Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Wedding Tips
19 May 2026·8 min read
Wedding Day Schedule Template: 8, 10, and 12-Hour Photography Timelines
The wedding day timeline determines whether your photographer can do their job properly. Here are complete schedule templates for 8, 10, and 12-hour coverage, with all the time allocations that actually work.
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Wedding Tips
19 May 2026·10 min read
What to Wear for a Vow Renewal
A vow renewal is free of the clothing conventions that shaped your original wedding. This guide covers how to dress for the person you are now, milestone anniversary formality, and whether to wear the original dress.
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Behind the Scenes
18 May 2026·7 min read
Real Wedding: Amelia & Luca's Cliffside Elopement in Ravello, Amalfi Coast
A just-the-two-of-us destination elopement at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello — vows on the Belvedere of Infinity at golden hour, civil registration at Ravello Town Hall, lemon-grove portraits, and dinner at Da Salvatore where Nonna Carmela surprised them at the antipasti.
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Behind the Scenes
18 May 2026·6 min read
Real Wedding: Isobel & Marcus's Intimate Town Hall Wedding, Cambridge
An eighteen-guest spring micro-wedding at Cambridge Town Hall — a civil ceremony for fourteen in the chamber, confetti on Peas Hill, a six-course lunch at Midsummer House, punting in formalwear, and dancing under fairy lights at Hotel du Vin's garden bar.
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Behind the Scenes
18 May 2026·7 min read
Real Wedding: Charlotte & Oliver at Clare College, Cambridge
A late-summer garden party wedding at Clare College — 75 guests, a Master's Garden ceremony, punting on the Cam in wedding attire, dinner in the Old Hall, and dancing under festoon lights with croquet at golden hour.
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Behind the Scenes
18 May 2026·7 min read
Real Wedding: Sophie & Thomas at Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire
A midsummer wedding at Ely Cathedral — 110 guests, a candlelit Lady Chapel ceremony with the cathedral choir, a 1962 Bentley down Back Hill, and a marquee reception in the cathedral gardens with eucalyptus and antique brass.
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Wedding Tips
18 May 2026·7 min read
Wedding Album Guide: Types, Sizes, Materials and How to Order
Your wedding album is the physical object that will represent your day for the rest of your lives. This guide covers everything about choosing, designing, and ordering the right album — from flush-mount to fine art heirloom albums.
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Wedding Tips
18 May 2026·6 min read
Rainy Wedding Day Photography: Why Rain Makes Beautiful Photographs
Rain on your wedding day sounds like a disaster. In practice, overcast and rainy conditions produce some of the most beautiful wedding photography of the year — here is why, and how to use the weather rather than fight it.
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Behind the Scenes
17 May 2026·7 min read
Real Wedding: Emma & James at King's College Chapel, Cambridge
An intimate September wedding at King's College Chapel followed by a candlelit reception at the Fitzwilliam Museum — 80 guests, cream and sage florals, and a half-hour on the Cam between the ceremony and dinner.
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Wedding Tips
17 May 2026·6 min read
Getting Ready Wedding Photography: How to Prepare Your Space and Morning
The preparation stage of your wedding day is the foundation of your story. The quiet moments before the ceremony — the details, the laughter, the nerves — are irreplaceable. Here is how to set up the morning to photograph beautifully.
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Wedding Tips
17 May 2026·7 min read
First Look Wedding Photography: The Complete Guide to Making the Decision
A first look is a private moment before the ceremony where the couple sees each other for the first time — photographed, intentional, and entirely your choice. Here is everything you need to decide whether it is right for your wedding.
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Maternity Tips
17 May 2026·9 min read
What to Wear for a Gender Reveal
A gender reveal photograph depends on colour contrast — the neutral before and the pink or blue eruption after. This guide covers the parents-to-be, guests, existing children, and every reveal format.
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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.