Yana Skakun
Yana Skakun
Journal
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.

Newborn photography safety is non-negotiable. Behind the scenes of every beautiful posed newborn portrait is a trained photographer who understands baby anatomy, safe posing limits, and when to use composites. What parents should ask before booking.
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Lifestyle newborn sessions in your own home capture your baby in the environment where they'll actually grow up — with real textures, light, and family context that a studio can't replicate. What a home newborn session looks like from arrival to gallery.
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Photographing a family reunion means capturing people who may not have seen each other in years. A guide to planning the group shot, coordinating outfit palettes across branches of the family, and organising smaller sub-group portraits.
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In winter, blue hour arrives at 4pm. The sky turns deep cobalt, the last warmth of sunset glows beneath, and city lights begin to appear. It lasts 20 minutes and produces extraordinary photographs.
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Being cold is uncomfortable and it shows in photographs. Practical and beautiful clothing choices that allow winter couples to stay warm, move freely, and look extraordinary.
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A roaring log fire provides one of the most beautiful and intimate portrait settings in winter wedding photography. The light, the warmth, the sense of shelter — how to use it.
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Candlelit wedding ceremonies and receptions produce a warmth and intimacy in photographs that artificial lighting cannot replicate. A guide to working with real flame.
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Snow on a wedding day is rare in England — and magical. White ground, silent air, snowflake confetti, and extraordinary natural backdrops. How to photograph it.
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February 14th as a wedding date has an obvious romance — and the recent growth in Valentine's Day weddings makes it one of the more sought-after dates in winter. What to expect.
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January and February are the most affordable and least congested months to marry in England. The light is low and beautiful, venues are available, and the intimacy of a winter wedding is genuinely special.
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Marrying at midnight on New Year's Eve is perhaps the most dramatic of all wedding choices. Fireworks, champagne, countdown moments, and the turn of the year — a guide to documenting it all.
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December weddings come with the most lavish natural decoration of the year. Fairy lights, Christmas trees, wreaths, and the festive warmth of candlelit rooms make extraordinary photographs.
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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.