Alright ladies I'm trying to assymble a portfolio and so far my photos are horrible. What do y'all use for a backdrop? Any other creative picture tips? Thank y'all

a piece of black faux velvet taped to the wall and draped over the stove. Turn on overhead light and all of the lights in the kitchen. Take your pic! Done.

See my gallery for examples. Some cakes are too big to fit so I just drape the fabric over some cabinets but underneath a light and take the pic (see Mad Hatter cake and Leaning Tower of Pisa).

Can also use white fabric or any color non shiny fabric that you feel best compliments the cake. Or shiny if you want.


There ya' go!

There is a great article in the first issue of Cake Central Magazine on this subject. A list of "do's" and "don't's" to create a good cake photo. One of the "do's" is to use a light colored backdrop and if it has any wrinkles iron them out. Black backdrop is a "don't" because black absorbs light so any flaws on your cake will certainly be noticable. Be aware of any visible things in the background that you don't want in your photo. Lighting is essential to create a good photo. Three lamps, arranged to eliminate shadows, with 60 watt haolgen bulbs is recommended. Also photograph your cake straight on as a downward shot will make your cake look smaller than it actually is. There are several other tips to taking a good photo but these are the ones I remember

Thanks for these tips. I really have a great deal to learn still about the photography of cakes.

Your welcome.also make sure your camera is a minimum of 8 megapixels.

I like to use foam boards that are spray painted. I also panel boards (sheets) that I cut into thirds and then paint them different colors.

I just bought some panel boards. I used them in the last cake photo that I took. Of course my cake isn't anything to compare to yours Rylan

What are panel boards?

The one I have I bought at a craft store. Same thing I bought my kids for their science fair project. Mine is one piece that has three sides that are about the same size as a piece of poster board (the large ones) The two sides fold in toward the center one which makes for easy storage. It opens up to be very wide. Don't know if I'm making any sense or not I'm not very good at describing things

Thanks. Now I know what you are talking about.

Like I said I'm not very good at describing things.

another great tip for food photography is to use natural light whenever possible. I notice that if I use "normal" light, I get a yellowish cast to my pictures. With natural light, I don't have that issue.

I do the same as the others here...science-fair type board draped with fabric.

Happy picture taking!

cool info... Thanks all!

Definetely natural light is the best.

I use a tension style curtain rod to hold my backdrop fabric. Suspend across a doorway or hall, place a table beneath, and let it drape down then over the table surface. Works great, easy to put up and down, and no marks on the wall...

I usually try to photograph in the early morning when i have nice light coming through my dining room window. When I don't have that light, I will fill in with a bounce flash. Usually in my photographs my cakes are on my vintage diner cake stand, with wood table and the same green wall behind, so there is that consistency in my shots. (i am using a f/1.8 lens so I get great shots in low light indoors). Perhaps the formula will change if I get to using a portfolio for sales, but i still enjoy having some hint of background in shots with the cakes being the definite focus.

I was just complaining about the color being "off" in my pic's the other day....my daughter's bf told me to turn off the flash...it washes out color. I did , despite that the area was not well lit, and it was amazing! The diferece was huge.