YOUR STORY, UNSCRIPTED

A Day Like No Other

I’m not here to direct your day.
I’m here to witness it—quietly, honestly, and with heart.

I don’t believe in staged smiles or perfect poses. I believe in truth. In the way someone looks at you when no one else is watching. In the tears that come without warning. In the chaos, the calm, and everything in between. That’s where the real story lives.

As a documentary wedding photographer, I’m drawn to the raw, the honest, the beautifully unfiltered. My approach is rooted in presence—because only by being present can we truly see. From quiet glances to bursts of laughter, I follow the feeling. Not just how your day looked, but how it felt.

What I offer is more than coverage—it’s a deeply personal way of preserving what matters most.

You won’t remember every detail.
But you’ll remember how it felt. That’s what I hold onto.

THE UNSEEN BEAUTY OF THE DAY

No poses. No repetition. No interference.

Your wedding day isn’t a performance—it’s a story.
And the most powerful stories aren’t directed; they’re felt.

I don’t chase moments—I wait for them.
For the silence between words, the stolen glances, the deep breaths before a vow. These are the fragments that shape a memory, the ones that stay long after the flowers fade.

More than images—it’s presence.
I don’t just photograph weddings—I witness them. The laughter, the stillness, the chaos wrapped in love. I let the day unfold naturally, without turning it into a production. Because the most meaningful moments never need to be staged.

My intention is simple: to preserve the essence of your day with truth and tenderness— so years from now, you don’t just see what happened— you feel it all over again.

Some stories unfold in whispers.
Those are the ones I listen for.

From quiet details to loud joy.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT.

From the gentle quiet of morning preparations
to the blur of dancing and midnight embraces—
I follow the rhythm of your day, not a checklist.

I work intuitively and unobtrusively, moving through the day with quiet presence rather than control.
There’s no forced posing, no repetition—just a calm focus on what truly matters: emotion, connection, and atmosphere. The real story.

My main focus is timeless black and white photography.
But you’ll also receive color versions of most images—carefully selected and edited to complement the emotional tone of your day.

While I specialize in a documentary style, that doesn’t mean we can’t make room for a few traditional family portraits if you want them. I approach these with the same care—quick, efficient, and respectful—so we can return to the flow of your day.

Because the real beauty often lives in the moments between.

The beauty of the day isn’t in the timeline.
It’s in the unexpected

STORYTELLING THAT STANDS STILL

Because connection is what lasts.

This isn’t about capturing perfection.
It’s about witnessing what’s real—and letting that be enough.

From first light to final dance, I’m there for the full story. Not as an outsider with a camera, but as someone fully present in the room, feeling the same pulse as everyone else. That’s how meaningful images are made.

Your individuality—beyond roles, expectations, or Pinterest boards—
emerges not in how you look, but in how you connect.
In the way your hand reaches for theirs. In the way your mother exhales when she sees you ready. In the way the light falls across the room when no one notices.

These are the moments I hold onto.
And the photographs that remain are more than just memories—
they’re reminders of who you were, together, in that fleeting, beautiful now.

You live your day. I stay present.

HOW I WORK

You deserve more than just coverage.
You deserve presence.
Not someone who interrupts, rearranges, or orchestrates—but someone who sees. Someone who stays grounded in the moment with you.

That’s why I offer full-day coverage as my standard—because a story doesn’t start at the ceremony and end after cake. It starts in the stillness of the morning, builds through the laughter, quiet tears, and wild joy—and lingers in the silence after the music stops.

I don’t rush. I don’t over-direct.
And I don’t disappear when the timeline ends. I stay with the feeling.

Each image is shaped by hand—edited with a timeless eye and a deep respect for the emotional weight it carries. If needed, I work with a second shooter or bring in a trusted videographer to expand the narrative.

Whether it’s a wedding in Vienna or an elopement far away—what matters most is that it feels true to you.

What they say:


Wir haben gelacht, geweint und einfach gelebt – und Sascha hat all das eingefangen, ohne dass wir es überhaupt bemerkt haben. So ehrlich, so schön. - Milena & Simon, Austria

Sascha hat so besondere, kreative Ideen – und trotzdem drängt er sich nie in den Vordergrund. Er hat die Stimmung unseres Tages so echt und unaufdringlich eingefangen. Einfach empfehlenswert! - Eva & Markus, Greece

Wir lieben die Fotos. Danke sie sind unvergesslich!!! Mit ihnen bleiben diese Momente für uns immer erhalten. - Ute & Georg, Austria

More from those who trusted me with their day—and what stayed with them after.

PRICING & BOOKING

Intention first. Then everything else.

If my approach resonates, we begin with a conversation.
No pressure. No pitch. Just space to connect and sense whether this is the right fit—for both of us.

Because this isn’t just about photography.
You’re choosing someone to be there—quietly, attentively—for some of the most intimate and meaningful hours of your life.
That’s a presence I don’t offer lightly.

What you receive:
— Full-day documentary coverage
— Black & white and color edits
— Honest, unstaged moments that reflect the truth of your day

What you won’t get:
— Forced poses
— Styled Pinterest recreations
— Anything that doesn’t feel like you

I only take on a limited number of weddings each year to give every couple the presence and care they deserve.
Custom proposals are shaped individually—based on time, location, and your unique vision.

contact@van-der-werf.com

Based in Vienna. Available wherever the journey calls.

German or English—write in the language that feels most like you.