Cake Photography Tutorial Is Now Online!

Decorating By TooMuchCake Updated 20 Jul 2011 , 1:41am by Colliegirl

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TooMuchCake Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 10:44pm
post #1 of 41

My son takes all my cake portraits, and he's done the photography for an article in ACD - the Gingerbread Barn by Michele Foster. He has been nice enough to make a short tutorial on how to take good pictures of cakes. He's got step-by-step methods for setting, lighting, positioning, point-of-view, and a little bit on camera settings.

Please take a look and let me know what you think of it. This is his first lesson on photography (he's 17) and he'd be glad to hear what you think of it.

http://www.cakedalaska.com/Caked_Alaska/Photo_tutorial.html

Thanks!
Deanna

40 replies
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Doug Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 10:52pm
post #2 of 41

speaking as someone who taught HS photography for over 5 years......

V E R Y

W E L L

D O N E !!!!

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lutie Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 10:55pm
post #3 of 41

You have many good reasons to be proud of your son's accomplishments in photography. Thanks for the great tips!

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iramirez94 Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 10:55pm
post #4 of 41

THANKS...

Oh.. so now my cakes will look like a million bucks... icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif
I can't wait to try to take pictures using the method on the tutorial.

Too bad I have to wait until July 12th when i make my twins jungle cake!

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BakingGirl Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 10:58pm
post #5 of 41

I recently posted a plea for help so I could take better pictures of my cakes. I got some good advice and with this great tutorial there is no excuse if my next cake photo is bad. Thanks for posting, your 17 year old is very clever indeed.

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Kyleen Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 10:58pm
post #6 of 41

Awsome information!!! Now I know what I am doing wrong. icon_smile.gif I need to hire your son =) ... or follow his wonderful tutorial. Tell him thanks, bunches.

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playingwithsugar Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 11:02pm
post #7 of 41

Thank you, Deanna, and thank your son for me, also.

Theresa icon_smile.gif

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briannastreats Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 11:03pm
post #8 of 41

Thank you for posting this! I've been needing some tips on how to take better photos...

Thanks again!!!

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milissasmom Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 11:08pm
post #9 of 41

Wow! Amazing! Thanks for posting this.

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Mamas Posted 25 Jun 2008 , 11:54pm
post #10 of 41

This is sooo cool! Thanks for sharing!

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gottabakenow Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 12:06am
post #11 of 41

wow thanks! my pics are awful... icon_smile.gif

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TooMuchCake Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 12:11am
post #12 of 41

I'm glad we could help. He's pleased you're pleased.
icon_smile.gif

Deanna

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toristreats Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 2:11am
post #13 of 41

Thanks. Those are great tips.

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lutie Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 3:18am
post #14 of 41

.... just one quick question.... what kind of camera does your son use?

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TooMuchCake Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 3:25am
post #15 of 41

For the tutorial photos, he used my point-and-shoot Nikon CoolPix. He used that to show that you don't *have* to have a complex camera for good cake photos. For his other photography work, he uses a Nikon D1x, which is shown in the photo with the flash set-up.

HTH,
Deanna

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summernoelle Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 3:25am
post #16 of 41

Thank you!

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sugarflour2 Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 3:41am
post #17 of 41

This is great inforamtion for me. My pictures always come out so bad. Your son is awesome at 17, just imagine what he'll be like in 10 years.

Thank you for sharing.

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ncbert Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 3:43am
post #18 of 41

Just what I needed! I just bought a new p&s camera. I managed to pick up some great tips from his tutorial. I've never been too sure of where the light should be coming from and what not.

Tell him thanks!
Nancy

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dbramble1020 Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 4:06am
post #19 of 41

Thank you! This is great information thumbs_up.gif I have such trouble taking pictures of my cakes.

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MessiET Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 12:34pm
post #20 of 41

Well Done!!!! Thank you so much for posting this info. It will be very helpful.

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staceyboots Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 2:19pm
post #21 of 41

Thanks so much! Great tutorial!!!

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TooMuchCake Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 5:23pm
post #22 of 41

We're glad we could help!

Deanna

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Bossy Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 5:27pm
post #23 of 41

Boy do I need this tutorial! Thanks

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ladyonzlake Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 5:38pm
post #24 of 41

Thanks for the tutorial Deanna! Your son did a great job! I do own your sculpting DVD but I haven't done a pet yet. Will your method work with IMBC?

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CakeWhizz Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 5:40pm
post #25 of 41

Thank you very much for this Deanna! Please let your son know he has a fan in the UK!

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TooMuchCake Posted 26 Jun 2008 , 6:27pm
post #26 of 41

Thanks, Jacqui! I haven't tried it with the IMBC since I like plain ol' buttercream. If you give it a try, can you let me know how it goes? You're the first person who's asked that and I don't know the answer!

icon_smile.gif
Deanna

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Sugarflowers Posted 27 Jun 2008 , 4:13am
post #27 of 41

Thanks Deanna for posting this. James did a great job on the tutorial and the photos for ACD. I really liked the various views for reference.

I wish I had this info when I first started.

Michele

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TooMuchCake Posted 28 Jun 2008 , 1:42pm
post #28 of 41

icon_smile.gificon_smile.gificon_smile.gif

Deanna

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FromScratch Posted 28 Jun 2008 , 2:02pm
post #29 of 41

Great pointers.. the only thing I can see is that the backdrop is a bit close to the back of the cake so you can see the wrinkles in the pictures with such a high aperture, but the general information in his tutorial is priceless for a novice photographer. WTG young man!! icon_biggrin.gif

I know it's almost impossible to get the same results with a point and shoot as you do with a DSLR/SLR, and his shots are wonderful with your coolpix. icon_smile.gif

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idontknow Posted 7 Jul 2011 , 8:22pm
post #30 of 41

saving this! thanks!!

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