When I contact a photographer I always offer to purchase prints and a digital copy for my website. Up until now I have never had to pay for the digital copy of the picture that is put on my website because the photographer puts their info on the picture and it is considered free advertising. A couple of the photographers have even given me 8 x 10 prints for free to put in my portfolio. I have no problem paying, I understand pictures is their business, but the quote from yesterday seems high to me.

For the Friday cake the photographer was rather snobby on the phone and told me to send him an email with my contact info and he would send me an email with ordering info. I asked how the wedding went and he said everything was fine. AnywayI receive his ordering info. According to his email he got 3 great shots of the cake. Only 3? Then he tells me that the 1 picture that has the full cake in it (the other 2 are close up pictures) also has the bride and groom cutting the cake. I am going to email him back asking if he has any full pictures without people in it. So the cost? Each 4 x 6 (which I always order larger than that) is $10 each and the digital copy is $50 for 1 or $100 for all 3. That is 1/5 the cost of the cake and ¼ of my profit. To top it off I am to order these without seeing them first.

For the Saturday cake the photographer gave me the info to look at the cake pictures online (they will be posted in a day or two) and he said he had lots of pictures for me to choose from. The digital copy is free as long as he can put his info on it and he didnt say what the prints would cost but I usually only order 1 or 2 so the cost is small for me.

I have 2 weddings coming up that use ZMedia photography. They are one of the most upscale photography in the Cleveland area. I am afraid to wonder what I will have to pay for that digital copy.

http://www.zphotomedia.com

And why don't you just take your own pictures?

I take my own pictures at home and at the venue. It is really easy to do. You can get the large black accordion science poster board, set it behind the cake at home or the venue. and snap away.

I was going to ask the same question, but honestly, I have had the chance to get some pretty kick a$$ pics of my cakes from the bride after the candles are lit, and the lights are dim, and the cake takes on a whole new "aura" and it is really great to have those in your portfolio. For me it never fails, the ones that the photographer takes are always better than mine. lol

I do take my own pictures but most venues I deliver cakes have really dim lighting and my camera sucks if there is not a lot of natural light. If the flash is off the picture is really blurry and if the flash is on the cake looks oddly bright/white only in the front. The pictures I take are just to show the cake was standing when I left. I always order a digital print from the photographer.

As for taking them at home, it would work in most circumstances. The cake for Friday would not have worked though as the design required set up at the venue. Plus, once the cake was on the table it was taller than me and hard to hold a backdrop that high. Not to mention I tend to deliver cakes by myself - who would hole the backdrop? The cake for Saturday had fresh roses on the cake that the florist provided at the reception site.

On this one, it appears as though you might have to bite the bullet or not get a professional pic of his cake.

We get upset when people don't see the value of our work, so we need to look at it from his point of view. He may be top of his game, have the best equipment etc. His prices are his prices.

Now, I might ask him if there is any room for professional courtesy, while still stating that I understand if there is no way to bring the price down. Also, you may want to be sure he understands that he will be getting photo credit, as this may change his price, however be sure to reiterate that you understand if it won't. How likely are we cakers to discount a cake if the bride says' But I'll put your cards on the table?"

I know he understands that he will be getting credit for the photo because he stated in the email that his info will be on the picture and only because of that will he allow me to put a picture on the website.

I don't mind paying, I just thought the fee was steep when compared to what I have paid in the past. That is why I was wondering what the "norm" is.

I have seen my cake on photographer's websites because they took the picture and there is no credit given. I don't charge a fee for them to keep that picture up there. I also wouldn't charge a florist a fee for putting up a cake dummy I have made.

I don't think there is a norm, but most of my photographers offer a free shot or two as a professional courtesy. I, of course, return the favor with some cupcakes or offering a little lesson in cakeing for their children if interested. Get to know the photographers as friends, not just as colleagues and I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

It sounds like this guy is a bit of a jerk, too. I've never had any photographers ask me to pay for anything, they know that they'll get a link back to their site and a photo credit, and they're happy with that. The norm around here is a cost of zero for professional photos as long as all the credit is given and it's a professional courtesy thing.

I emailed the photographer asking if there was anyway I could see the pictures before I purchased one. He emailed me the three pictures he took of the cake. The only decent one has the bride and groom in the picture cutting the cake. Not ideal, but the best out of the options.

The other two pictures were taken from above the cake looking down. I am thinking he stood on a chair to get the angle. In any case, both pictures are of the back of the cake and clearly show the seam in the ribbon. Tacky!

I love the images on the zmedia site...beautiful work!

Can you get the photo from the bride?

I was thinking that, too. Is the bride, groom, or their parents getting the rights to the pictures? If so, I bet they would share with you.

Getting a picture from the bride is possible. The way this photographer is I doubt he is giving the bride rights to the pictures but you never know. I feel akward asking for a picture from the bride. Makes me feel kind of cheap/shady.

Plus, it is a long story with this cake but the bride may not be too willing to help me out.

How important is it to you to get the photo? If you don't want to deal with either the photographer or the bride, what about using some photo-editing software to improve the pic you took with your camera? Can you clean it up enough to make it look good? Or are you willing to just forgo having a pic of this particular cake?

The only thing I can comment on is the price quote he gave you: it seems standard to me, we have several friends who are photographers and also do some professional shoots of our son. That's pretty much what we pay unless we buy quantity. Ordering photos sight unseen or without choosing which shot(s) you want is highly unusual. With all that said, most of photographers I know will share photos with the wedding vendors as a professional curtesy, but of course that's all it is, a curtesy. They are not obligated to do it.
Hope this helps, P

I always take my own photos of the cake (have backgrounds that I made just for this so I can take it before delivery and then again after I place it on the cake table) but usually the Bride offers to give me one of the professionals. I'd contact the Bride and see if she has one she can give to you.

Cat

I ended up ordering one from the photographer. None of the pictures were very good, but better than my camera.

Now, the wedding I had the next day, I just saw the pictures that photographer took and they look really good. Plus there are several (about 12 or 13) pictures of the cake - not just 3. And like every other time I get a digital copy from the photographer there is no charge.