Let me introduce myself…

Everyday Elements now has a Canon contributor! The amazing Andrea will be sharing tips and tricks about Canon once a month and I’m thrilled she’s with us!

Hi! It’s nice to meet you. I’m Andrea. I am a wife to my high school sweetheart and a mother to an adorably rambunctious 4 year old boy. I’m an animal lover who has an especially soft spot in my heart for our rescued Australian Cattle Dog mix, Murphy. I am also a full-time software developer and part-time photographer. I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and a variety of different lenses and other accessories.

Photos of Andrea and her family

My photography journey has been an interesting one, with a lot of similarities to the stories of other female photographers that I’ve had the pleasure to meet. I got my first DSLR in 2007 with the goal of taking better photos of my husband driving a race car at a local racetrack. Just about the time that I thought I had that figured out, our son was born and my focus shifted to taking pictures of him. Let me tell you, a race car and a baby are two completely different things when it comes to photography! Those first photos of my precious baby were beyond horrible.

Those early experiences trying to take pictures of my son convinced me that it was time for some education. In the process of learning all that I could about photography and editing, I found Amanda’s Everyday Elements website. I can’t tell you the relief I felt in finding a resource that was geared to me, someone who had PS Elements instead of the “fancy” full version of Photoshop and didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I felt like I had found a friend who was willing to hold my hand along these first, teetering steps into this overwhelming new world.

Photos of Andrea and her family

Then in April 2011, Amanda offered her first ever in-person workshop. I think I giggled a little while I was signing up for that, I was so excited! She opened her home to our workshop group and shared a wealth of knowledge. Amanda is just as funny, down to earth and helpful in person as you would imagine from following her blog.

One day recently I saw where Amanda mentioned that she wished she could offer Canon information on her blog, but didn’t have a resource that used Canon equipment. I felt like that was something I could do, so I asked Amanda if she’d be interested in having me pitch in. Here we are, so you can guess that her answer was, “Yes!”

Photos of Andrea and her family

I’m looking forward to sharing information about Canon cameras, lenses and accessories here at Everyday Elements. I have a few things in mind to start out, but if you have any Canon-centric questions, be sure to let me know!

You can also check out my work at Speechless-Photography.com.

About Andrea Thomas

I'm Andrea. I'm a Canon-shooting mom to a little boy who runs from my camera and a baby girl born on Halloween. I'm also a wife to a husband who usually obliges me when I yell at him to pull over so I can take a picture! I love learning about photography and editing and am passionate about sharing what I've learned with others.

Comments

  1. Great. Welcome! Looking forward to reading your posts.

  2. Welcome Andrea!!

  3. Welcome, Andrea! Even though I’m a Nikon girl, I look forward to reading your posts about the other side! 🙂

  4. Welcome Andrea! Can’t wait for your posts and am so excited you’re on board! Not sure how many of “us” are out here, but I’m a Canon Power Shot SX10IS user. Mainly because I’m afraid to step up to the next level and my brain goes to mush as soon as I hear any technical camera setting terms! As a digiscrapper, I photograph my kids & husband, but also jewelry close ups for product shots on my Etsy site. Went with this model for as high quality as possible, without having to really know what to set the camera at! Would love any information I can absorb, that comes in plain language. Love macro photography and great photos, but am just not quite built to grasp it all! Thanks & I look forward to staying tuned!

    • Yayy!! another SX10IS user!!

      I am constantly struggling with the lack of resources available on using/troubleshooting this camera. Had I known before purchasing it, I would have forked the extra $$ on a true dSLR :/ Now that I don’t have that option, I am really hoping to find a knowledge base that can help me. I hope that is you, Andrea 🙂

    • Thanks, Susan! I also have a Canon Powershot S100 that I use as my “purse camera” so that I always have one with me, as I don’t have a phone that takes decent pictures. I’ll have to look into what the similarities and differences there are between that and the SX10. Hopefully, I can share some tips for getting the most out of this type of camera, as well!

  5. Welcome Andrea! Looking forward to finding out new things about my Canon 550d! I’d be particularly interested in learning about different lenses – apart from the kit lens I would like an “all-rounder” but everyone I ask has a different preference.

  6. Jennifer Holmes says:

    I was also at Amanda’s first in-person workshop. We were discussing getting consistent, sharp focus and Amanda talked about back-button focusing, which I had never even heard of! One of the other Canon users in attendance, (yes, it was Andrea 😉 came over, sat next to me, and helped me figure it out! Andrea is kind, encouraging, and is a wonderful choice to help out EE Canon users.

    • Thank you so much, Jennifer! I am so happy to feel like I made some wonderful friends at Amanda’s workshop. We are definitely going to have to think about a “reunion” some time soon!

  7. Welcome aboard fellow Canon shooter! Look forward to reading your posts!

  8. Welcome Andrea! I got my first DSLR in February ’12. Not a professional photographer, but I do love PHOTOGRAPHY. I’ve taken over 20k pics in the past 15 years. Some not so good, but others have been come out really great. I know very little about f/stops, aperture and so on. Still learning… I purchased the Photoshop Elements and will admit, I was so lost and frustrated. Eventually, I was able to do simple things. I’ve gotten a lil’ better, but it still can be challenging at times. I don’t use the program on a daily basis, more like once a week . This website has been really awesome in helping me take my love for photography to another level, but not a professional one. Thank goodness for ACTIONS! Again, welcome!

  9. YEAH!!! So glad to have a Canon Shooter writing here! I admit I know NOTHING about Nikon so when things get too technical, I quit reading when I see Nikon. Looking forward to your knowledge!

  10. Very cool!! I have a Canon 60D, and I look forward to reading your tips!

  11. A much awaited WELCOME to you!

    Joanne
    60D
    Michigan

  12. Karen Peterson says:

    Yeah!! So excited to see you here and learn more about my Canon equipment!

  13. Andrea is a ROCK STAR in my book! She is my neighbor, and has taught me so much about photography (even though I am a Nikon girl) and has taken precious pictures of my children. She is always my go to girl to help me with my own photography questions. She truly studies her craft and she knows the technical stuff well (makes sense for a computer programmer!). Good luck Andrea!

  14. Thank you so much for the warm welcome everyone! I can’t wait to get started sharing with you all! Don’t forget to let me know if you have any specific questions that you would like me to answer for you. I don’t promise to know everything, but I do promise to do my best to help you out as much as I can!

  15. Pauline Funiciello says:

    Hello Andrea! So excited you are here! Any chance you can write something about back button focus? I am so confused by it! Thank you!

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