Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Photography Tips
17 April 2026·6 min read
Summer Engagement Photography in England: The Case for June and July
June and July combine the longest golden hour windows of the year, the richest landscape backdrops, and genuinely comfortable outdoor conditions. Here is why they are the finest months for engagement photography in England.
Read More
Photography Tips
17 April 2026·6 min read
Outdoor Family Portraits in Summer: Getting the Best from the Season
Summer outdoor family portraits have a distinct quality — warmth, abundance, an ease that comes from long evenings and children who want to be outside. Getting that quality on purpose requires understanding light, timing, and season.
Read More
Photography Tips
17 April 2026·6 min read
Summer Mini Photography Sessions: How to Book, What to Wear, What to Expect
Summer mini sessions are short, structured appointments at a photographer's chosen outdoor location during golden hour. Here is everything you need to know about booking, preparing, and getting the best results.
Read More
Photography Tips
17 April 2026·7 min read
Summer Family Photography: A Guide to Outdoor Sessions
Summer in England offers long evenings, warm golden light, and landscapes at their richest green. For outdoor family photography, this window — late May through August — is one of the most productive of the whole year.
Read More
Destination Weddings
17 April 2026·8 min read
Tuscany Vineyard Wedding Photography: Chianti, Val d'Orcia and the Cypress Driveways
Tuscany is the world's most celebrated wine landscape for wedding photography — rolling hills planted with Sangiovese vines, cypress-lined driveways, stone farmhouses, and the UNESCO Val d'Orcia valley.
Read More
Wedding Tips
17 April 2026·11 min read
What to Wear for an Elopement: Outfit Guide for Intimate Ceremonies
An elopement is one of the most personal days of your life — your clothing should be equally genuine. A complete guide to what to wear for an elopement or micro-wedding photography session.
Read More
Wedding Tips
16 April 2026·7 min read
Working With a Wedding Photographer: A Guide for Planners
The planner-photographer relationship shapes the entire wedding day. Here is a practical guide to building photography-friendly timelines, effective communication, and a trusted supplier network.
Read More
Wedding Tips
16 April 2026·7 min read
Videographer and Photographer: Do You Need Both at Your Wedding?
Photography and video capture the same moments in fundamentally different ways. Here is an honest guide to whether you need both, what each delivers that the other cannot, and how they work together.
Read More
Wedding Tips
16 April 2026·7 min read
Wedding DJ vs Live Band: Which Is Right for Your Reception?
Both can create an unforgettable evening — but in very different ways. Here is an honest comparison of wedding DJs and live bands to help you make the right choice for your guests and venue.
Read More
Wedding Tips
16 April 2026·7 min read
Hair and Makeup Artists for Your Wedding Day: How to Choose
Your hair and makeup artist sets the tone for the entire wedding morning. Here is how to find the right person, book the trial, and ensure the morning runs smoothly for your photographer too.
Read More
Wedding Tips
16 April 2026·8 min read
Sicily Wedding Photography: Baroque Towns, Volcanic Landscapes & Azure Sea
Sicily is Italy's most dramatic island — Greek temples, Baroque UNESCO towns, the smouldering cone of Etna, and the deep blue Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts. A destination wedding photography guide to the island.
Read More
Destination Weddings
16 April 2026·8 min read
Amalfi Coast Elopement Guide: Positano, Ravello and the Cinque Terre Cliffs
The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy's most dramatic coastlines — vertical cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, pastel-coloured villages clinging to the rock, and the UNESCO-protected landscape stretching from Positano to Vietri sul Mare.
Read More
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.