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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Behind the scenes - photo session with kids

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I'm showing, and telling, something different today. Some behind the scenes moments, what and how things happen during a photo session with kids. I had help of 4 beautiful children, and it all took place in Capo Gallo (Mondello side).  Before the shoot we had a little chat with parents to prepare - to discuss how things will go, what clothes to wear, and what their kids like to do outside. So we had a little plan of their usual and favourite activities, plus I also prepared some ideas for games and things to do. I was a bit nervous - mostly because of communication and language issues. My Italian is pretty decent when it comes to conversation, it's writing that's the problem - but photo shoot is always an intense and emotional experience when you have to keep track of what's happening, if everyone is feeling ok and enjoying it, if we're moving ahead and getting some photos, if we need some new ideas and activities or just need to move to a new spot, if my camera set...
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Tentsmuir forest, continued

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This is second part of our adventures in Tentsmuir fores t. I do not have much to say, I loved it and pictures tell it all much better than words :-) I thought that I've included about half of the photos in the first post. How wrong I was! This one is interesting, because it shows the face Masha makes, when she does not want to be photographed. This time I did it though. With Grandpa. This boy, making faces and running away. Then coming back :-) This girl, with messy bun. She is a modern version of Little Red Riding Hood, in red converse instead of the hat. It was good. We should come back.
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Servizio fotografico di famiglia - offerta speciale

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Mini session all'aperto   Vuoi conservare i momenti speciali della tua famiglia, con foto che non siano soltanto belle, ma anche uniche e particolari?  Magari i primi passi del tuo bebé, mano a mano mentre camminate, un sorriso dopo il primo dentino perso, con un giocattolo o libro che deve stare sempre con voi perché sennò non si può andare da nessuna parte...  Ci sono molti momenti nella vostra vita che meritano ricordi belli! Come noi tutti, hai fatto tante fotografie ai tuoi figli in tutte le situazioni con il tuo telefono, ma non hai quelle belle dove siete tutti insieme, dove tuo figlio ti dà un abbraccio a sorpresa o tua figlia ride piena di gioia negli occhi.  É un vero peccato, perchè quelle sono le foto che tu e tuoi figli vorrete vedere e rivedere, sempre di più, più passa il tempo!  Ho un'offerta speciale per te - una mini session, un mini servizio fotografico. Si svolge all'aperto e ti dà  un'esperienza divertente e rilassata , senza...
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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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9 essential tips for taking great photos of your kids on the beach

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A lot of Sicilian summer is about the sea - it's a place to escape the heat, to relax and have fun on the beach with your kids, be it splashing, swimming, collecting shells or digging in the sand, reading or even napping! As parents, we often find ourselves reaching for our cameras or smartphones, eager to capture these moments and memories of the summer.  However, there are quite some challenges when it comes to getting beautiful photos on the beach - the biggest are strong sunlight, crowded space, kids moving all the time. During my 7+ years as a family photographer, I took hundreds of photos of clients and my own kids on the beaches in both Scotland and in Sicily. I've learnt and discovered a lot, what to do, and what not to do, to get beautiful kids' photos on the beach. Here are my top 9 tips and tricks, that will help you to elevate your beach snapshots to beautiful photographs. It's about essentials, nothing technical, and will work both for your phone and camera...
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Summer, meet Autumn

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Summer, lush green grasses and endless days, flowers and bumblebees and sand between your toes. It's over, even in our extended and twisted calendar. The world is full of reds and yellows already, apples and bright leaves on the grass, and we are working on Halloween costumes and anticipating lots of horror, short days, fresh Scottish winds and rains. My summer photo project is over too. Check #100momentsofsummer   to see it all. Summer meets Autumn, is being polite and says hello.  Autumn brings gifts, of crispy apples and orange pumpkins, red and yellow leaves, short days and long shadows, rains and bare trees... I love autumn, it brings special brand of tranquility to the world. You shed the leaves of past summer and see the world clearer. Harvesting the fruits of my summer photo project, time to start the next one. Or pack the camera, lenses, and take a break :-) The next photo project will run for the next 5 months, till spring. It will be about our life,...
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Peter Pan, catch your shadow

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The shadow we've got, in a girly way with a wee bit of pink :-) The sun, sitting low in Scottish sky, invites for all sorts of shadow plays. We already had this , and this a while back. And will have some more probably, with a new twist.
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Servizio fotografico Natale 2023

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  Natale a casa Le luci, le decorazioni, il profumo di biscotti o di qualcosa di delizioso che viene cucina. L'atmosfera accogliente e calda, lunghe serate trascorse insieme. C'è così tanto di speciale nel Natale a casa. E quest'anno potete avere delle splendide fotografie professionali che vi ricorderanno il periodo più bello dell'anno, come dice la canzone. "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Perché è un'ottima idea fare le foto di Natale a casa?  - Non devi spostarti, nè cercare parcheggio , preoccuparti che i vestiti si sgualciscano in macchina o si sporchino.  - Verrò da te, con la mia macchina fotografica, il buon umore e tante idee!  - Per i tuoi bambini fare le foto a casa è molto più facile: tutto è familiare e useremo i loro giochi, i loro libri di Natale e l'atmosfera della tua casa come sfondo. Anche il tuo animale domestico è il benvenuto!  - Documentiamo te e la tua famiglia in modo unico e autentico , senza decorazioni gene...
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