I've gotten some calls about wedding cakes - folks wanting to see pics of what I've done. So far, I haven't made any wedding cakes - I've made some 2 tier cakes, on the small side, for my own practice with fondant and different techniques (gumpaste flowers, royal icing decorations, etc.) and they are quite nice looking, but not a big impressive wedding cake.

Here's my question: just because I haven't made a big elaborate wedding cake doesn't mean I don't have the skills to make one, so when people ask me for photos, should I include photos of cakes I'd be ABLE to make, as long as I tell them "this is not a cake I made, but I could make this" or is that unethical or tacky? Should I just go ahead and make some dummy wedding cakes so I have them in my 'book'? What do you all think?

I would make some dummy cakes and photograph them, so you have actually "made" them. I am kinda doing that now, i am using actual cakes though and letting my friends and family eat their weight in cake!!

Here is was I did when starting out:

I baked some cakes (the only time I use cake mix is on pratice cakes like this - its cheap & easy) and decorated them and took photos. My neighbors, family, and friends were the happy recipients of these cakes.

Also, buy every bride magazine out there, rip out cake pictures and put them into a folder. Tell the bride here are some cake you have made, but you "can really make anything you want, here is what's 'hot' now" and show her the magazine photos

also, I always have the latest issue of that british "Wedding Cakes" magazine on hand. Lots of photos for brides to look at.