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tootie0809
Regular Member
Joined: May 06, 2008
Posts: 166
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 Posted:
Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:31 am |
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I can't take a good picture of my cakes to save my life. What are some good tips to take photos of cakes? What are the best angles, backgrounds, lighting, etc. to show off the height or detail of cakes from side and top? |
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TooMuchCake
Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 01, 2005
Posts: 1504
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Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:20 pm |
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amberhoney
Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 14, 2006
Posts: 298
Location: Levin, New Zealand
Birthday: Dec 10
Gallery Supporter Member
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Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:44 pm |
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Don't rush it. I've seen photos of lots of good cakes here ruined by people taking the photo the second they decide they are finished, with icing bags scattered around and mess everywhere. Soooo tacky  Almost all of my cakes are photographed outside, if I can, I much prefer natural light.
Try and have a neutral background, like the tutorial TooMuchCake showed, so that the background doesn't distract from the cake. Unless its a really gorgeous wedding or party setup  |
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tootie0809
Regular Member
Joined: May 06, 2008
Posts: 166
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Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:07 pm |
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Thank you! This is just what I was looking for!  |
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Nicolle711
Regular Member
Joined: Jul 03, 2008
Posts: 137
Location: New York City
Birthday: Jul 11
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:56 am |
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Deanna, great tutorial!  |
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TooMuchCake
Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 01, 2005
Posts: 1504
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:20 am |
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txcupcake
Regular Member
Joined: Jul 15, 2008
Posts: 173
Location: DFW, TX
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:33 am |
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I have saved that tutorial to my favorites. Thank you so much! I read a lot of food/baking blogs, and a lot of the bloggers take their own pictures. I've found it is very popular to take a picture of a group of something - for example, cupcakes - and focus on the one in the foreground, leaving the ones in the background blurred. I love how this looks, but all I have is a digital point and shoot and I haven't been successful replicating it. Does anyone know if you need a more advanced camera for this technique? |
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TooMuchCake
Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 01, 2005
Posts: 1504
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:31 am |
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I asked my son (author of the tutorial) and he said that most point-and-shoots have a fixed aperture. (A short depth of field is what you are looking for, and you'd need to be able to manually adjust the aperture for that.) He said you might be able to try using less light and hope it tricks the camera into opening up the aperture. For a really good shot like that, though, you'd need to borrow a more advanced camera. You may be able to see if there's any info in your camera's manual that will help you find out your camera's capabilities.
Go to the Caked Alaska page titled "Wedding... Cookie?" The title photo is f5.6 and 1/125 seconds using a flash.
HTH,
Deanna |
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txcupcake
Regular Member
Joined: Jul 15, 2008
Posts: 173
Location: DFW, TX
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:22 am |
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Thanks Deanna. I appreciate the information! |
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the cake whole
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 30, 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Brooklin, Ontario
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:31 am |
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That is a great tutorial! Well done!! |
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tonimarie
Frequent Member
Joined: May 13, 2007
Posts: 234
Location: Jordan, Montana
Birthday: Jun 12
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:38 pm |
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missmeg
Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 04, 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Seacoast, NH
Birthday: Nov 09
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:52 pm |
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I'm so lucky my father is a professional-amature photographer  . By that I mean he buys all the expensive equipment, knows how to use it, but is terrified of putting himself out there to actually take pictures of...you know...PEOPLE. We have a portable studio he made specifically for taking pictures of my cakes (see my gallery). He's been on a learning curve with it, but I love how they look. The best part is that he'll come over as early as 6 am or as late as 10 pm to snap a cake pic if I need him to. |
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indydebi
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15085
Location: Indianapolis IN
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:58 pm |
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Deanna, tell your son that is very well written with great examples of good-bad-and-ok examples! Good detailed info written so a non-photography geek can understand it and follow the instructions.
It is a great talent to be able to teach .... many experts tend to talk in expert-ease and the 'students' are lost and unable to understand. (Ever try to get a computer guy to explain something to you?  ) He has a great talent in this regard AND looks like he's a darn good photographer!!
Great job and thanks so much for sharing this with us!! |
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bobwonderbuns
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 17, 2006
Posts: 3878
Location: one block from the edge of the earth...
Birthday: Nov 01
Gallery Supporter Member
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:26 pm |
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A few tips -- always use natural light if possible. That means use natural sunlight (near a window or outside) and lose the flash. My pix are getting better but they still need some work...  |
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MessyBaker
Forum Addict
Joined: May 25, 2007
Posts: 884
Gallery Supporter Member
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:08 pm |
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| tootie0809 wrote: | | I can't take a good picture of my cakes to save my life. What are some good tips to take photos of cakes? What are the best angles, backgrounds, lighting, etc. to show off the height or detail of cakes from side and top? |
No advice, but that dog in your avatar is so adorable!!!! |
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