Ok, So I have an idea for a cake for the contest. I have a few questions...
- does it have to be completely original? Not like I think I would win, however I have had this idea for a while but if I look in the galleries bits and pieces could be taken from others' cakes and I would hate for people to think i am copying?
- if I give credit to certain cakes is that just in bad taste and the cake shouldn't be entered?
- finally does an unprofessional portrait (no fancy back ground) really play on how you guys vote?

PM if you don't want to answer in here
and if this is just a bad taste post I apologize and can ask for it to be removed..

Thanks guys!!

I think we all have bits and pieces of other cakes stored in our memories and they come out sometimes even when we don't mean to copy. It's just what we've learned and if the cake isn't a close copy (a piece here or there from different cakes), I don't think you need to credit where each idea came from. If the cake closely resembles another individual's cake/idea, it's usually good etiquette to cite the source. I think it's okay to enter into a contest either way.

I like simple backgrounds like draped linens. Having a clean background may influence me a little cause it's easier to see cake details without a lot of clutter in the background but fancy photoshopped ones don't. I like the look of them, they just don't influence what I think of the actual cake.

I have a question...maybe i should put it in a different thread, but lets see if it gets answered here first...ok, I already have a pic in my gallery that i want to enter..can i??

Yes you can. If you PM Jackie, she'll add it to the contest gallery.

Thanks Randa!!! Yes I was just wondering because I know there was some debate about this in a previous post, and I did not want to ruffle feathers, but it is next to impossible for me to come up with a completely original idea..

Thanks again guys for all your input...

..I think the vast majority of our cakes come from inspiration from a previous cake!

Texassugar, that is true, I was referring to Disney, WB that type of thing....to make my point...hehehehehe I was rambling I guess....

I totally agree with everyone about the copying of cakes. I have looked at several cakes before and then taken those and run with them. I don't believe that copying almost the entire cake and then doing something like changing a border makes the cake your own. And I believe it is "nice manners" and polite to give the person credit.
Now--about photos--people understand if you aren't going to have a professional picture but what I think looks the worst is the background junk that we just don't think of----decorating bags, bowls of frosting etc. I don't know about you guys but when I'm done decorating a cake, my kitchen is a disaster!! I always take the cake and photograph it somewhere else instead of right there on the counter! So just keep in mind what others can see

I also think it's quite alright to take ideas from others....but always give them credit for the idea....even in our cake decorating contests...doesn't everyone take creativity into consideration?
Execution is probably the most important aspect...presentation, too should be considered...
a cluttered background doesn't get too many points in my book.

Thanks for all the input!!