It is time!

While driving to the shore on Sunday, my dear, sweet husband surprised me with the news that he is buying me something I've wanted for over 4 years:

My very own SLR camera!!!

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 

I have been obsessed with taking pictures since I was a kid, and Ben {the hubs} was actually the one who bought me my very first digital camera in 2004. Since then, I have become even more fanatical about my picture-taking. As more and more of our friends began pursuing professional photography, Ben started pushing me, saying "You can do that, Natalie!" I resisted, partly because of the cost of an SLR camera, and partly because I was being a pansy. I didn't want to try something brave like starting a photography business {ME? A photographer??} and utterly fail.

But, with my sister's need for an Engagement Photos and my brand new camera just waiting to be purchased from Amazon, I am out of excuses.

My first challenge will be, of course, learning how to use the camera. I've heard that the Canon is more user-friendly than others, and I certainly hope that's the case. But even still, I have a feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get!

So please, all of you camera-savvy bloggers, HELP!

Suggestions, links, anything you can think of that would get me started on the right foot: spill!


{and FYI, the title of my post is a quote from "The Lion King" ~ so kudos to you if you caught the Disney reference}