Scottish garden, full bloom. Of children, flowers, and first steps

This is about our walks through Botanical Gardens of St Andrews.

We've been here in April, to see the first spring flowers and the start of Gruffalo's trail. The trail is now completed, and the garden is in full bloom. We checked out the trail, heard some live music - there was a concert on the meadow, walked and ran around, and also took pictures, of flowers, and children.

These walks were special, because all five of us were doing them. Sweet first steps, wobbly feet and spread arms, falling and standing up again.

And we get to the flowers.


And walk a bit more.


Piú letti

West Sands - with two kids and a dog

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Little mid-term school break, the weather's been good and we were adventuring outside. We made a long walk along the Coastal Path from East Sands to Boarhills (where daddy picked us up and brought us home - I have photos from that one too but they still need a bit of work before being published). And we visited another of our favourite spots - West Sands. It was unusually lovely day for February - so much that the kids insisted on starting barefoot beach season. With us was Mollie - our dog-friend who we dog-sit every now and then. As usual, I was blamed for not taking any toys. As usual, these two have solved the problem just fine - with sticks and shells and just digging with their hands. As usual, I love to watch them play and be creative. As usual, we collect ton of shells and sticks that I am asked to carry and the bring home and we already have huge stash there - oh well :-) Masha was ahead and around, enjoying her book. They tried to build a sand castle - Mollie did...
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Fife Coastal Path

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Our first walk of the year. Stomping through the mud, and lots of it. Some of us did even manage a bit of mud sliding. The sea had this surreal turquoise color, along with grey moody sky it was beautiful. Lots of dry grass, sticks and bushes, thorns. We did not go down to the beaches, it was too muddy and slippery for it. Next time.
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Our trip to Favignana

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Some impressions from our week on Favignana, a little island west of Sicily. Beach, lunch, nap and more beach, watching sunset by the sea. These are the days. In the mix are also books, some games, football, random ice-cream trips. We are going around the island checking out different swimming places and exploring best rocks for jumping. Our favourite spots so far are Cala Rotonda and Grotta Perciata. On one of the days we skipped afternoon sea and visited the museum in the Tonnara.  Here are more from our island life - mostly beach - adventures. More personal updates More beach photography ...
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"Work in love business" / Family photographer in St Andrews

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Every family is beautiful. Every family has its story. This one, I was humbled and honoured to witness all this love. I read recently that family photographers work in love business. It did not exactly make sense to me. Now I understand. I cannot thank you enough for this, Anna.   Photographs are copyright of Julia Pagano Photography. Julia Pagano specializes in candid natural light photography of babies, toddlers and families, as well as children portraiture in St Andrews, Cupar and Fife, as well as Dundee.
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Outdoor family portraits with baby - Capo Gallo, Palermo

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This photo-session has been kept under wraps for a while because the photos were Christmas gift, presented as gorgeous custom-made album. That's why now in the middle of winter I am posting some warm and sunny summer photos. This baby stage when they sit but cannot yet walk, is absolutely adorable to photograph. Your little one is so expressive and active, yet mostly sits still - making it an easy job for both the parents and photographer :-). I do not recommend to have only outdoor sessions with young babies, before they master sitting, especially in colder seasons. Warmth and quiet of home create better atmosphere for young babies, to capture simple moments of life, holding and comforting your little one, and all the sweet details. When they confidently master sitting and first steps - then its perfect time for outdoor family photos. Little Greta was happy to play with her parents and be carried around and show her cheeky smile and funny faces. W...
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Family photo session - walk on Fife Coastal Path, St Andrews

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This one did not feel like photo-session at all - we did take photos, it was just barely noticeable. It was like going for a walk with friends and enjoying beautiful spring day. We talked so much. About politics, knitting projects, shells and bluebells, botanic garden, teaching maths at school and photographing older kids, challenges and tricks how to do better with these last tricky bits.  We explored small beaches along the Coastal Path, starting from East Sands beach, and then circled back to the harbor. Sun was shining, sky was blue and bluebells were in their full glory. Tide was out, leaving lots of treasures between the rocks to spot. The photos - they did happen too. In natural and unposed way, without tense feelings and expressions, with honest smiles and connection and fun.  Like what I do? Get in touch, let's chat about photos of your family! ...
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Autumn family photoshoot, St Andrews

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October is here, my favourite time of the year. Autumn has been giving us subtle signs of its arrival for a while already - with bright spots of colour appearing here and there, dew on the grass, apples and rowan berries. And the light - it almost feels different in autumn! This session was partly at home and partly outside, and the key thing was to avoid posing and anything artificial. So we went for a walk together in the woods surrounding their home and made sure everything happens naturally. Little Luna was the main guiding force here. I love photographing toddlers and young children, how expressive they are, how they show their personalities and little quirks, just doing their thing and being themselves - it's wonderful to capture it all and to get unique, unposed and natural photos! Parents just have to keep up - and this was not a problem either :-) Luna picked some pine cones with her dad, gave hugs and kisses to mom, took a ride on daddy's shoulders and played ...
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Fine art motherhood photo sessions, and giveaway! - Family photographer in St Andrews

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I have something to celebrate this week. All women do - it's International Women's Day today, and Mother's Day on Sunday. For me it's also 1 year since I made this giant leap of faith, published my photography web-site and decided to give it a try and make my hobby of last 12 years into something more, and share it with the world. So I am doing something very special to celebrate. It's about bond between mother and her child. It's about love, holding hands and messy hugs. It's about laughing together, exploring together, being together. And remembering what it felt like to hold the small hand of your child in your hand, or to lift up your little one and hug and twirl and laugh together. Photograph is one of the few things that can capture this special connection and love. That can help us to remember it and treasure for many more years to come. This is what my fine art motherhood photo sessions are about. And one of them I'd like t...
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