This week we officially began summer.  It's time for sprinkler, popsicles, poolside chats, and lemonade.  Summer holds so many simple pleasures.  Perhaps that's because it seems slower and more relaxed than the rest of the year.  Perhaps it's because as children this was the time of year we had the most time on our hands to make memories.  Whatever the reason this season is ripe with opportunities to enjoy and capture some of life's simple pleasures.

be thankful by tou_vlo

Our reader/follower driven series continues with some very nice photos this week.  Our project is beginning to take shape.  If you haven't already submitted feel free to do so here through email, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  Submit as often as you like, but remember to add the #SavourLife hashtag so we can find your work.  Read on for some more pics.

The second week of our #SavourLife campaign is complete.  This week we saw some terrific photos.  If you didn't get a chance to submit anything, don't fret.  We will keep this going for as long as people still show an interest.  For now, our focus is summer.  So send us your photos that illustrate what you love about summer.  It could be melting popsicles, or sparklers, or maybe a big pool splash.

black and cab from metropochris

You can get us your photos by emailing them (click the contact us button), posting to our Facebook page, or through Twitter or Instagram.  Just be sure to tag your submission with #SavourLife so we can find it.

Check out some great summer simple pleasure pics ahead.

You’ve probably noticed our ‘savour’ tags included in mosts posts here.  Savouring life is what this blog is all about.  We want to help you get the very best out of life and appreciate the simple pleasures that make life so wonderful.

Summer Strawberries from madebymikeblog

This Friday and for many Friday’s to come we will be running a Photo Finish Roundup post.  This post will feature photos from Today’s Nest readers and followers.  Our theme for June is Summer Simple Pleasures.  Submit your photo(s) that illustrates how you savour the simple pleasures of summer.  Maybe it’s a photo of your feet propped up by the pool or your kids splashing about.  How about your homemade snowcones? 

Check out the details and some of our favorite submissions from this week...

May is National Photography Month.  Today we are presenting a quick photography guide.  While most of these tips will apply to many subjects, our aim today is food photography.  Because food plays such an important part in all of our nesting efforts it accounts for about 40% of the posts here at Today’s Nest.  We cover lots of other topics, but let’s face it… we all love food.

Please keep in mind that the following is just a quick guide to get you started.  Photography is fascinating and there is much to learn.  Beyond the technical stuff, you must find what appeals to you.  You are producing a creative extension of yourself.  Every tip won’t work for everyone.  Find what works best for you and make your photos your own.

savour… a thousand words

I've been putting this post off long enough.

I don't know if the word has finally spread or if it's because it is National Photography Month, but my calendar has been full of photography jobs lately.  Of course, I don't mind, but I am admittedly a little surprised at the amount work coming my way.  That's the last I'm going to say about it before I jinx myself.

I have intended to write this post and share some behind the scenes stuff for many months now.  I received a couple of emails lately that sparked new interest in this post for me.  Now seems like the perfect time.

savour... the inside track

Digital photography is amazing in so many ways.  One of the very best things about it is that it has made taking lots of photos more accessible and inexpensive than ever before.  I take many photos… many, many photos.  I have taken hundreds, maybe even thousands more than I did when I shot pictures with a film camera.  Not only do I have photos for work, but I also have the “normal” photos of kids, vacations, dog, parties, etc.  We have the luxury of shooting loads of pictures, but now what do we do with them?

If you have the beginnings of an organizational system you are already way ahead of the pack.  The truth is many of us either save them all on our memory card or, if we do download them to our computer, we let the computer decide where they go and how they will be organized.  Worse yet, some will just take the memory card to have prints made and then erase the original data.

Setting up a workable system is easier than you think.  Once it is done you will have saved hours in searching for photos later.  The trick is to set up a filing system that can grow without drastic changes as your photo collection grows.  Then you will need a way to label the photos so that your computer will know how to find them easily.  Lastly, you need a way (ways) to store your photos in several places in case one or more fails.

savour... worth a thousand words

Get the rest after the jump...