Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Photography Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Why Budgeting £500 for a Wedding Photographer is Unrealistic in 2026
A £500 wedding photography budget sounds modest, but against real UK costs it rarely covers a full day of insured, experienced coverage. Here's an honest breakdown of the numbers and what to do if your budget is genuinely tight.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Why an 11am Ceremony is a Timeline Mistake (And What to Do Instead)
An 11am ceremony sounds relaxed but often compresses hair and make-up into a pre-dawn sprint and pushes couple portraits into flat midday light. Here's how to build a timeline that protects the photography either way.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
How to Pack Your Wedding Dress for International Flights
Marrying abroad? Here is how to carry your wedding dress on a flight without a crease disaster — from garment bag choice to folding technique to fixing wrinkles on arrival.
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Venue Guides
10 July 2026·9 min read
Planning a Chateau Wedding in France: What You Need to Know
From legal paperwork and choosing a region to golden-hour timing and honest budgeting, a practical UK photographer's guide to planning a chateau wedding in France.
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Elopement
10 July 2026·8 min read
The Best Time of Year to Elope in Iceland
From endless summer light to winter northern lights, every Icelandic season offers something different for eloping couples. Here is an honest, season-by-season guide to choosing the right window for your day.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Destination Wedding Cost: France vs Italy (2026 Guide)
A working wedding photographer's honest breakdown of how destination wedding costs really compare between France and Italy — venues, catering, guest travel, season, and legalities.
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Venue Guides
10 July 2026·9 min read
Top 10 Wedding Venues in Lake Como for an Unforgettable Event
From Villa del Balbianello's famous terraces to the panoramic drama of Castello di Vezio, a UK wedding photographer's honest guide to the ten Lake Como venues worth building your day around.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
How to Legally Get Married in Italy: A Guide for UK Couples
Dreaming of an Italian wedding but confused by the legal side? Here is exactly how UK couples navigate Italian marriage law, from the Nulla Osta to the popular symbolic-ceremony route.
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Venue Guides
10 July 2026·8 min read
Outdoor Wedding Venues in Suffolk: Countryside, Gardens and Natural Settings
A photographer's guide to Suffolk's best outdoor and rural wedding venues — wildflower meadows, estuary estates, vineyard grounds, and ancient parkland settings.
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Portrait Tips
10 July 2026·10 min read
What to Wear for Portrait Photography Over 50
Portrait photography for people over 50 is about celebrating where you are now — with confidence and intention. This guide covers how to use colour, fabric, fit, necklines, and accessories to create portraits that are genuinely flattering and authentically you.
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Behind the Scenes
10 July 2026·8 min read
Behind the scenes: A spring wedding in Cambridgeshire
I want to take you behind the scenes of a beautiful spring wedding in Cambridgeshire — from the first text with the couple to the moment I delivered their gallery.
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Portrait Tips
8 July 2026·10 min read
What to Wear for Street and Urban Portrait Photography
Urban portrait photography uses the city's architecture, texture, and energy as a backdrop for striking, contemporary portraits. Clothing needs to work with the visual language of the urban environment — this guide covers urban tones, coordinating with architecture, style registers, city light, and what to avoid.
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Photography Blog — Tips, Guides & Inspiration
Welcome to the photography blog by Yana Skakun — a professional photographer based in Cambridge, England. This journal covers everything from practical wedding planning guides and engagement session advice to family photoshoot tips, newborn photography guides, portrait session prep, and venue spotlights across Cambridgeshire, London, and East England.
Whether you're a couple planning your wedding, a family getting ready for a seasonal portrait session, or a professional preparing for a headshot shoot — you'll find honest, experience-based advice here. Every article is written from real sessions and years of capturing life's most meaningful moments across England.