Some black and white magic / Family photographer in St Andrews


I often edit photos from sessions at home in black and white.
It's simple and classic. And as one of my clients said, it is more forgiving when it comes to little details we'd rather hide.

And most important - black and white draws attention to the people in the photos, their emotions, their connection. And this is the most precious thing.

So here's some black and white magic.


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 and Fife, as well as Dundee.

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Best of 2022

  Best of 2022. It's been a difficult year, but it had its funny, tender and, well, best moments.  I wish 2023 to have more light, more kindness and more good things happening in the world. I wish for a peaceful blue sky above the yellow sunflower fields of my home country. Happy 2023 everyone! Like what I do? Get in touch, let's chat about photos of your family! Get in touch!
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Colours of summer - blooms and nature details

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These photos were taken during several walks in St Andrews and Craigtoun park, something I do as a treat for myself when kids are busy with other things, when I feel like I need some quiet time to just be creative and make something beautiful. I love finding little details, like water droplets or patterns and textures in foliage - little things that make beautiful even more beautiful. It's almost like they call me and draw the eye, and my camera. There are so many colours and textures in late spring and beginning of summer, so many treats for the eye after long and brown winter. Tips for photographing nature and nature details. Pay attention to light and shadow if photographing on a sunny day. We often have very bright sunshine with strong shadows in the summer - you can get beautiful results if you play with it and use shadows for your advantage. Or take photos on a cloudy day - most of the ones below were. Some I also took when it was raining - just be careful that you...
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Autumn in St Andrews - family photos

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 Autumn is solidly settling in, with its gorgeous colours, cosy blankets and sweaters, rains, and this special something in the air. At home, we watch more movies, bake more pies, walk on the leaves and listen to their crunchy-crunch under our boots, and I want to soak in all these colours around us - I love autumn! It can be risky to have a photo session this time of the year, the weather becomes so unpredictable. But it's well worth the risk, because the light in autumn is often golden and magical, and you have all these gorgeous colours around you. I can be more flexible with my schedule so we can work around the sunshine. Favourite spots around St Andrews for autumn family photos. Of course Lade Braes and Botanic Gardens - if you want all these gorgeous colours and nature details! Outdoor walks in autumn are so much fin, kids up to their knees in the leaves, or hunting for autumn treasures together, making piles of leaves for jumping, weaving crowns, hide and seek - you name it...
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Summer on the beach

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Published on 6th of October 2023 When I thought about the title for this blog post, summer on the beach was a firm winner. This is where we spent a large chunk of our summer, so it fits well. There was a lot of bathing, splashing, swimming, jumping from the rocks. There was barely any snorkelling this year, and not many waves, Matteo was disappointed. We found the canoe of my husband, that was believed to be gone, and it was a great addition to our sea activities. Although paddling with Mara is tricky, as she wants to hold the paddle too with her little hands. We spent a lot of evenings swimming till the sunset, or watering the rocks and the sand in case of Mara, and even made a night swim once. Apart of our usual beach, we tried several new spots like cala Bianca near Scopello, Monte Cofano (I loved that one, and the nature reserve too, hope we'll visit again in winter to climb the mountain) and Guidaloca. The last one we knew and visited several times before, but it was a nic...
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Photo a day - July

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Published on 12th of August 2022     Some recent photos from my 'a photo a day' project. I've been struggling a bit these past weeks to keep going, it's been too hot. Apart of sea breaks, we are mostly staying home and surviving thanks to air conditioning. Some days I look at the camera and think, it's all has been done already, I photographed this spot X times and kids or Mara doing this or something very similar another XX times. Then I see kids doing something, and inspiration hits again. When I look at the images together, its a reward in itself.  So what we've been up to - we got some new plants for the terrace, everything's been growing and blooming, our tomato plants are doing good too. And cacti, these also do very well. We get a nice breeze on the terrace in the evenings, so everyone is coming out when the day cools off a bit. Dinners are happening outside on the terrace too. Mara is very eager to help watering, but she often ends up either spilling...
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Beach fun photo session in St Andrews

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Beach Fun Mini sessions - for all the lovers of dancing on the beach and jumping in the waves, flying kites and climbing rocks and playing with sand! Let's have some beach fun and create beautiful unposed photos of your family or your little ones! Maximum 5 slots available in the evenings between 3-6 of July. St Andrews, East Sands or West Sands. 30 min shot, min 15 photos to choose from, 3 digital images with print rights or 10 printed photos. Photo-session cost - £100, option to upgrade. Please get in touch for more details, and to book.
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3 reasons to have your family photos in Villa Giulia park

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Villa Giulia is a park in historic center of Palermo. It has its origins in 18th century and is remarkable for its perfect square shape with diagonal alleys dividing the park in different sections. Marble statues and fountains, a sundial, shady alleys and open spaces, and wide variety of trees and shrubbery make it a popular spot both with locals and tourists.  If you'd like your family photos to have lush green background with a touch of special Sicilian atmosphere, this park definitely should be considered. It ticks all the boxes - plenty of space, nice surroundings, easy access, lots of options for things to do during your photo shoot to get natural and emotional images (anyway we don't do posed photos on the benches or next to flowering shrubs!).  Here are my top 3 reasons why villa Giulia is a great location for family photo sessions. Reason 1  Lots of space and diversity. The park has an alley with Ficus trees, a little bamboo forest, a hill with cacti and succulen...
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Pieces of our summer / Children photographer in St Andrews

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Long walks, strawberries and home-made ice lollies, long days and late dinners. Pieces of our summer. This blog is going on holidays for a couple of weeks. See you on the beach! 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 and Fife, as well as Dundee.
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The land of sand and sky

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Walking till the end of West Sands beach, where the Eden river meets the sea, is a nice week-end activity. When the tide is low, you are rewarded with endless vista of sand and sky.  
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