Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks to getting a great photo of a finished cake? has anyone built a special area for shooting photos? thanks a bunch!

The best way is probably a shadow box, but I haven't built one myself yet. The benefit of a shadow box is a more professional look, but the downside is having to have the box around if you are not using it.

What I do is take a million pictures with different lighting and angles until I get some I like. When I can I try to use natural light for photographing my cakes. Sometimes this means on the dinner table near the sliding doors, and sometimes this means outside on a tray table. I play with the flash settings in every lighting and work with what I get.

Best of luck!

I read on here somewhere that someone fastened a piece of black fabric to the wall and draped it over the table and placed the cake on that. I tried it and it works great. So that's how I take all my pics now. A lot of the time you can't even tell there's fabric behind it. Just looks like a black background. Then when you're done, take the fabric down and fold it up until the next time. I'm thinking for really dark cakes, I may try white or lighter fabric. It's funny cause when I first started taking pics of my finished cakes, I didn't even think about the background. But it sure makes a difference.

I like to use natural lighting as much as possible. I usually take photos at my backyard early in the morning or late afternoon.

For the background, I use a panel board (sheet) that I ask Home Depot to cut in thirds. I then paint it in different colors. I also sometimes use foam boards--but with these, I spray paint them so it doesn't dry in a curve.

Hello, for me I use a black or dark color fabric for the backdrop and a lighter shade color for where the cake will sit on for pics.

It seems to make my cakes really pop with colors I am using on the cakes.
I too take a bunch of pics in differ angles with differ lighting, etc.. and then pick out the really nice pics. The rest of the ones I take, simple thing of hitting the delete button.
HTH

I just started a thread on this same topic, not knowing someone already had this going...hehe

Thanks everyone!

I use one of those tri fold foam core presentation boards. I just set it behind the cake and it blocks out unsightly backgrounds. I have one black and one white. Got them at Michaels with a coupon. They fold flat and slide easily behind my china cabinet when not in use.

I got one of the presentation boards that fold in to 3rds. and drape fabric over it, Then I just fold it up and slide between my cabinets when I don't need it. I got mine at WM but they also sell them at Hobby Lobby for around $5 or $6 I think. Just cardboard.

I have yet to get the great lighting or background for great pics. What I have figured out though is do not use the flash on your camera. And if you have a "close-up" or "flower" setting (my digital camera has a flower icon for this), you can get some really clear shots. There needs to be enough light for this and you need to play with the distance to get it focused well. HTH.