Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·6 min read
Confetti Toss Photos: Best Types of Confetti for Your Pictures
A confetti exit is one of the most joyful moments in wedding photography — and entirely dependent on execution. Type, quantity, and briefing all determine the result.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
Should You Do a First Look on Your Wedding Day? Pros & Cons
A first look is a planned private moment before the ceremony where partners see each other for the first time on the wedding day. Here is an honest assessment of both sides of the debate.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
How to Get the Best Getting Ready Wedding Photos
The getting-ready section is typically the most emotionally rich and photographically varied part of the day. It is also the most frequently underplanned. Here is how to set it up right.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·6 min read
Height Difference Couples: How to Pose for Wedding Photos
A significant height difference is one of the most commonly over-thought aspects of wedding posing — and one of the most straightforwardly solved. Here are the techniques that work.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
How to Pose in Your Wedding Dress to Show Off the Details
How you carry and position yourself in your dress determines whether it enhances or complicates the photographs. A posing guide covering every silhouette from fitted corset gowns to ballgowns.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
I Hate Having My Photo Taken: Tips for the Camera-Shy Bride or Groom
Being uncomfortable in front of a camera is more common than being at ease with it. This guide is specifically for anyone who has avoided photographs for years and is now facing a full wedding-day portrait session.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·6 min read
What to Do With Your Hands in Wedding Photos
What to do with your hands is the most common question couples ask before their portrait session. Here is a complete, practical guide — by person and by situation.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
How to Pose for Wedding Photos: A Guide for Beginners
Most people have never been directed in front of a camera before their wedding. Here is what professional direction looks like, what to expect from your photographer, and how to feel more natural on the day.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·8 min read
Cheap Wedding Photography: What Couples Regret About Choosing Budget Photographers
The pattern is consistent: couples who chose the cheapest photographer on their shortlist are significantly more likely to feel disappointed by the results. Here is an honest look at why.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·9 min read
First Time Bride: 12 Common Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Planning a wedding for the first time means navigating a large number of decisions without prior experience. These are the mistakes that come up consistently — and how to avoid them.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
Golden Hour Wedding Timeline: When to Slip Away for the Most Beautiful Photos
Golden hour lasts roughly 20–40 minutes and moves throughout the year. Knowing exactly when it falls on your wedding date — and building it deliberately into your timeline — makes a visible difference.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·8 min read
Winter Wedding Timeline UK: How to Plan Around the 3:30pm Sunset
A winter wedding in the UK gives you roughly four hours of usable daylight. How you allocate those hours determines the quality of your natural light portraits.
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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.