Yana Skakun
Journal
Photography Blog
Tips, guides, venue spotlights and behind-the-scenes stories from my photography sessions across England.
Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·5 min read
Surviving a Heatwave Wedding in the UK: A Photographer's Tips
When UK temperatures hit 30°C+ on your wedding day: how it affects makeup, flowers, and photographs, and what adjustments actually help — from a photographer's perspective.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·5 min read
Best Time of Day for an Outdoor Summer Wedding Ceremony
10am, 1pm, or 4pm? How each ceremony start time affects your summer wedding photographs — the noon problem, golden hour strategy, and guest comfort vs photography trade-off.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·5 min read
Christmas Wedding Ideas: Capturing the Magic of December
December weddings offer warm candlelight, blue hour at 4pm, frost and snow opportunities, and dark rich colours. A photographer's guide to capturing the magic of a Christmas wedding.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·5 min read
How to Handle Harsh Summer Sun in Your Wedding Photos
Harsh summer sun causes raccoon eyes, squinting, and blown highlights. Here are the three techniques that fix it — open shade, backlight, and shifting portrait timing.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·5 min read
Winter Wedding Photography in the UK: Lighting Tips & Advice
How winter light works for UK weddings — the 5-hour daylight window, overcast softbox effect, candlelit indoor coverage, and how to time your day for the best photographs.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
Micro-Wedding Timeline: A Relaxed Pace for 30 Guests
A micro-wedding runs on a fundamentally different logic than a full-scale wedding. The timeline is not just a compressed version — it is a genuinely different kind of day, with more flexibility and more opportunity for photography.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·8 min read
Traditional UK Wedding Day Timeline (with 1pm Ceremony)
A 1pm ceremony is the most common start time for UK weddings — and the one that creates the most photographically complete day. Here is a fully worked-out timeline with the reasoning behind each element.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
Blue Hour Wedding Photography: The Magic After Sunset
Golden hour gets all the attention. Blue hour — the 20–40 minutes after sunset — produces a completely different and equally beautiful quality of light that most couples miss.
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Wedding Tips
13 March 2026·7 min read
How to Get Epic First Dance Photos
The first dance is emotional, cinematic, and photographically demanding. Lighting, positioning, and room setup all determine the results. Here is what produces the best photographs.
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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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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.