Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Photography Tips
27 March 2026·7 min read
What Is a Lifestyle Portrait Session? A Practical Guide
Lifestyle portrait photography is one of the most requested formats — and one of the most misunderstood. Here is a clear explanation of what it is, who it suits, and how it differs from traditional posed portraiture.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·7 min read
Portrait Photography for Camera-Shy People: How to Get Beautiful Results
Hating having your photo taken is one of the most common feelings people bring to a portrait session. Here is why professional photography is different from every bad photo you have ever seen of yourself — and how to make the experience work.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·6 min read
How to Prepare for Your Portrait Session: A Complete UK Guide
The sessions that look effortless are the ones prepared for properly. From communicating with your photographer to what to wear and how to arrive — this is the preparation guide most people wish they had.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·6 min read
Outdoor vs Studio Portrait Sessions: Which Is Right for You?
Natural light and environmental context versus complete control and consistent output. Both formats have genuine strengths — here is a clear comparison to help you choose.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·7 min read
Portrait Photography in Cambridge: Your Complete Guide
From the riverside meadows of The Backs to bluebell Wandlebury in spring, Cambridge offers exceptional settings for portrait photography. Here is everything you need to know about booking a portrait session in Cambridge.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·6 min read
Group Headshots: Tips for Consistent Team Photography
When team headshots are taken at different times, with different photographers or different setups, the inconsistency is immediately visible. How to ensure visual consistency across a team of any size — and what to do when you need to add new members later.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·6 min read
Actor Headshots vs Commercial Headshots: Key Differences
Acting headshots and commercial headshots have fundamentally different purposes — one gets you into audition rooms, the other sells products and builds a business identity. A clear breakdown of what each requires and why the same photo rarely works for both.
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Photography Tips
27 March 2026·5 min read
Real Estate Agent Headshots: Building Trust Through Photos
Estate agents win instructions in part through personal trust — and your headshot is often the first impression a vendor or buyer forms of you. What great estate agent headshots look like and how the right portrait can actively win you business.
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Venue Spotlights
27 March 2026·9 min read
10 Romantic Engagement Photo Spots in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire has an extraordinary range of engagement shoot locations — The Backs at sunrise, Grantchester Meadows in summer, Wandlebury Country Park in bluebell season, punting on the river, and the wild fenland skies beyond the city. The definitive guide to pre-wedding shoot spots.
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Venue Spotlights
27 March 2026·8 min read
Wedding Photography at King's College Cambridge: Everything You Need to Know
King's College Chapel is the most iconic building in Cambridge — its fan-vaulted ceiling, Rubens altarpiece, and soaring Perpendicular Gothic west window create one of the most dramatic wedding ceremony spaces in England. A complete photography guide for couples marrying at King's.
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Venue Spotlights
27 March 2026·8 min read
Wedding Photography in Exeter and Torbay, Devon
Exeter and Torbay offer two very different but equally compelling Devon wedding landscapes — the cathedral city of Exeter with its medieval heart and Regency suburbs, and the painted-villa arc of Torquay's English Riviera coastline. A complete guide to wedding photography across south Devon's cities.
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Venue Spotlights
27 March 2026·8 min read
Dorset Countryside Barn Weddings: Pastoral Romance
Dorset's agricultural heartland is home to some of England's most beautiful converted barn wedding venues — flint-and-thatch farmsteads, ancient tithe barns, and working farms framed by rolling chalk hills and ancient hedgerows. A guide to barn weddings in the Dorset countryside.
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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.