Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Venue Spotlights
6 April 2026·8 min read
Wedding Photography in Royston: Hertfordshire Borders & Hidden History
Royston is one of Cambridgeshire's most intriguing border towns — the mysterious Royston Cave hiding medieval chalk carvings beneath the High Street, Therfield Heath's wide downland views, and a charming market town streetscape right on the Icknield Way.
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Venue Spotlights
5 April 2026·7 min read
South Farm Wedding Photography: Colourful Royston at Its Best
South Farm near Royston is one of Cambridgeshire's most vibrant and eclectic wedding venues — a working farm turned spectacular event space with outstanding decoration.
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Venue Spotlights
5 April 2026·6 min read
Quy Mill Hotel Wedding Photography: Intimate Cambridgeshire Elegance
Quy Mill Hotel near Cambridge combines a working watermill, exposed beams, and a formal garden into one of Cambridgeshire's most intimate wedding venues.
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Venue Spotlights
5 April 2026·7 min read
Chippenham Park Wedding Photography: An Honest Review
A photographer's honest review of Chippenham Park near Newmarket — the walled garden, Adam ballroom, and why this Cambridgeshire country house rewards preparation.
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Photography Tips
5 April 2026·7 min read
Christmas Engagement Photography in Cambridge: Festive Lights & Winter Markets
Cambridge at Christmas is magical for engagement photography — the Market Square stalls glowing with lights, the shop fronts along King's Parade decorated for the season, and the extraordinary tradition of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College Chapel broadcast worldwide.
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Wedding Tips
5 April 2026·9 min read
Winter Wedding Photography in Cambridge: Candlelight, Cloisters & Frosty Mornings
Winter is Cambridge's most intimate wedding season — early blue hour at 4pm on King's Parade, frost on The Backs, candlelight glowing through the Chapel windows, and the colleges at their most enclosed and atmospherically beautiful. A complete guide to winter Cambridge weddings.
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Photography Tips
5 April 2026·8 min read
Best Spots for Autumn Leaf Engagement Photos Near Cambridge (2026)
From the golden-copper plane trees along The Backs to the beech woodland at Wandlebury Country Park and the autumn borders at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge has outstanding autumn leaf photography locations — here's exactly where and when to shoot for the most spectacular results.
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Wedding Tips
5 April 2026·9 min read
Autumn Wedding Photography in Cambridge: October Leaves, Mist & College Atmosphere
Autumn is Cambridge's most atmospheric wedding season — plane trees on The Backs turn amber and gold, mist rises from the Cam at dawn, the colleges are quieter, and the low October light creates a magical warm quality across King's Parade and Grantchester Meadows.
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Photography Tips
5 April 2026·9 min read
Golden Hour Photography Locations in Cambridge: The Complete Guide
Cambridge is transformed by golden hour light — the honey-stone college façades, the Cam reflecting pink and gold, King's Parade glowing in the setting sun. But the timing and direction change dramatically through the year. A complete guide to golden hour photography across Cambridge.
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Family Tips
5 April 2026·10 min read
What to Wear for Children's Portrait Sessions: Age-by-Age Guide
Children's portraits succeed on comfort and joy, not outfits. A practical age-by-age guide — babies to teens — for dressing children beautifully and getting the best possible photos.
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Newborn Tips
5 April 2026·7 min read
Maternity photoshoot guide: When, where & what to wear
Your pregnancy is beautiful and fleeting. A maternity session between 28–34 weeks captures that glow perfectly. Here's everything you need to know to prepare.
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Wedding Tips
4 April 2026·9 min read
Summer Wedding Photography in Cambridge: Long Evenings & Punts at Golden Hour
Cambridge in summer is extraordinary for wedding photography — the golden hour stretches until 9:30pm in June, the city empties of tourists after 7pm, and the River Cam at dusk with punts passing under old bridges is one of the most romantic settings in England.
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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.