I recently made a cake for my best friend's daughter's wedding - my gift to them.  The cake was designed to go on a cake stand that was given to my friend by a manufacturer of high end metal serving and party ware. My friend and I both work at one of the large wholesale gift markets.  The manufacturer of the cake stand has a large presence at this show, with the designer and nation wide sales reps attending.  My friend gave them a picture of my cake on their stand to show how nicely they complemented each other.

She mentioned that I made the cake, but there was no effort to introduce me to the designer and her staff, and I work on another floor of the market so I do not cross paths with them.  At the end of the gift show I find out that they used the picture of my cake on their display - and sold many more cake stands as a result and are planning on using the picture of my cake in some of their other advertising.  My friend is very excited that her daughter's cake will have such exposure and I am somewhat miffed that I was not asked permission, much less introduced to the designer and her staff as the decorator.  To add insult to injury, I know that my friend gets many freebies, including this cake stand, from this manufacturer.

I am not in business, and I know that they pictures were the property of my friend, but I still feel that it is bad etiquette to not at least ask my permission before agreeing to use it in their media, and especially to not even introduce me.  I know that this would be a lot more important if I were in business, and I may be over reacting and should be as thrilled as my friend is, but it feels wrong to not have had any say, or recognition for my work.  Thanks for letting me rant - what do you think, am I being overly sensitive???

Ashe gave you credit for your work (to them) and that counts for something -- I can see how that might not be the optimum experience to be 'left out' sort of but if you ate not around how could she engineer an introduction?

I'd just let her know that you hope to meet them next time -- keep it all light and pleasant of course. Not to mention, you could introduce yourself and thank them for appreciating your work tell 'em you want a stand too! lol

Aand beautiful cake on a cool stand too

AYeah, I'd be a bit slighted too, but they are her photos. Sounds like she wasn't trying to do anything sneaky or avoid you, she just doesn't understand this kind of thing.

ADo we give credit to the cake stand manufacturers in our pictures for advertising? Very rarely.

I would be a little bit mad as well, like everyone else is saying it's your friend's daughter's photo, but then in an way she could have asked you how you felt about her giving the company the photo. When you see your friend tell her thanks for telling the company who did the cake, but next time maybe you can go with your friend to give the photo of your cake to company, so not only will she tell them who did the cake, but you are the person who did it. So in that case they could meet you, and who knows they might ask you to make a cake for their set up, so not only will customers have a photo to look at, but will see an actual cake on their product. In that case, not only will they sell their merchandise, may be they could have you put your contact info for people who might become clients in the near future.

The cake is beautiful!

Aww, I understand your feelings.  But instead of venting here, It would be a great idea to let your friend know you were disappointed that you didn't get cc'd on the emailed pic, or however it went down.  And/Or, as suggested introduce yourself.  Start a mutual admiration society by complimenting the stand.  I'm sure they'd applaud you.  To me, it's extremely more valuable in a business context.  Passing along your card, making contacts, getting referrals, etc.  If you're not in business, maybe this is opportunity knocking?  If what you'd most like is a pat on the back, and a big "attagirl!", give them the opportunity.  I'm sure your friend thought it was a huge compliment to you, not a slight.  Beautiful cake!  and presentation is everything.

The picture belonged to her, she told them who you were when she gave it to them, and they are under no obligation to credit anyone after that. If you want to contact the stand maker, call them and say that you noticed they're using a photo of one of your cakes in their display, and you want to let them know that if they need a real display cake to use you'd be happy to make them one. But they won't necessarily credit you for that when they have the setup, so that's up to you.

I see photos of my cakes everywhere in other people's advertising, and they haven't called to get permission first. They probably didn't call to ask the company that did the flowers, linens, lighting etc either. What I'll do (sometimes) is post that I was happy to see my cake in so-and-so's ad, then link back to them on facebook so that they see the tag. It's usually a venue, so they'll see that I gave their venue a little boost and that goes a longer way as far as getting referrals than being petulant about it. Other times I don't even pay attention to it, because who cares in the long run. It's doubtful that you would get many cake referrals from a manufacturer of cake stands, so it isn't going to help your business any to have them use a photo of a cake that you made.

Sorry, you may have made the cake but you gave it away as a gift so it was no longer yours to call the shots on.  You should feel flattered that they thought so highly of the cake that they gave a picture to the stand manufacturers.

Thanks all, you are so correct, please excuse my moment of venting.  The facts are:  the cake turned out as I envisioned, the bride cried when she saw it, everyone - including the venue staff raved over how good it tasted, the pictures did belong to my friend, the cake was a gift, and Beatriz Ball may use the picture of it in some of their advertising,  all in all very good things.  I was taken aback by my friend's actions - she could have introduced me to the designer, but she didn't - oh well. I was particularly sensitive to this as she had previously tried to pass off some of my recipes to have them published in a popular gift recipe book, luckily I was able to intervene. Personal history aggravated my reactions.

MimiFix, I obviously erred in the placement of my vent, please excuse my misjudgement.

Now, taking my recipes and trying to publish them as her own would tick me off.

i just want one of those cake stands -- 

and i hope you are feeling better -- that cake is terrific

Thanks K8memphis -

   That cake was many firsts for me - 1st tiered, 1st wedding, plus was still recuperating from shoulder surgery.  It was such a joy to make and give, and the bride's reaction was more than I could have hoped for.  And, yes, I want that stand too! - I'm working on it!!!!