Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
How Many Bridesmaids is Too Many? A Photographer's Honest Opinion
Wondering if your bridal party is too big? A working UK wedding photographer breaks down the real practical limits on getting ready rooms, timelines, and formal photos — and why the right number is rarely about headcount alone.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·7 min read
Unique Gifts to Give Your Bridesmaids on the Morning of the Wedding
From handwritten letters to practical emergency kits, here is what actually works as a bridesmaid morning gift — and how to time the exchange so it becomes one of your favourite wedding photographs.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Mismatching Bridesmaid Dresses: How They Look in Professional Photos
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses can look effortlessly beautiful in wedding photographs, or slightly chaotic — the difference comes down to palette, formality and fabric choices made months before the big day.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
How to Write Your Vows for Photos on the Morning of the Wedding
Vow books make some of the quietest, most personal photographs of a wedding day — but only if your vows are finished in time. Here is how to write them, when, and how to have them photographed well.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Drinking Champagne Before the Ceremony: Fun Morning Photo Ideas
A champagne toast on the getting-ready morning is one of the most requested wedding moments to photograph. Here is how to get the pour, the light, and the reactions right.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
First Look With Your Bridesmaids: How to Set It Up Perfectly
A bridesmaid first look can be one of the most genuine, emotional moments of your wedding morning — if it's planned properly. Here's how to choose the right space, timing, and setup.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Should the Photographer Shoot the Groom Getting Ready Too?
Groom getting ready photos are often skipped in favour of full bridal preparation coverage. Here's why that imbalance matters, and how to plan a wedding morning that captures both sides of the story.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·7 min read
Lighting 101: Why You Must Get Your Makeup Done Near a Window
A small chair placement decision on the wedding morning makes an outsized difference to how your getting-ready photographs turn out. Here is why window light matters and how to set the room up correctly.
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Portrait Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
How to Prepare for a Boudoir Shoot: Shaving, Tanning, and Comfort
From skincare timing to spray tans gone wrong, a practical, no-nonsense guide to preparing for your boudoir session so you arrive relaxed, confident, and ready to enjoy it.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·8 min read
Gift Ideas for Your Partner on Your 10th Wedding Anniversary
Ten years of marriage deserves more than a card. From tin and diamond traditions to experience-based gifts and anniversary photoshoots, here is practical, UK-focused advice for marking a tenth wedding anniversary properly.
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Wedding Tips
10 July 2026·7 min read
Who Walks You Down the Aisle at a Vow Renewal?
There's no rulebook for who walks you down the aisle at a vow renewal — from walking in together to children escorting you, here's how real couples have chosen this moment.
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Venue Guides
10 July 2026·8 min read
Top 10 Intimate Venues for Vow Renewals Near London
From Hampstead Heath to a Cambridgeshire garden, ten intimate venues near London that suit a small, meaningful vow renewal better than a grand wedding-sized affair.
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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.