Remember the Sparks family? Norma contacted me a couple of months ago about another family portrait session with her sisters. I’ve waiting eagerly to meet her wonderful sisters. She was such a wonderful person, so I knew her sisters were too, and yes, I was right. The photoshoot was so much fun although it didn’t start that way for me. I left home over an hour prior to scheduled time. Traffic on a Saturday morning on 110W and on I10 W was TERRIBLE. It took over an hour to get to near our destination. Phoenix traffic always spoils me. I always forget about LA traffic. Then I got lost. Ya ya. I know. That’s not something new. So, finally with Norma’s help I arrived at the location without even thinking that the park had a parking fee and must pay cash. Anyway, long story short, trying to get cash from a nearby Seven Eleven was unsuccessful, and blah blah….

Finally, I met all four sisters. Glorita, Sofia, Clarita and Norma. They were amazing and full of energy. All four sisters are in different parts of the U.S. now, but every year, they get together somewhere. This year, they picked CA.

The lighting was pretty challenging since it was almost noon, and there wasn’t enough shade, but we made it, and enjoyed. Here are a few photos from the shoot. Hope you enjoy viewing the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.

I can cross off another wish from my 50 wishes in 150 days. I had this project on my mind for past 5/6 months, and had been working on it tirelessly. Finally, I have a few photographs that I am willing to sell, and hopefully I can. I’ve decided not to sell any more than 3 copies of each to keep them unique and fresh. I am working on more fine art photographs. Please check out the photographs below, and if you are interested, please email me.

My wish #28 is real now. I assisted Jennifer Weems from Jennifer Weems Photography yesterday, and today. I want to become a wedding photographer, but I want to learn more first. I still need to learn how to deal with fast paced, hectic wedding photography, and different lightings on a wedding day. Jennifer is so amazing. She made me feel really relaxed, and confident. I’ve been looking for a photographer to assist and start second shooting, and I am glad I met Jennifer through Phoenix PUG.

Today’s wedding was a beautiful wedding at Val Vista Lake Club House in Gilbert. Both the bride and the groom, and their families were very laid back, polite and respectful. I truly enjoyed assisting this wedding. And I have to admit something. Although at every wedding I cried, I always pretended that I wasn’t crying. I didn’t realize that my eyes would turn watery at some unknown people’s wedding, but it did. Yesterday I didn’t even realize that I had tears in my eyes, and again today. I can definitely see myself as a wedding photographer. I loved capturing the true emotions, and feelings of such a wonderful day.

I didn’t leave my camera behind today. Here are a few pictures from today’s beautiful wedding. More wedding pictures will be up on Jennifer’s facebook page.

The peacock theme was absolutely amazing. It looked so beautiful, and they incorporated the theme into every single detail perfectly.

I wanted to use butterfly on my logo when I first started thinking about a logo last year, but then my graphic designer used my other favorite, humming bird, on my logo, and I loved it. For a quite sometime, I ‘ve been thinking about taking photos of butterflies and humming bird, and I really wanted to take butterfly pictures with a 105mm f/2.8, but couldn’t rent one on time. Last weekend, I went to the Desert Botanical Garden to see the butterfly exhibition. It was absolutely amazing. I used my D300 and 50mm to capture the beauty of the butterflies. It was really amazing. I’ve never seen so many different types of butterflies in my entire life. Here are a few of the many.

One of my favorite photographer Melissa Jill‘s 101 Wishes in 1001 Days blog post inspired me to come up with this plan. I don’t think I am ready for any goal setting for such a broad amount of time. I will take baby steps. That’s why I’ve decided to do 50 wishes in 150 days. I hope I can complete this list, or at least as much as possible.

Here you go.

Start Date: April 10, 2011

End Date: September 13, 2011

1) Buy a new purse/bag

2) Buy my 105mm lens. Want 24mm but won’t be able to afford it yet.

3) Join a gym

4) Get photographed by someone else

5) Visit Santa Barbara (Again)

6) Finish Esperanza Rising

7) Buy a tripod

8 ) Buy a flash

9) Attend at least a couple more workshops

10) Order sample prints

11) Follow my friend Kris’s raw food diet challenge for a month. I am already freaked out a little but sushi should count

12) Send out holiday cards to past clients / models / designers

13) Make gift cards available

14) Sell my D70s

15) Visit a new state

16) Finish my website

17) Book 2 sessions / month

18) Take at least 1 fine art photo

19) Learn more about sun flare shots

20) Improve editing

21) Be at least a day ahead on my lesson plans every week

22) Buy Microsoft Outlook

23) Save at least 60% for D700

24) Print one large print

25) Buy at least 1 pair of new shoes/sandles

26) Donate more to charities

27) Go to Disneyland

28) Start assisting weddings

29) Buy tickets to visit Bangladesh

30) Read more books

31) Lose at least 10 more lbs and become toned

32) Start second shooting weddings

33) Visit Bangladesh

34) Eat my favorite foods in Bangladesh

35)  Become a “vegetarian” again

36) Come up with a solid plan to identify the needs of each kid and how to help them

37) Create a price list

38) Take photographs at a beach

39) Find more locations in and around Phoenix

40) Find more locations in and around Los Angeles

41) Get a new cell phone

42) Update my wardrobe asap. That means shopping

43) Finish my The X Files DVD collection

44) Come up with a business plan

45) Order better business cards

46) Save all my receipts for both my teaching expenses and business

47) Get a manicure and a pedicure

48) Save at least 10% down payment for my next car. Hopefully will be able to buy one next year.  

49) Plan for a giveaway portrait session, and promote it.

50) Reach my facebook fan page goal.

Why did I become a teacher? I often wondered at the end of a school day, after all the students left especially at a inner city school for such a small amount of money. I am not the only one. My coworkers also asked each other the same question. Teaching does NOT mean we get to play all day. Teaching does NOT mean that all the materials and lessons are ready, and we just go to the room and teach. Teaching does NOT mean our are rooms ready, and all we have to do is go in and teach. Did I have students that disrespected me? Absolutely. Not once but many times. Did I have parents disapproving with me? Yes. 

I had a very tough kid. He always got in trouble, and by always I don’t mean only this year. Throughtout his school life, in every grade level, he drove his teachers crazy. He used to tell other students that he could get me in trouble by complaining to the principal, and he tried. He came up to me last Friday, and said, “Ms. Munmun. Have you noticed that I don’t talk back anymore, I do my homework and I don’t get in trouble anymore? You were right Ms. Munmun. I like not getting in trouble, and doing well in school. Thank you Ms. Munmun. I think I will remember you as my favorite teacher.”

Yesterday, and yes yesterday. I teach Saturdays too, and my students enjoy coming to school on saturdays too. One of my other student said, “Ms. Munmun. I noticed that I used to get all Meets in everything, but now I don’t. You are right Ms. Munmun. I am not trying hard enough. Something is wrong. I promise, I will do my best from now on to make you proud. I think I will always remember you.”

Did I ask  them anything or make them say these words? No. But they realized that doing well in school feels good. Staying in school has more benefits than not coming to school. Rewards are sweeter than punishments.

What other job would let you have 30 kids? Students place their teachers in the same position as their parents. Yes, this is the job where you will be called “Mom” half of the day. Many students don’t want to go home sometime, and hang out with me after school in class, and help me out in class after school because they find it peaceful, and enjoy it.

I would like to share some wonderful art work they I’ve received from my students throughtout the school year. Here are a few of the many drawings I’ve received from my wonderful students.

One of my student drew me.

Sometimes I don’t even know that I am married. They turn me into Mrs. Munmun. Sometimes they turn me into Mr. Munmun.

This is why “I became a teacher” and I am happy with my decision.