Yana Skakun
Stamford · Lincolnshire / Rutland
Family Photographer
Stamford
Natural family portraits in Georgian Stamford — the limestone town, Burghley House parkland, and Rutland Water countryside.
Stamford Family Photography
England's Finest Stone Town & Great Parkland
Stamford is genuinely exceptional — a town almost entirely built in honey-coloured limestone, with five medieval churches, the country's most photographed high street, and the extraordinary Burghley estate directly on its southern edge. Family photography here produces images with a consistency of quality and beauty that comes naturally from the setting rather than requiring it to be manufactured.
Sessions are relaxed; the children lead the pace; the photographs look like your family.
Packages
Family Session Packages
Mini Session
£150
30 min · 20+ images
A focused session at one Stamford location — perfect for updated family portraits in the Georgian town or Burghley parkland.
Standard Session
£250
1 hour · 40+ images
A full hour — enough time to explore a setting fully and capture real family moments alongside the formal portraits.
Extended Session
£350
2 hours · 75+ images
Two hours across two settings — ideal for combining the Stamford townscape with Burghley Park, or Rutland Water with the Welland meadows.
Locations
Where We Shoot in Stamford
Stamford Town Centre
England's finest Georgian town — honey-coloured limestone facades, medieval church spires, cobbled lanes, and the River Welland reflecting the town below. Remarkably beautiful and photogenic from every angle.
Burghley House & Park
The Elizabethan mansion set in Capability Brown parkland just south of Stamford — 1,000 acres of deer park, ornamental lake, ancient trees, and the house facade as backdrop. One of the great English estate settings.
River Welland & Meadows
The Welland meanders through open water meadows at the foot of Stamford — willows, water reflections, and the town's spires visible on the ridge above. Beautiful in golden hour from May through October.
Rutland Water
England's largest reservoir by surface area, ten minutes east — open water, causeways, sailing, and wide sky. The reservoir circuit path and the deep country lanes around Normanton church make extraordinary family session backdrops.
Tolethorpe Hall & Surrounds
The wooded estate at Tolethorpe, north of Stamford — ancient woodland, open parkland, and the hall as a backdrop for families who want genuine country estate character.
Barnack Hills & Holes NNR
A rare limestone grassland National Nature Reserve near Stamford — wildflowers, ancient quarry humps and hollows, and a completely wild feeling. Exceptional for spring family portraits when the cowslips are in bloom.
Why Families Choose Yana
England's most photographed market town
Stamford has been described as the finest stone town in England — its Georgian and medieval limestone architecture creates portrait backdrops of consistent, quiet beauty that don't exist in brick-built towns.
Burghley — accessible estate grandeur
Burghley House and its Capability Brown parkland are open to visitors and provide a setting of exceptional grandeur for family portraits — without any of the logistical difficulty of private venues.
Rutland Water on the doorstep
Ten minutes east — the wide water, causeways, and deeply rural Rutland countryside provide a completely different setting to the town, all within a single extended session.
Children always come first
No scripts, no rigid timelines. Sessions follow the natural rhythm of your family — the pace children set, the moments they create, the expressions that belong to them.
Stamford Family Photography FAQs
Is Burghley Park free to walk in?+
The parkland surrounding Burghley House is freely accessible on foot (car parking charges apply). The house interior and formal gardens charge entry. The open park, lake, and house exterior are sufficient for beautiful portraits.
When is the best time of year for Stamford family photos?+
Late April to early June for fresh green growth in Burghley Park, wildflowers at Barnack, and the Welland in full flow. Late September through October for parkland autumn colour. Summer evenings for golden-hour light on the limestone facades.
Can we include Rutland Water in our session?+
Yes — Rutland Water is easily included in an Extended Session (2 hours, £350), with Stamford town or Burghley Park as the second element. The combination covers remarkable variety.
Do you travel to Stamford from Cambridge?+
Yes — Stamford is approximately 40 miles from Cambridge, well within my standard coverage range. No travel supplement applies for Stamford sessions.
Can we bring our dog?+
Yes — Burghley open park and the Welland riverside paths both allow well-behaved dogs on leads. Rutland Water reservoir circuit is also dog-friendly.
Get in Touch
Book Your Stamford Family Session
Check availability and discuss Burghley Park, the town, or Rutland Water.