Requesting for picture of cake before delivery? - Page 2

When I do a great job, I am proud of my work and post pictures all over the internet as well as texting one to my spouse. If you are confident that you've done a great job, why NOT send the pic? That would be like a seamstress telling a customers they weren't allowed a final fitting and they needed to just "trust" that the wedding dress will fit.

If she wants to make changes, let her... and charge her for them.

When I do a great job, I am proud of my work and post pictures all over the internet as well as texting one to my spouse. If you are confident that you've done a great job, why NOT send the pic? That would be like a seamstress telling a customers they weren't allowed a final fitting and they needed to just "trust" that the wedding dress will fit.

If she wants to make changes, let her... and charge her for them.

I was thinking about this and I actually did send a picture of a half-done wedding cake recently to a groom who was being a pain in the butt. He kept emailing asking how it was going so I send him a photo of the cake and told him it was "in progress." He left me alone after that.

 

I'd guess, though, that most people who ask for a cake photo want to approve the cake, which usually meant that they're going to want changes or just say that something is wrong in general. If someone is being really persistent about it, I'd tell them that I'll send a photo but they have to understand that the cake was done to their specifictions and if there are any changes they might not be able to be made (color changes, etc.), and they'll incur a substantial last-minute change fee.

I am certainly proud of my cakes, too, but shame wasn't mentioned in then reasons given as to why many of us don't post pictures or share pictures until they are picked up. I post mine all over the day after they are picked up. Another good reason to wait (that has nothing to do with being ashamed of it) is the fact that most of my business (99%) is word of mouth. So, if I do a cake for Sally, and she shares it on her Facebook, then Sue sees it and wants a surprise cake for Sally on her birthday, when I post it before it gets picked up, Sally gets an update in her news feed, and sees it before the party, and the surprise is ruined.

I recently had a client who knows 3 of my frequent clients, and none of them know each other! It is a small world, after all

I don't send pictures, (certainly not for shame of my work) simply because often times the picture doesn't do my work justice and I LOVE seeing their faces when they see the cake for the first time. It makes all of my hard work worth it!!
 

I'm curious...for people who won't sent pictures, how do you frame the reply?

The word "shame" wasn't in my response either.

I just say, I'm sorry, I don't send pictures because I want to see their reaction and hear their thoughts when they first see it.

Everyone is very nice about it, but I only get about 1 request for pictures every couple months, out of 16 cakes a month.

 

Them: "Could you/would you send me a pic of the cake while you're working on it/when it's finished?"

Me: "No, I'm sorry, I don't do that."

Them: "Why not?"

Me: "Honestly, I don't really have the time to fool around with it.  Cake making and delivery days are much too busy for me to be taking photos, uploading photos, writing e-mails, responding to e-mails, handling phone calls, etc.  I'm sure you understand."

Them: "Well, no, I don't understand.  I want a picture of it before you deliver it."

Me: "I completely understand.  I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to make your cake.  Best of luck with your (event)."

 

Rae

Just wondering why so many refuse pics in advance. I have no problem making changes to a cake, so I would rather get word early on that they meant to order baby blue accents instead of a royal blue that way I had time to correct the order without someone hovering over me. With as much as I charge, I don't think I would mind even setting up a webcam throughout and doing a time lapse video of the entire process.

To each their own I guess.

It sounds like most people who are asking for pictures want to see the finished version, which wouldn't leave time to have them then tell you the things they want you to change. For custom cakes you should have the details worked out ahead of time anyway...I work off of the contract, and whatever that says is what I do. If I did what the contract said and the client then told me they didn't like the cake and wanted me to change things about it, it's too late once the cake is done.

I once had a groom ask me if I was going to do a replica of the wedding cake ahead of time so that he could see it and approve the design. (Why is it always the grooms?) I told him no.

I who calls me at least 4-5 times a day and sends emails to me when I have a cake calendared for her.  One time she asked me for a picture and I sent her a picture of the KA bowl full of icing at midnight.  I let the calls go the to machine because I can not work and talk at the same time.  I even had that conversation with her.  She just gets too excited!  

 

I also wait to post pics to Facebook until after the event date because I don't want to ruin someone's surprise.  

 

As far as a request from the person who ordered it, I would not have had an issue but that one story of someone trying to get a bigger discount makes my blood boil.  There are SOOOOOO many people out there who do that.  They think it is funny, but it is not.  They don't take into consideration the bakers time away from family and all of the hard work that goes into even a small cake.  Some people are just awful.......

 

I doubt that I would ever consider it again.  UGH!

No pictures!  It's a different mentality and a customer who would be very happy with their cake when picking it up (finalized mentality) would likely request changes if given a photo early (work in progress mentality).

 

The other thing is that cakes NEVER look as good in a photo as in person.  I gave in to the pre-photo ONE time and of course they thought the cake was plain because they could see the richness of the colors and the subtle wood grain in the background in my quick photo.  THEN, they are primed to see it that way in person too. Yeah, no pix. Make up whatever excuse you have to.

I'm a bit ambivalent about this topic.

 

I've had a couple of "surprise" groom's cakes.  On each of those occasions, the cakes were completed about a day in advance of delivery.  I emailed or texted the brides asking if they would like a glimpse or if they too want to be surprised.  They have all said yes, all loved the photos, & all been very happy.  Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

I remember the very first one, I was worried.  It was a case of Miller Lite, & I'd gotten some blue on the cake board.  To hide it, I put sugar sand all around as though it was on the beach.  We'd never discussed it, & I was worried she would hate it and ask me to fix it.  She didn't.  She loved it.  Also, a picture is only so good.  They all loved the cakes even more in person.

 

I realize those were different circumstances.  I know there are crappy crazy people out there.  On one hand, I can see saying no.  On the other hand, the worst that can happen is they don't like it.  I would want to know as soon as possible so that I could do my best to fix it.  

 

See, posting helped me decide.  The worst that could happen is they don't like it.  This gives me the opportunity to do something to make it right.  If it's a crazy request, I have time to remind them the limits of the contract/order.  If it is a cheap-o, I have time to nip any request for discount in the bud.  

Love this!!

 

I usually tell people no, that I am on a tight schedule, and would they rather receive the photos by email or have me get to their event on time? Because seriously, I would be sending them the photos just before I headed out the door with their cake.