I was wondering if it was wrong to print pictures of other people's cakes out ( ONLY!! ) for references not duplicating, unless I asked permission first. I would like to compile a book to carry around with me. I put my pictures in it of course but didn't know about others with the explanation that it was not my work.
Thanks
I would DEFIFINATELY get the permission of the person who's cake you want to print first of all AN YOU MUST print the "artists" name on that photo. I assume you are putting together a portfolio of your work and insprirations for others. I for one would not have a problem with it as long as whoever wanted to do this showed respect for fellow decorator and got the ok and again make sure that anyone's pic. you print has that persons name on that picture.
I have two separate notebooks...one of cakes I have done...and another of cake ideas. I make it quite clear that the idea book is just that. Ideas. I have collected cake pictures for quite some time and have no idea whose designs they are. I saved them by color or type, etc...not by origination. As long as I'm honest about which are my own and which aren't, I feel there is nothing wrong with sharing ideas with people looking for inspiration.
I think that if you post things on the internet or sites like these you need to accept the fact that people will print or save your work for future references or ideas. If you don't want them too, then either don't post them or dissable the right click (on websites.)
That being said, if you are going to print or even save pitures you really should give credit where credit is due. When you save the picture, save the orginal person's name in the file name or in the file. Then if you print it out you can give that person credit.
I do like the idea of having seperate books for your cakes and other cakes. That away there is no confussion and everyone gets credit for their work. If someone looks through my book of cakes they are going to figure that they are all mine, unless it is other wise stated. I'd rather not have to say that is mine that is someone elses, that is mine, that is someone elses.
I would not mind one of my photos going in a reference/idea book. I watermark all of my photos (well most of them are watermarked, still in the process of doing all of them) I really don't have that many cakes yet that people would want to use, except maybe my guitar cake. So I personally wouldn't mind. If possible though I would ask the persons permission.
How is anyone ever going to know?
If you want to print any/all of my pics and show them to your customers to gather ideas - go for it! As long as you're not taking credit for my work, I could care less.
Conversely, I've swiped thousands of cake pictures off the net and put them in a book to show clients. Sometimes people don't know what they like until they SEE it. Unfortunately, I haven't done THAT many cakes (and I haven't even bothered to photograph even 10% of those I have done)... so my only option is to print photos of other peoples' work and explain that I didn't do it, but if that's what they want, I will do my best to replicate it (with a bit of artistic license).
As far as giving credit where credit is due - as long as you're saying you didn't do the original cake, I don't think you need to go so far as to say "So-and-so did this cake... and that one was done by blah-blah-blah..." Because who cares?!?
A lot of the photos I have are watermarked ... and I've never tried to hide that they're not mine.
If you find a penny on the sidewalk, are you obligated to track down it's owner? Turn it into the police department? Using photos to help a client decide or for you to get inspiration is about the same thing. Not worth the time to get worked up about the "moral aspects" of it.
And that's my opinion. 
I have two separate notebooks...one of cakes I have done...and another of cake ideas. I make it quite clear that the idea book is just that. Ideas. I have collected cake pictures for quite some time and have no idea whose designs they are. I saved them by color or type, etc...not by origination. As long as I'm honest about which are my own and which aren't, I feel there is nothing wrong with sharing ideas with people looking for inspiration.
i really like this idea.
I have a computer disk and a 3 ring binder full of cakes I find online that I want to remember for later. I use other decorators cakes for inspiration, but never pass off anyone's work off as my own. I try to copy and past the website I found the photo on just beneath the cake. This also helps me later if I want to remember who made it! If you have someone flipping through your book, they'll be sure to notice these aren't your cakes.
I think as long as you're not taking credit for these cakes there's no harm done. 
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