What do you do when people ask you to send them photos of the progress of a cake you are working on for them? I'm talking about gumpaste figures, etc. that you have done a week or more out so they can harden and dry. Do you send them or do you have a polite way of saying you don't do that?

I have no problems sending them what I have done since it will be their cake anyway. Helps me too since I can get feedback from them before I deliver the cake (in case anything needs to be changed).

I've had brides ask that too...
I just say that "I don't take pictures prior as you need to see the whole cake together to appreciate it. And that as an artist, it's never a complete piece until all the elements and details are together. Hope you understand my dedication to the details of your custom cake." Then I usually close my email or conversation with..."Imagine how delighted and surprised you will be when you see it all together!"

Wow--that is serious micro managing!!
My two cents---a resounding (however nicely said) NO!!
Would they ask the caterer to send progress pictures of the meal as it's being prepared, or if a special outfit is being made--progress pictures of the alterations as they're being done? I think not.
Besides, do you REALLY have time for that? Are you being paid for the extra time, equipment (camera, etc.)?
I teach a business class for cake folk and one of the things I try to impress upon my students is, "don't start something that you can't keep doing'. As your business continues to grow, I promise you, you will not have time for progress pictures.

ok.. now what if it is your pain in the a&& sister-in-law?? lol. I knew I didn't want to do this one to begin with...

Well...then I would have skipped all the "nice talk" of my above post and just said "do you want me to have time to finish it? Then stop bugging me about it" lol!

heh, charge them extra for it!

No.

It's an unreasonable request because the necessary details should have been well covered during the planning stage(s) of the cake and by the time things are being made, it's too late to make changes.

I don't order a meal at Emeril's and then ask to go into the kitchen and watch it being prepared.......I could, but I wouldn't because I know better.

MHO
Rae

I wouldn't! I can imagine people starting up with the "Oh, I thought it would be more ____... I don't like that colour after all - can you change it? (seeing as the cake is not finished yet)" Just because they can't imagine how the final cake will look when they see it without the decorations/finishing touches.

Did your SIL just ask you for progress pics of the gumpaste figures though? ...perhaps she doesn't believe you hand-make them yourself and is sneakily asking for proof! LOL

No... it doesn't matter who they are.
Unless they want to pay more for the photos, it takes time to take the photos, download them, and email them. I'm more than happy to charge an hourly rate if they want to though. I have more important things to do, if they didn't trust how the cake was going to turn out then they shouldn't have me doing it.

I should specify I have sent photos twice before.... however it was for cookies that were being shipped out of state. The bride wasn't going to be arriving until hours before the parties and she wanted to see them. But i only sent photos after the cookies were shipped and just so she could see them and know what to expect as she was going to be pretty busy anyways.

I'll just say no, and won't even apologise. Especially with someone with control issues.

I think I'll respond with:
"I'd rather it be a surprise, since it is our gift to little A. Do you trust me?"

What could she possibly say back?

I love the "Do you trust me?" bit of that! She can hardly say "no".

ok. That's what I sent her... let's see what she says back.

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Very nicely handled.....and a fun surprise for her to look forward to.

I'm sure it's killing her. Ha! Serves her right!