Yana Skakun
About
Behind the Scenes
A transparent, honest account of how a photography session actually works — before, during and after.
Get in TouchAbout
Behind the Scenes
I believe in complete transparency about how my work is made. Photography can seem mysterious — and that mystery is sometimes cultivated deliberately. I prefer to be honest about the process, because I think it builds better trust and produces better sessions.
Below is an honest, behind-the-scenes account of what happens before you arrive, during your session, and in the weeks between your session and receiving your gallery.
Understanding the process also helps you get the most from it — so this is partly practical guide, partly a genuine invitation into how I work.
Before Your Session
I research your location, check weather forecasts, plan alternative routes and scout any I haven't visited recently. I prepare equipment, clean sensors, charge batteries and test everything. Nothing is improvised.
The Session Itself
I spend the first 10–15 minutes of every session just talking and walking — no camera out. This is the most important part. People relax, children stop performing and I start to understand the authentic dynamic I'll be documenting.
Working the Light
I'm constantly reading and reacting to light — moving people slightly, adjusting my angle, waiting for clouds to shift. Most of this happens invisibly without interrupting the session.
How Many Shots
I typically shoot 400–800 frames in a standard session. From these, I'll select and edit 40–80 final images. The selection process is rigorous — blinking eyes, transition frames and near-duplicates are all removed.
Post-Processing
Editing takes 2–4 times longer than the session itself. Each image is individually adjusted — exposure, colour balance, contrast, clarity, skin tones. I do not use batch presets applied uniformly.
Your Gallery
You receive a private online gallery via a unique link. Images are available for download at full resolution, organised and labelled. The gallery stays active for 60 days with a backup archive maintained for 12 months.
Portfolio
Gallery
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Have Questions About the Process?
I'm happy to answer anything specific about how a session with me would work for your occasion.