Hi guys:
I'm a newbie in the business and I'm setting up my new website.
And I am having 'moral' issues about using cake pictures that are posted on the internet.
I will be telling my customers that I didn't make those cakes but that they/ I can use them for ideas or inspiration.
I feel really guilty about this, is this the right thing to do???
What do you think?
All comments welcome.
Thanks,
Adriana
Ask permission of the cake creator, and then give credit to the creator of the cake, on your site. If the creator says No, that is the end of that.
If the creator says Yes, I suggest saying something like "Cake created by Jane Doe, Anywhere, USA."
There have been numerous threads about people using pictures without permission, and especially without giving credit.
Personally, I would NEVER use someone else's cake picture on my website.
JMHO
Ask permission of the cake creator, and then give credit to the creator of the cake, on your site. If the creator says No, that is the end of that.
If the creator says Yes, I suggest saying something like "Cake created by Jane Doe, Anywhere, USA."
There have been numerous threads about people using pictures without permission, and especially without giving credit.
Personally, I would NEVER use someone else's cake picture on my website.
JMHO
I agree 1000% about the permission and the way to show that it isn't yours. That is the best way to not accidentally misslead anyone and to not end up in a "nasty thread" here on CC...LOL My opinion is also the same I wouldn't use someone elses photos either if you have enough of your own photos that's definitely the way to go.
JMHO as well
I would get decorating a whole bunch of styrofoams to take pictures, clean them up and do something different on it. People want to see your abilities first.
You could then put a special section that says, not on the front page, of course...here are some cakes that inspire me decorated by some really talented people. Or something to that effect.
(we can discuss which pics of mine you'd like to use...just joking!)
That's just my take on it!
I would suggest using written, tantalizing descriptions for cake options if you are lacking your own photos. You will build example pictures quickly as you go. I would not use someone else's pictures on my site, even with their permission. It gives the (inacurate) sense that you are not able to do that, or else you would have used your own picture. <<<<Cheryl
Sugarfrosted has given you sound advice in my opinion. However, to say "I would NEVER use someone elses pics on my website" I am in a bit of disagreement with. I would have to ask, what is the difference in keeping other peoples pictures in a magazine in your home or business, or, having them on your website? All to often brides and other cake customers bring in a photo or description of a cake they have seen somewhere else. To say I can recreate that cake is not a bad thing. To say I created a cake that I did not create is a bad thing.
I do not have a website and simply have no need for using other peoples pictures, BUT, I do not think it is a bad thing for people to use other peoples pics as long as the proper credit is given. I certainly would not mind as long as my watermark was on the picture.
Hope this hasn't confused you and I do hope it helps you in your decision. I am sure once you get your business going you will have plenty of pictures of your own to replace any you may have given proper permission to borrow. Best of luck in your new adventure and WELCOME TO CC where you are bound to get all the help you could possibly need! 
I personally also would not put someone else's photos on my site; however, I think it is okay if you would like to have an "inspirations" page with links listed to other decorator's sites where your clients can find pics of cakes they would like you to recreate for them.
You need to go on a dummying marathon.
Yes, inspiration is great.. but you need to be able to show the customers that YOU can reproduce it. Invest in some dummys and a WHOLE LOAD frosting/fondant of your choice and go to it.
I agree that it's fine to have links to sites for inspiration.. maybe not your local competitors 
I would not post cakes that were not my own, even if I made it clear they were just for inspiration. The reason? No two cakes ever look alike. When people see a picture of a cake, they want THAT cake! Not your interpretation of it. And if you don't know what sizes, what tips, what colors, the original creator used, your cake won't exactly match the cake in the picture.
The others have given you sound advice. Make a ton of dummies and show people what YOUR cakes look like.
I agree with FlowerGirlMN. Making dummy cakes is the way best way to add to your portfolio. Don't feel bad about not having many pictures to post on your site in the beginning. Some sites only provide a small variety of pictures anyway. Your few pictures will still provide a representation of your work and talent. Personally, I would not post other people's cakes on my site. An inspirational page could lead the bride to contract with another baker rather than you getting the business. I would keep the inspirational pictures in a separate portfolio at your place of business. That's just me, though.
teecakes, the difference between posting pics on your website nad having a mag in your house is the first is illegal!! it doesn't matter if you give credit, every pic is copyrighted by hte person who took it, and it is illegal to use it without their consent. you MUST get their permission first! having a mag in your house is okay because you paid for the right to have those pics in your house.
Be warned that if you use photos that belong to other people you need to have permission. Photos are automatically under copywrite, that means that they belong to whoever took the picture, with the people on this website alone cruising for ideas on cake websites you WILL get caught at some point if you don't have the okay. Make sure that when you write to people you save the reply stating that it's okay to use their photo.
People tend to disagree about how bad it is to use someone else's photo but remember that it's a legal question in black and white of if it's okay to lift them. SOme people do think that it should be okay but it isn't legally.
It can also get you banned from CC, especially after you post a question asking if it's okay (hard to plead ignorance).
i don't think it's a wise idea. if you don't have any pictures or not enough, then invest in some cake dummies and decorate those. i don't think people would want to see their pictures on someone else site. customers can also go on the web and find what their looking for...many brides do that. they often search on the web for a particular design or designs and then bring them to the potential cake decorators.
Sugarfrosted has given you sound advice in my opinion. However, to say "I would NEVER use someone elses pics on my website" I am in a bit of disagreement with. I would have to ask, what is the difference in keeping other peoples pictures in a magazine in your home or business, or, having them on your website? All to often brides and other cake customers bring in a photo or description of a cake they have seen somewhere else. To say I can recreate that cake is not a bad thing. To say I created a cake that I did not create is a bad thing.
I do not have a website and simply have no need for using other peoples pictures, BUT, I do not think it is a bad thing for people to use other peoples pics as long as the proper credit is given. I certainly would not mind as long as my watermark was on the picture.
Hope this hasn't confused you and I do hope it helps you in your decision. I am sure once you get your business going you will have plenty of pictures of your own to replace any you may have given proper permission to borrow. Best of luck in your new adventure and WELCOME TO CC where you are bound to get all the help you could possibly need!
Thank you for supporting my advice, it goes right along with the opinions others have stated on other threads on this subject.
However, I do have a website... and I repeat, I would NEVER put someone else's cake pictures on my website, even if permision to do so were available to me. It would give my clients the wrong impression, in my opinion.
Adrianita, I agree with the others who have suggested that you should decorate some dummy cakes to take pictures of. Show your potential clients what YOU can do, not what others have done nor what you can copy from others.
teecakes, the difference between posting pics on your website nad having a mag in your house is the first is illegal!! it doesn't matter if you give credit, every pic is copyrighted by hte person who took it, and it is illegal to use it without their consent. you MUST get their permission first! having a mag in your house is okay because you paid for the right to have those pics in your house.
beccakelly, I think you misunderstood what I said. It is not illegal to post others pics on your website if you have the proper permission to do so, and I did say one would need the proper permission from the owner of the photo before placing it on their website.
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