Frequently asked questions

You send a free availability request with your date, place and type of shoot, and we check which suitable photographers are free. We then reply personally with a proposal that names the photographer, the package and the price. The booking is confirmed only when you accept that proposal.

Yes, the request is free and does not commit you to anything. It only asks us to check availability and prepare a proposal. You decide afterwards whether to accept it.

Give the date (or a range of dates), the town or area you will be in, the type of shoot and how many people will be in the photos. Add anything that changes the plan: a surprise proposal, a preferred time such as sunrise, a language you need, or a place you have in mind. The more specific the request, the more precise the proposal.

As early as your travel dates are fixed, especially for summer weekends, sunset slots and popular places such as Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt. Independent photographers take a limited number of sessions per day, and the golden-hour slots go first. Earlier requests simply leave more photographers to choose from.

You can always ask, and short-notice requests are sometimes possible. Whether a photographer is free depends on the date, the place and the time of day, so we cannot promise it in advance. Send the request with your exact dates and we will tell you what is available.

Yes, mention the photographer by name in your request if you have seen their profile on our photographers page. If they are free on your date, the proposal can name them. If not, we suggest other photographers whose work suits your shoot.

Your booking is confirmed when you accept the proposal we send you. Until then nothing is reserved, and the proposal states what you need to do to accept it, including any payment terms. Check the date, time, meeting point and package before accepting.

Contact us as soon as you know, and we will ask your photographer whether the new date or time works. Whether a change is free, and how late it can be made, depends on the terms in your proposal. Changes to a sunrise or sunset slot are the hardest to accommodate, so the earlier the better.

Sessions through Alpiora start from CHF 250 for a short express shoot and from CHF 390 for a classic one-hour session. Proposal photography starts from CHF 650, family sessions from CHF 450, and any shoot in an Alpine location from CHF 650. The full list of starting prices is on our pricing page.

Because each photographer sets their own package and price at or above the platform’s starting prices. The final figure depends on the photographer, the place, the date, the time of day, the duration and any add-ons. Your proposal states the exact price before you commit.

The main factors are the duration, the location, the date and the add-ons. Weekends, sunrise or sunset slots, mountain locations, travel between several places, video, drone footage and an extra hour all raise the price above the starting figure. For a detailed breakdown, read what a photographer costs in Switzerland.

Any session in an Alpine location, such as Zermatt, Grindelwald, Interlaken or St. Moritz, starts from CHF 650. Mountain shoots usually take longer, depend on trains and cable cars, and need more planning around the weather. The Alpine starting price reflects that extra time.

Usually not: your own tickets for trains, cable cars and any paid sites are your cost, and the photographer’s travel is either included in the package or listed separately in your proposal. Mountain railway fares vary by season and route, so check current prices with the operator. Your proposal says exactly which travel costs are included.

Payment terms are stated in your proposal, including the amount, the method and when it is due. They can differ between photographers and packages. Read them before accepting, and ask us if anything is unclear.

Some photographers ask for a deposit to hold the date and some ask for payment in full in advance. Whether a deposit applies, and how much, is set out in your proposal. Nothing is charged for sending an availability request.

Cancellation terms are set per booking and stated in your proposal, so check them before you accept. Typically they say until when you can cancel without charge and what applies after that. If you think your plans may change, ask about the terms before booking.

You agree the place, the time and a signal with the photographer in advance, and they wait nearby looking like any other visitor. When you kneel, they photograph the moment and then usually continue with relaxed couple portraits. Proposal photography starts from CHF 650.

They take position before you arrive, typically with a longer lens a little distance away, and behave like a tourist taking pictures of the view. You agree an exact spot and a signal, such as stopping at a particular bench or railing. After the question, they walk over and introduce themselves.

Give them an ordinary reason to be at the spot at that hour, such as a sunset walk, dinner nearby or a planned excursion. Avoid over-dressing for the cover story, and keep messages with us and the photographer on your own phone. The photographer can adapt if you arrive late or approach from a different side.

Yes, proposal photo and video starts from CHF 850 and adds footage of the moment and the time around it. Whether it is filmed by the same photographer or a second person depends on the package in your proposal. Mention video in your request so we only suggest photographers who offer it.

Good proposal spots combine a view, a clear place to kneel and some privacy at your chosen hour. Lakeshores in Iseltwald and Lucerne, the Lauterbrunnen valley, viewpoints above Zermatt and the Lavaux vineyards are common choices. Our guide to proposal locations in Switzerland compares them spot by spot.

Most proposal sessions continue with portraits of the two of you, since the remaining time is part of the package. The photographer suggests a few nearby spots and helps you relax after the moment. If you prefer a shorter session, say so when planning.

Talk to the photographer about a back-up plan when booking: a second date, a covered spot, or a later time the same day. How weather changes are handled depends on the terms in your proposal. For a full plan, see our Switzerland proposal photography guide.

It depends on the package: an express session is about 30 minutes, a classic one about 60 minutes, and premium, honeymoon and Alpine sessions around 90 minutes. Multi-location sessions, photo tours and full-day coverage last from about 2.5 hours up to a full day. The duration is stated in your proposal.

You agree a precise meeting point before the day, usually a station, a hotel entrance or a landmark near the first spot. In mountain villages it is often the valley or mountain station of a train or cable car. The meeting point and time are confirmed with your booking.

Wear clothes you feel comfortable in, in solid or softly patterned colours that suit each other rather than match exactly. Bring a warm layer for mountain locations, as temperatures drop with altitude and after sunset, and choose shoes that can handle cobbles or gravel paths. Our guide on what to wear goes through colours and fabrics by setting and season.

No. Most clients are not models, and the photographer guides you with simple prompts such as walking, turning towards each other or looking at the view. The first minutes are for getting comfortable, and the photos usually improve as you relax.

Yes, mention everyone who will be in the photos, including pets, in your request. For young children, a short session at a time of day that fits their routine works better than a long one. Check whether pets are allowed on the trains, boats or cable cars you plan to use.

Let the photographer know as soon as you can. Sessions usually end at the agreed time because photographers often have other bookings, so arriving late can shorten your session. In the mountains, allow for train connections and queues at cable cars.

You and the photographer decide together whether to shoot as planned, move to a covered spot, change the time or reschedule. Light rain can still produce good photos, but heavy rain or storms usually mean moving the session. The rescheduling terms are set out in your proposal, so check them before booking.

The photographer checks the forecast and advises you, usually the day before and again on the morning of the shoot. The terms in your proposal state how weather changes are handled, for example whether a new date is offered without charge. Safety always comes first in the mountains.

Cloud around peaks such as the Matterhorn or the Eiger can clear within an hour or stay all day, and nobody can predict it with certainty. In summer, clouds often build over the mountains during the afternoon, so an early start gives you a better chance of a clear view. The photographer can also shift to spots where the mountain is not the whole story, such as villages, lakeshores and forests.

Yes, winter sessions work well in places like Zermatt, Grindelwald and St. Moritz, and snow gives bright, clean backgrounds. Days are short and it is cold, so sessions are usually planned around the midday or afternoon light and warm clothes. Photographers who shoot in winter will advise on footwear and the paths that are open.

There is no single best season: summer brings green valleys and open high-altitude lifts, autumn gives colour and softer light, winter brings snow, and spring brings blossom in the lowlands. Crowds are thinner outside July and August. Our guide to the best time for a photoshoot compares the seasons and times of day.

Not all of them. Many mountain lifts close for maintenance for a few weeks in spring and late autumn, and some high routes run only in summer. Check the operator’s timetable for your dates, and the photographer will suggest alternatives if a lift is closed.

Alpiora covers cities, lakes and mountain destinations across Switzerland, from Zurich, Geneva and Basel to Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, Lugano and St. Moritz. You can see every destination and what it suits on our locations page. If your place is not listed, ask anyway in your request.

Yes, starting at your hotel is common, especially if the hotel has a terrace, garden or lake view worth photographing. Some hotels have rules about photography on their premises, so ask them first. Mention the hotel in your request so the photographer can plan the route.

Yes, a multi-location session covers two or more places in about 2.5 hours and starts from CHF 850. For longer itineraries, a photo tour with travel between places starts from CHF 1,200. The time spent travelling is part of the session, so nearby places give you more time in front of the camera.

Travel to the meeting point is either included in the package or shown separately in your proposal. For mountain locations, the photographer’s train or cable-car tickets are often listed as a travel cost. You see the full price before you accept.

For a private photoshoot in ordinary public places such as streets, parks and lakeshores, a permit is not usually needed. Private properties, castles, museums, churches and hotels set their own rules and may require permission or a fee. The photographer knows the usual practice locally, but if you have a specific site in mind, check with that site directly.

Some photographers offer drone photos or video as an add-on, where the rules and the location allow it. Drone rules in Switzerland depend on the place, and many areas such as airports, nature reserves and some towns restrict flights. Mention drone footage in your request, and the photographer will check what is possible at your location.

Most mountain locations are reached by train, cable car or on foot from the village, and many villages such as Zermatt and Wengen are car-free. The photographer suggests a meeting point and tells you which connection to take. Allow extra time for connections and for the walk from the station.

The number depends on the package: as a guide, an express session typically includes around 20 edited photos, a classic session around 40 and a 90-minute session around 60. Longer sessions and full days include more. The exact number is stated in your proposal.

The delivery time is stated in your proposal and agreed before you book. It varies between photographers and with the length of the session and the season. If you need a few photos quickly, for example to share an engagement, ask whether a small preview selection is possible.

Photos are usually delivered digitally, often as a private online gallery or a download link, in high resolution. The exact format and how long the gallery stays online depend on the photographer. Download and back up your photos once you receive them.

Yes, the photos you receive are selected and edited by the photographer, typically with colour and exposure corrections in their own style. Heavy retouching, such as changing body shape or removing people from the background, is not usually included. If you need it, ask before booking.

Usually not: most photographers deliver only their selected, edited photos, since the editing is part of their work. Some offer additional unedited files on request. If this matters to you, ask before accepting the proposal.

Many photographers offer extra photos, prints or albums, but it depends on the individual photographer. Ask in your request or after the session. Prices for extras are set by the photographer.

They are independent professional photographers who work in Switzerland. Each one sets their own package and price at or above the platform’s starting prices. You can browse their profiles, portfolios and languages before you book.

Every photographer is reviewed before joining Alpiora. We look at their portfolio, their experience with the type of session, the languages they speak, their knowledge of the places they work in and their reliability. Only photographers who meet these criteria are suggested in proposals.

Languages vary from photographer to photographer and are shown on each profile. Many work in English as well as one or more of German, French and Italian. If you need a particular language, say so in your request and we will take it into account.

Yes, each photographer’s profile shows examples of their work. Your proposal names the photographer, so you can look at their portfolio before deciding. If you want to see a particular kind of session, such as proposals or families, ask us.

Local knowledge is one of the criteria photographers are reviewed on, and we suggest photographers who work in the area of your shoot. They know where the light falls at your time of day and where crowds gather. If you have a specific spot in mind, tell them in advance.

You can apply through the page for photographers. We review your portfolio, experience, languages, local knowledge and reliability. Photographers who join set their own packages and prices at or above the platform’s starting prices.

The copyright usually stays with the photographer, and you receive the right to use the photos for personal purposes. The exact scope of that use is set out in the photographer’s terms. If you need something wider, discuss it before booking.

Yes, sharing your photos privately and on your personal social media is normally part of personal use. Many photographers appreciate a credit, but check their terms for any conditions. Avoid applying filters that change the edit if the photographer is credited.

Some photographers like to show selected photos in their portfolio or on social media, but this should be agreed with you. If you prefer your photos to stay private, say so in your request or before accepting the proposal. This is especially relevant for surprise proposals and families with children.

Commercial use, such as advertising, a company website or paid promotion, usually needs a separate licence from the photographer. For personal branding sessions, the intended use should be stated in your request. The licence terms are then set out in your proposal.

We use your details to check availability, prepare your proposal and pass on to your photographer what they need to carry out the session. For a surprise proposal, tell us how you want to be contacted so nothing reaches your partner.

At popular places it is not always possible to avoid other people entirely, but photographers choose angles, times and positions to keep backgrounds clean. Early mornings are the quietest time at well-known spots. Removing people in editing is not usually included, so ask if it matters to you.