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Catalog of your work

post #1 of 16
2/19/05 at 8:04pm
Thread Starter 
Hello All,

I had a friend ask the other day for a "catalog" of some cakes I've done. She wants to take it to work with her. I've taken pictures of them, but more for my own use. They are not very good pictures.

Do any of you have something printed of your work? How do you go about putting something together? I'm still new at this so don't have a large collection of pictures. I'm thinking of decorating up some dummy cakes to make pictures.

Thanks for all your help,
Michelle
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post #2 of 16
2/19/05 at 8:17pm
Hi Michelle,

I take a picture of every cake I do! I take pics of all sides of the cake too. I bought me a photo album only for cakes & I keep everything in order by the date I made it! The first cake I made is the first cake in the book.... let me say the ones that come after are major improvements from my first cake!!! icon_lol.gif I was using a disposable camera until my hubby got me a digital camera for Christmas. I love it!!

So do take pics of all your cakes! Now if I could just figure out how to get them online so I can share them with all my new friends on cakecentral!!

Decorating dummies is a good idea too. Anything to show your talented!! Good luck~ & have much fun getting an album together~
~Tina~
"Learn from a turtle... it only makes progress when it sticks it's neck out"
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"Learn from a turtle... it only makes progress when it sticks it's neck out"
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post #3 of 16
2/19/05 at 9:38pm
A portfolio is definitely a must if you want to sell your cakes. You may want to have 5x7 or larger print outs in a laminated page, as many fingers will be gliding through them.
Also too, what I've done is have a smaller album that I carry in my bag with 4x6 pictures in case someone is interested in what I do...I'm a beginner aswell, so I need to market myself icon_wink.gif
If you and friends have computers, a very effective tool in this modern era is a CD... Burn a CD with either a Power Point presentation of your cakes, or just have your pictures on it. There are printers out there that allow you to print a label directly on your CD, so you can print your business and contact info on it. They are cheap, and these you can hand out as your business cards!
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

www.cakeobsessions.com
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Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

www.cakeobsessions.com
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post #4 of 16
2/19/05 at 10:56pm
I have a portfolio I gladly show any potential customer. Mine are the digital pics printed out 1-2 per page with a description. Each page has other filler clip art and watermark. It just makes everything look more festive but does not take away from the cakes.
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post #5 of 16
2/20/05 at 3:33am
If you want to make a catalog or brochure of your work, Microsoft makes a great program for doing that called Publisher. But there are cheaper programs that pretty much do the same thing.
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post #6 of 16
2/20/05 at 5:14am
In addition to the "hardcopy" catalog of photos, you may want to invest some time and/or money in a web site. I believe many ISPs give you some space for a web page. If you want to branch out, you can use a web site service and create your own. That's what I did. I do not take any orders through my site. It is basically a visual portfolio with a way to contact me. I know NOTHING about HTML (or whatever program is used to create web sites). The service I use is all point and click. If you know how to operate Word and can upload photos, you can create your own web site. I use GoDaddy.com. The initial fee and monthly payments for a 5 page web site are surprisingly low. My web site is www.custombuytom.com if you want to see what can be achieved.

Also, when taking pictures, I create backdrops and little scenarios to go along with my cakes and cookies. I looked at various catalogs (Williams-Sonoma was an inspiration) to see how they photographed their cookies, etc. Once I started doing this, people really took notice. I'm obviosuly selling my product, but if you take a picture of a beautiful cake with your dishrack full of drying dishes in the background, some people might be turned off. (I know from experience!) Good luck!
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post #7 of 16
2/20/05 at 6:15am
cookieman, you are one talented cookie!! i saw your website and you certainly have a gift!! thumbs_up.gif btw, what's this about william-sonoma? do you get ideas /inspiration from their china? living in italy, i have the opportunity to purchase some of his china at 50- 80% off what they sell in the states!! icon_lol.gif the factory where they make the china is a couple of hours from me. there's also lenox, tiffany & co. and banana republic.
that's another positive about being here!!
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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post #8 of 16
2/20/05 at 6:28am
Diane--
Their catalogs here feature baked goods during the holiday seasons. Right now thay have an array of Easter cookies and cakes (it's where I got the idea to do my Easter Bonnet cake--pics in the galleries under holidays if you want to check it out). They photo-style their food in a beautiful way.

P.S. -- I would go broke living a few hours away from Williams-Sonoma and a Banana Republic factories where I could get 50-80% off!!!
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post #9 of 16
2/20/05 at 10:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godiva

If you and friends have computers, a very effective tool in this modern era is a CD... Burn a CD with either a Power Point presentation of your cakes, or just have your pictures on it. There are printers out there that allow you to print a label directly on your CD, so you can print your business and contact info on it. They are cheap, and these you can hand out as your business cards!



I read your post to my husband and he told me they even make CDs the size of business cards. That is a very good idea. Thank you.

Everyone has such good ideas. Thank you all. This really is a great place.

I uploaded a page I did for one of the cakes. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&pos=-1626 I was able to take picture of it with a better background than my kitchen counter since it's still here. Everyone let me know your honest opinion. I see so many pictures that look like they were taken in a studio. They look so yummy.

Thanks for all your help,
Michelle
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post #10 of 16
2/20/05 at 10:58am
Hey, we all had to start somewhere, right? I started out by making desserts for restaurants, like a dummy I didn't take pictures and didn't worry about the backgrounds if I did take a picture because the only thing that saw my cake was the inside of a refrigerator door and a box. icon_lol.gif Then I got into doing special occasion cakes, started taking pictures but didn't bother with the backgrounds in the pictures because I was just so darn excited I had actually decorated a cake !! icon_lol.gif Now, I take pictures as often as possible, print out 4x6's and keep my album with me at all times, but I always move the new pictures to the front because they are a lot better then when I started!! I agree with cookieman...the backgrounds in the pictures should be taken into consideration...it just makes a better presentation. I guess I have to go back and crop my cake pictures and add an attractive background icon_wink.gif My next step is a website...I do websites for other organizations but haven't taken the time to do one for me...go figure!
Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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post #11 of 16
2/20/05 at 11:17am
that is sooo funny, because i do the exact same thing! when i first started out doing cakes, i didn't take pictures because i was doing it for friends and family, but now that i'm getting paid, i take 2 pictures of each cake i do...and yes, i put the new ones in the front. i don't like showing my beginning cakes. i think when i get enough pictures of different kinds of cakes i will put away my beginning ones for good! icon_rolleyes.gif
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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post #12 of 16
2/20/05 at 11:47am
I know what you mean...I just looked at the picute of the very first sheet cake I made for someone and I feel like calling her and just giving her a new one! icon_lol.gif It just so happens I will see her tomorrow and you can bet your bippy that I am going to show her my album!
Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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post #13 of 16
2/20/05 at 12:30pm
Quote:
Quote:

I read your post to my husband and he told me they even make CDs the size of business cards. That is a very good idea

.

My husband told me later that his dad actually has the equipment to burn these business card size CD's, so guess what I'll be doing this week icon_wink.gif)
Just gotta check how much they go for...

Sweet success icon_wink.gif
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

www.cakeobsessions.com
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Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

www.cakeobsessions.com
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post #14 of 16
2/20/05 at 3:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsMissey

I know what you mean...I just looked at the picute of the very first sheet cake I made for someone and I feel like calling her and just giving her a new one! icon_lol.gif It just so happens I will see her tomorrow and you can bet your bippy that I am going to show her my album!



Make sure you thank her for giving you your first opportunity. I'm always grateful to the people that gave me my start and they get very sweet deals to this day.
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post #15 of 16
2/20/05 at 6:00pm
Oh, no worries there! I thank each and everyone for the opportunity! icon_biggrin.gif
Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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