West Sands - with two kids and a dog


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 not help. We walked, played, walked some more and had some cookies. Mollie wanted her share too, so she had her doggy cookies. We reached the dunes - our usual spot for hide and seek and chasing each other through the grass, till it was time to head back home.









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Sunset

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I realized that it is my first post in 2016. With holidays, travels, settling back, school and all the daily routine there was no time, or no energy, or not enough coffee (and never enough excuses :-) I am reconsidering my photo editing process, which is part of the reason too why I've been reluctant to process the whole sessions I was photographing, and post them. Once they are posted, it is done and I am still not happy and still searching for some little something to improve my editing. On the other hand, till something is out - it is like not yet finished and blocks me from doing something new. Instagram is easier in this regard, as it goes one photo at a time. I am posting more regularly there - @yuliapagano , should you be curious :-) Some sunset races and football, taken during a walk to the beach shortly after we came back home. Matteo became a fan of silhouette photos, so we might produce more :-)
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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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Sand castles on East Sands

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First barefoot beach day (we do not really count those short runs on the sand in February, right :-) Really and seriously, with feet dipping and running on the water - this one is the first. First sand castle of the season. First sand fight of the season and first hand full of sand - this, and sand in the pockets, will stay with us well till November. And I truly do not mind, I love my barefoot beach days as much as these two. Matteo is building a bunker - tunnel covered with sticks and sea-weed, then with sand. Good camouflage, it was hardly different from the rest of the surface around the castle. He tested it after completing the construction - the structure resisted his weight and survived. One very proud engineer. We tried to build the moat too - it did not really work, water was too far. So it was abandoned after a short while. Maya was collecting small rocks and shells to decorate the walls and the big tower. They both carried big rocks to reinforce the wall...
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Photo a day - January

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Published on 13th of February 2024 This January has been... different. It should've been great, we had a trip planned for New Year, my brother was expected to visit with his family, Mara and Matteo have their birthdays in January too. It turned out not quite what we planned and expected. The trip to Sila had to be cut short because everyone got ill, which turned out to be Covid, which as a consequence affected also Mara's birthday and made the time with my brother and his family a bit less fun too. On the other hand, it felt like my body and my mind needed this slow time after busy and stressful December, there was a lot to reflect about, a lot of rest and quiet. It's ironic that Covid became the answer to this, oh well. The January photos reflect this slow time too - we stayed at home or visited grandma's garden to collect oranges and to play, we baked and built pillow forts, planted bulbs for spring, read books and baked some more. Cookies and muffins are usually what...
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Beautiful days

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Bright and sunny, with blue sky and blue sea and puffy white clouds. It's like they were specially made for the beach, splashing around and digging in the sand. We love our under the rain walks, but we also love our beach adventures on sunny days, even if they result in someone walking back home wrapped in my sweater instead of his own clothes. Some days we hop on the bicycles and go to West Sands. It's always windy, perfect for flying kites. Maya loves the soft sand there, she's content to dig around or just roll in it and watch how it flows through her fingers. Then there are football games, with shoes often serving as impromptu gates. Or hide and seek in the dunes, if we manage it to the very end of the beach. For swimming it's East Sands for us - we live quite close, so it's easier to carry all the towels, clothes, snacks, picnic lunch, water, toys, goggles, sun cream, book for myself... The list of things they want to take and do can be quite long, so it certai...
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Photo a day - February

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Published on 25th of March 2024 This February did not feel like February at all. We were hoping to find some snow and were treated to spring-like temperatures and lots of sunny days instead, slow weekends spent outside collecting oranges or playing hide and seek in a giant blooming rosemary shrub, climbing trees, collecting rocks and even some splashing in the sea. Yes it was warm. We went to Scotland to take care of some personal matters, came back with a new cough, as if recent Covid and other cough and ear infections etc etc was not enough. I made a sweater for Mara and realized I've miscalculated the size, what I hoped would last also for autumn is just right for now. She is growing so fast, which makes me both sad and proud. Still loving her dinosaurs and playing hide and seek (the laundry basket is apparently an excellent hiding spot!), discovering 'big kids' Lego and liking it a bit too much, and trying to keep up with her big siblings.   Like what I do? Get in t...
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Autumn and Christmas mini sessions - outdoor family photos in St Andrews

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Seasons greetings! Too early? Sorry :-) But, considering that mince pies are in the stores since the end of September, it does not seem so early anymore. Everything is twisted out of its normal flow this year. Some things remain the same - the beauty of autumn among them, and I am very glad for I love autumn. Traditionally, Autumn and Christmas mini sessions. I have a few remaining dates for the year and I'd love for us to get together and capture the beauty of your family. Not the buttoned-up and perfectly posed version with forced smiles. But the real, playful and beautifully messy picture of your family. It's fun for the kids, and adults too. The photo sessions are outside, you can choose between East Sands, West Sands, or Botanic Gardens and Lade Braes for beautiful fall colours. Details Offer available between 5-15th of November, outdoor location in St Andrews 30 min.+ shoot at an outdoor location in St Andrews  max 2 adults and 3 children private online gallery with 15+ i...
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Family photo session in St Andrews, West Sands beach

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West Sands did not disappoint - beautiful dunes, moody sky, wind. But then, it very seldom does, especially if you do not mind the wind. We met on a beautiful September evening for this photoshoot with Marion and her daughters. Our destination was the very end of the beach, by the Eden estuary and sand dunes. Marion picked some flowers and decorated Keira's curls, girls shared some secrets and treasures found in the sand, wind was playing with Keira's hair. And me - I was observing it all as it unfolded in front of me, and clicking along. I often tell my clients that photo-session is like going for a walk together - this one was no exception. I am a very silent companion on such a walk - I might suggest something interesting if I see beautiful spot or some nature details that would make beautiful background for you. But more often I just follow what's happening and how you enjoy this beautiful walk and your time together. From Marion: " Very relaxed photo shoot ...
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Picnic, races and shenanigans

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It has started with family picnic at St Andrews Cathedral (we already had one photo shoot here). Then some random seagull wanted to join. Then we did some flower picking, crawling, running, and kissing. Then came races, and shenanigans. Some participants did not take the start command seriously. And some daddy moment :-)
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