of a half-fare card and second-class public transport from Bern, with travel time billed at half her hourly rate, while the section on her service area says travel is not charged as working time and only the public transport ticket appears as an expense. Couples should ask which applies. She stresses that travel costs are the only expenses and that there is no small print.

She specifies that no catering arrangement is necessary, but notes that she appreciates vegan food if a wedding lasts longer than 5 hours. For vegan weddings in general, she offers a discount.

Who This Suits

Hochzeitsfilm Schweiz suits couples who want a documentary style of wedding video and value candid moments over formal setups. Filming with phones is a deliberate choice: she argues it keeps guests relaxed and lets her react instantly in hectic moments, which suits small weddings and church ceremonies where a large camera would stand out.

The clear pricing, published packages, and straightforward booking process make this accessible for couples who want to understand upfront what they are getting and what it costs. The detailed FAQ and transparency about equipment choices, editing timelines, and revision processes offer a high level of clarity about what to expect.

Couples planning a mountain wedding will note that she names these as a favorite, and that the drone is included when weather and location allow. For weddings where some guests cannot travel from abroad, the ceremony livestream is a practical extra, and the guest message video gathers greetings from an international crowd.

The whole site is in German, ending with a line in Swiss German, and it says nothing about working in English; couples from abroad should raise this in the first video call. Couples who want budget clarity will appreciate the itemized add-ons, and extra hours at a published rate let couples with long days extend coverage.

It is less suited to couples who want a long, full-day edit as the main product, since the core film runs about 5 minutes (7 as an add-on), or to couples who need a large-camera production as standard. The base package covers 6 hours of presence, so a day with an early ceremony and a late party will need extra hours.