Do any of you have an idea book of cakes for potential clients to look through? Do you use all of your own pictures or do you combine them with pictures from magazines that you know you can do? Someone asked me if I had a book and I don't I just have a few pictures. Also I am just starting out, so I don't have a lot of pictures... but looking at cakes in magazines, I know that I can do them as well and would like to offer that as an option. What do you think?

Thanks,

Missa!

Hi Missa,
I am also just starting out. I have a book of about 12 pics, so far.(I still have about 4 cakes on a roll of film i'm waiting to develop). When I have a client i show them my book of pics and then ideas from books that I can do, that will go with what they're looking for. Try and make a cake for every occassion that comes along so that you can quickly add to your own book. Good Luck!!

First put your cake pics in, then pics from mags that you KNOW you can do. Just don't put any pic in that you are unsure about. And let the customer know that they are samples of cakes you can do. And I agree with jg556a about making cakes for any occassion so you can get in practice & add to your cake pic book.

Just wanted to mention one thing....

before you put pictures of cakes that you KNOW that you can do....make a practice cake of it to make SURE that you can do it. I only mention it because I have looked at cakes and thought "I can do that!" then tried to make it and it didn't look nearly as good on my first try

I only say this to help - because nothing would be worse than taking an order for a cake that you have never made and being up until 3:00am with a cake that STILL doesn't look right and is due in 5 hours <grin>

i have a photo album of about 125 pics for them to look though all of cakes i have done... however i do anything.. any shape and flavor... so im constantly building up my portfolio.... i only wish i took pictures of all the cakes i have done

I have a webpage that I post all my cakes on.. that way they can look from their homes, but if I get busier then I will put them into books, and instead of just adding pics of cakes I didnt do but think I could do, I would do the "I think I can do this cake" cake and then picture it next to the one I did.

i use my own pictures...as i make my cakes i add them in ....let me just say that its taken a while to build it up....i still wish that i had more wedding cakes in there ....
but when they are needed i just show the wilton books and offer my opinion if i could make it....

they always know that im still learning thats why im cheaper than the local bakery.

so customer are usually understanding.....

i bought a big black leather book at walmart 10.00 its great. and when i make anything i just take pix and add them. its great when u have a digi cam. i just upload them and send them off to walmart

anyways i just add the pics to the book with prices. and that way ppl can see what ive done and w/e its pretty handy..i think i need to get another book just for chocolates..seeing that its filling up pretty fast