Clicks.

This was soooo cool. I photographed Stacy and Joe’s wedding last Saturday in Streator, Ill. What a great day! Everyone had a wonderful time from start to finish. The couple looked great, the portraits look great, the reception was a blast - just a great day. 

But to me - the icing on the cake was…the hayrack. Yes, a hayrack. When Stacy told me they’d be taking a hayrack ride from the church to the reception, I immediately checked the weather, praying that there would be clear skies and no rain so I could get shots of this. I think it’s a very clever and fun idea.

Here’s a quick look at the couple atop their hay carriage

Congratulations Stacy and Joe!

Earlier this month I traveled to Springfield, IL for Sarah and Dan’s wedding. It was absolutely great! 

Even though the day was warm and humid, we darted out to a beautiful garden behind the church for some romantic portraits. I love this shot!

Check out the design for Sarah and Dan’s wedding album! Click here.

I admit it - I have been very, very lazy about this blog this year!But, I do have good reason…

Our new baby Henry, in addition to our first four, keep us pretty busy! Plus basketball, baseball, dance, school and everything else in between makes the days fly by.

Good things are happening here at Mastin Photography. Wedding season is marching by and we’re already looking at 2009 bookings.

For 2009, we’ve changed our wedding packages so we can get photos into the hands of the couple as fast as possible. From talking with so many brides over the past years, price and flexibility seem to be of the greatest importance.

With our new 2009 package, a couple will have up to 8 hours of wedding day coverage and receive every hi-resolution photo on an archival DVD in 8 days or less for just $895. We can customize your wedding day package from there. Sign-in boards? Custom wedding albums? Wedding prints? Save the date cards? We can do it all, tailored just the way you want.

I’ve taken so many photos to be proud of this year already. I promise to make a better effort to update everyone on what’s happening here!

Henry Albert Mastin

Born January 10, 2008
6:40 a.m.

8 lbs 6 oz
21 inches

Mom and baby are doing well. We’re glad to be home. Detailed story to follow shortly.

Click to enlarge.

From my studio I have an excellent view of the rising flood waters of the Vermillion River. Yesterday, I had an excellent view of the Mastin Lake in our basement.

This is a view of the back of our building. You can see my window almost at the center of the photo. Click the photo to enlarge.

This is the Mill Street bridge that I can see from my back window. Just on the other side of that bridge is a dam which usually has water actively flowing over it down to the next level of the river, a good 15-20 feet below. During the summer, I can see kids fishing in little streams of water under that bridge. So this is a LOT of water. Click the photo to enlarge.

Here’s the park located next to the river, just a couple hundred yards down the street from me. Notice the drinking fountain in the foreground. Click the photo to enlarge.

Here’s the same park from a distance. Click to enlarge.

We’re praying that everyone remains safe and life gets back to normal as quickly as possible.

Yes, we are still on baby watch. Today is the due date and everyone is ready to have that little bugger come out.

Here’s a portrait of “The Belly” taken some months ago. The Belly is much more powerful now. I photographed my wife against a simple black background to show off the curves that come with maternity.

This is Number 5 for us, but I am just an impatient as with Number 1. More from Baby Watch coming soon - hopefully with news that baby is here!

My son, Duffy, is an outside guy. Winter is tough on a kid that loves to be out and run and play and goof around all day. And when you can’t stand being inside anymore - you head out and build yourself a snowman.

Of course, when he first went out, he was only wearing a t-shirt and sweats. I pulled him in long enough to convince him he needed a coat and hat - while he convinced me he needed a carrot for his snowman.

Photography by Mae Mastin, age 8. Collage by yours truly.

Here it is! The debut of our blog - Clicks. I firmly believe that much of the success of Mastin Photography comes from the clicks on both sides of the camera. We strive to create the best photography for all our clients. That means a strong technical knowledge behind the camera. But it also means “clicking” with our clients.  As part of clicking with those we serve, we’ve set up this blog.

So much for the formal intro - what will we post here? Well, I have very humble plans here at the start. I would like to share thoughts on recent sessions, recent weddings, studio news, and of course, life at the Mastin house (with 4 kids and one one the way, life is always a blast).

Please comment! I would love to hear what you have to say.

For right now, I have to get back to baby watch - tonight may be the night!