Better photos with anycamera

PHOTOGRAPH

How to

YOUR CAKES

Clear steps to take each picture

A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

Tips for immediate results

In simple language

Resources and links to keep learning

For absolute beginners

This book is to help you take better cake photographs immediately. Like today.Right now. You will use the camera you already have and you don't needexpensive equipment.

This is for absolute beginners. If you are want to become a professionalphotographer, this is not the book. Seriously… if you are looking to hear about f-stops and shutter speed, this is not for you. This is for the rest of us. Cakedecorators who want to take great photographs.

I am going to do my best to keep this short. Because I want you to get it.Without having to read through loads of pages and learn lots of new concepts.

I will not burden you with techy photography concepts, but we will look at theimportant stuff. And if you insist on learning about more about photography Iwill share my favourite photography books and links to some great onlinephotography classes.

At the end of this book you will have pratical tips that will help you take betterphotographs and get great results immediately.

But first my story....

Who this book is for

Sadly I found out that there were no photography schools or courses in Africa back then. Aftermonths of searching, my poor parents (God bless them) talked me out of that “foolishness” andgot me back into university. So... it was one psychology degree and four children later that I finallygot a chance to revisit my fascination for photography.

I had started a business teaching cake decorating and built a website but was really unhappy withthe photographs. I saved up and bought a good camera but the pictures still didnt look right. So Istarted studying. I took some classes, read loads of books and started practicing. And I learnt a lot.

I am still learning but I found out that there are just a few changes you can make to seeimmediate results in your cake photographs and this is what I will be sharing in this guide.

25 years ago, I dropped out of medical school and came home and told myparents that I wanted to study photography. I might as well havestood there with freshly sprouted horns on my head. Saying thatyour wanted to study photography in Africa 25 years ago waslike saying you wanted to go to the moon. All I knew was thatsomething in my heart jumped when I saw beautiful pictures inmagazines and I just had to know how to create that.

Photographs  plays  a  big  part  in  your  efforts  to  get  your  cakes  out  there  in  front  of  your  customers  -­through  your  brochures,  websites,  facebook,  pinterest  and  so  on.    It  is  painful  to  see  cake  decoratorsmake  gorgeous  cakes  that  are  not  appreciated  or  selling  at  a  good  price  because  the  photographs  donot  do  them  justice.  Someone  once  said  selling  is  a  beauty  contest.  Many  times,  that  cake  you  think  ismore  beautiful  than  your  cake  is  actually  just  photographed  better.

I  know..  I  know  you  already  wear  many  hats…  you  have  been  a  cake  decorator,  accountant,bookkeeper,  delivery  driver,  mother,  wife,  and  bottle  washer.  Well  I  have  news  for  you.  In  the  neweconomy,  you  are  now  a  photographer.  Think  facebook,  think  instagram,  think  pinterest,  think  googleplus,  websites,  brochures,  and  fliers.  All  these  things  use  photography  to  show  your  work.  

Follow  the  steps  in  this  guide  and  your  photographs  will  improve  so  that  you  attract  more  customersand  charge  better  prices  for  your  cakes.

Good Photographymakes  good  business  sense

Get YourGear

Clear theClutter.

Set upthe Shot

Look forThe

Light

21 3 4

The Steps to better cake Photos

StartShooting

Save,touch upand Use

KeepLearning.

Set yourBack-ground

65 7 8

GET YOURGEARUnderstand  this:Your best photogaphy toolsare your eyes. (Just  as  your  best  cakedecorating  tools  are  your  hands).

Next, you need a camera. Any camera. This could be your point and shoot camera, yourcamera phone or a DSLR camera. The most important thing you need to have in the camerais the ability to turn off the flash. More on that later.

It is often said that the best camera is the one you have with you. This is because it is NOTthe camera that takes great pictures, it is you, the photographer that makes the picturegreat.

If you follow the tips I give you here, your photographs will improve immediately no matterwhat kind of camera you are using. Phone cameras these days are quite good and there arealso many apps that help you do more with your photographs than ever before. If you havethe right information, you could take a photograph with your phone that is 10 times betterthat one taken with an expensive DSLR camera and no knowledge.

There  is  one  lens  that  is  the  secret  weapon  of  many  great  cake  andcupcake  photographs.  It  is  a  “Prime  Lens”.  A  great  inexpensive  starter  prime  lens  is  the50mm  f1.8  (canon  or  nikon).  This  small  lens  that  has  two  great  features:  It  works  in  low  light  so  itsgreat  for  indoor  photography.  It  also  has  a  wide  aperture  and  a  shortfocusing  distance  so  it  allows  your  to  take  photographs  where  thecake  is  in  focus  and  the  items  around  or  behind  it  are  blurred  andthis  gives  a  very  pleasant  look.I  say  this  is  optional  but  I  would  put  iton  top  of  your  to  do  list  –  buy  one  as  soon  as  your  budget  allows.

OPTIONAL LENS FOR DSLRCAMERAS

You  will  also  need  -­  A  thin  white  cloth  sheet  bed  sheet  or  translucent  shower  curtain.-­  Reflectors  -­  white  cardboard,  black  cardboard  and  silver  or  foil  reflector.-­  A  tripod  (optional)-­  A  lightbox  (optional)-­  A  flat  surface  or  tabletop-­  Background  sheets  -­  plain  or  patterned.  -­  Tracing  paper  or  parchment  paper-­  Cardboard  (thin  and  thick)

OTHER GEAR

This is simple and self explanatory butI dont want you to miss this step so Ihave dedicated a whole chapter to it.

This is one of the mistakes a lot ofcake decorators - myself included -make. Your cake photos have bits andpieces of clutter in the background.

Remove the clutter. Whatever is on thetable or surface or background of thecake. An open door, an umbrella, apassing naked child… all these thingsdistract and detract from the beauty ofyour cake.

Clear it all away. Be finnicky about thisand it will make a massive difference.

Clear the Clutter

Light is the most important partof photography

Photography has been referred to as the act ofwriting/drawing with light.

A good photographer learns to see light, make the mostof it and manipulates it to create beautiful clear photos.

The things you want to do with light whenphotographing your cakes are- See the light- Soften the light- Reflect the light- Eliminate shadows

To photograph your cakes, your best light is daylight.NOT your camera’s flash and not the electric lights.

LOOK FOR THE LIGHT

DAYLIGHTis your best light

Its  not  just  any  daylight  you  want.  For  cakes,  most  times  you  want  a  SOFT  light  and  not  a  harsh  light.  

Midday  sun  is  HARSH.  Direct  sunlight  is  HARSH.  Your  flash  is  HARSH.  All  of  these  cast  uglyshadows  and  affect  the  true  colours  of  your  cake.

The  best  times  to  shoot  are  early  morning  or  early  evening.  The  best  place  to  shoot  is  near  a  large  window.  More  on  that  later.

If  you  find  the  sunlight  is  too  bright  you  have  two  options:-­  Shoot  in  the  shade:  For  example  an  open  doorway,  porch,  or  under  a  tree  if  you  are  outdoors.  -­  Diffuse  the  light.  Hang  a  light  translucent  cloth  on  the  window  or  use  a  hand  held  diffuser.

Speaking  of  harsh  light,  one  of  the  first  things  you  need  to  do  is  read  the  manual  of  your  camera  andfind  out  how  to  TURN  OFF  THE  FLASH.  The  flash  is  bad  bad  bad  for  your  photographs.  If  there  is  onething  you  must  learn  from  this  book  is  that  you  should  avoid  using  your  flash.  In  fact,  unless  you  are  atrained  photographer,  stop  using  it  altogether.  There  is  a  place  for  flash  in  photography  but  that  is  forexternal  flashes  and  not  the  one  mounted  on  your  camera.  It  takes  a  lot  of  practice  and  study  to  go  therebut  fortunately  for  us  cake  people,  the  nature  of  our  subject  means  we  can  avoid  using  the  flashaltogether.  If  you  can  learn  to  see  light  and  practice  looking  for  light,  it  will  change  your  photography  forever.

Using  reflectors  helps  you  to  Eliminate  Shadows,  balance  your  light  or  even  to  highlight  specific  areas.  

your flash!!OFF

TURN

SET UP THE SHOTThere are two types of shots you could take. A studio shot or A lifestyle shot.

The studio shot is a simple shot where it is just thecake photographed on a plain background. Thisincludes also close-ups of parts of the cake. Herethe cake is the star. Nothing else to distract.

The lifestyle shot is to show the “Cake in action”. You are looking to create a mood by addingbackgrounds and or props . You want to capturea look and feel and present the cake in context.

STYLING THE SHOTStyling a shot involves bringing elements, objects orbackgrounds that help to tell the story of the cake. What story is do you want your cake to tell?

Will it be elegant? Playful? Stately? Modern?Romantic? Cheesy? Flashy?Is it Downton Abbey? Sex and the City? Winnie thePooh? The Great Gatsy? Legally Blonde?

Is it a cake for a mum, for a wedding or for a kidsparty?

Think in terms of themes, people, places, seasons andso on and then start being creative and crafty.. Keepyour eyes open for ideas and look for inspiration ongoogle.

What can you add to the picture to set the scene andtell the cake's story? You are looking for bits andpieces - In your house- In charity shops- In car boot sales.

You can use backgrounds, textiles, wallpapers,crockery tableware and other props - get creative

Your cake is the star of the shot. Styling helps youcreate a scene that shows who the cake is and who itis for while still making the cake the centre ofattention.

4 TIPS FOR USING BACKGROUNDS

Do  not  put  the  cake  too  close  to  thebackground.  This  is  to  avoid  shadows.

NOT TOO CLOSE1

Whether  your  background  is  paper  orcloth,  it  helps  to  create  an  infinity  curve.This  also  gives  a  seamless  look  to  yourpicture.  

USE A CURVED BACKGROUND2If  taking  photos  for  an  online  shop,  stickto  plain  colours  but  if  its  for  yourwebsite  gallery  or  sharing  on  socialmedia  then  you  can  be  creative  andexperiment  with  patterned  backgrounds

PLAIN OR PATTERNED?4

Use  a  light  coloured  background  fordark  coloured  cakes  and  vice  versa.

LIGHT OR DARK?3

This is an important step. There is a specific way to place your background.

- Do not place your cake too close to your background to minimise shadows.- Create an infinity curve: This is one of the techniques photographers use to minimiseshadows. If your background has angles and corners, you would create shadows that youdont want. The infinity curve makes all those shadows disappear.

Your background could be a single plain colour - white, black or even red. Light colouredcakes work better on dark backgrounds and darker cakes are set off by a lighterbackground. You could use cloth or paper backgrounds and you can even buy backgrounds from aphotography shop however a visit to your local charity shop, home depot or craft shop

If you are taking photos for an online shop it is best to stick to plain colours but if its foryour gallery or for sharing on social media then you can go ahead and be more creative andexperiment with patterns.

You could also use patterned wallpaper or wrapping paper or even patterned cloth as yourbackdrop. Only do this if it goes with the theme of your cake or complements the colourswithout distracting from it.

YOUR BACKGROUNDS

If you take the photograph using the tips in the previous chapters, you will not need todo much editing or post processing.Photoshop or Lightroom are the two best paid post processing software. However youcan get decent results from free post processing software like Picassa for PC or Iphotoif you use a Mac computer - which is what I would recommend for a beginner. These functions are easy to find in picassa and iphoto and usually involve moving aslider up or down. Use as needed and don’t overdo things. Also you can undo anythingyou are not happy with. The end result is your personal preference - what looks mostpleasing to your eye.

The basic post processing steps are:

Save a copy. (Always keep the original)Crop (only as necessary - too much can affect the image quality)SaturationSharpenStraightenAdjust levels of highlights and shadowsWatermarkSaveShare, print or uploadSome places for sharing online work better with different image sizes so look into this.

SAVE  TOUCH-­UP  AND  SHARE

Your  DIY  studio  will  have  

A  light  source  (a  window)A  table  or  flat  stable  surfaceDiffuserTripodCameraYour  Backgrounds  and  Props  

Ideas  for  props  include:  TableclothsCake  standsCrockery  and  cutleryWooden  picture  framesWine  glassesTeacupsTeapotsCarafes

VasesFlowersRibbons  StreamersSilverwarePetalsBuntingBannersPaper  flowersToysParty  hatsBling.  Shiny  thingsPlates,  forks,  napkinsThink  outside  the  box.You  are  creative  solook  around  and  add  tothis  as  needed.

less  is  more  so  one  or  two  props  can  complete  your  picture.

DIY Studio

6. START SHOOTING

Move CloserFill the frameShoot at eye level with cakeShoot from aboveShoot from belowPut cake in centre of picturePut cake off centerShoot from different angles.Tilt your camera slightlyShoot a lot of pictures. Shoot a few more.

Think outside the box:Shoot with a model. Yes, an actual person.Go outside - in a garden or in a tentPhotograph cake at the party venue

Find inspiration for cake styling:- Cake central magazine- Google pictures of dessert tables, wedding cakes - Look at food magazines- Look at food photography blogs

Write in a notebook for each shot you take. -Time of day-Camera dial settings-Position of cake-Position of camera

TIPS

7.  SAVE  AND  RETOUCH  AND  USE

If  you  take  the  photograph  using  the  tips  in  the  previous  chapters,  you  will  not  need  to  do  muchediting  or  post  processing.Photoshop  or  Lightroom  are  the  two  best  paid  post  processing  software.  However  you  can  getdecent  results  from  free  post  processing  software  like  Picassa  for  PC  or  Iphoto  if  you  use  a  Maccomputer  -­  which  is  what  I  would  recommend  for  a  beginner.  These  functions  are  easy  to  find  in  picassa  and  iphoto  and  usually  involve  moving  a  slider  up  ordown.  Use  as  needed  and  don’t  overdo  things.  Also  you  can  undo  anything  you  are  not  happy  with.The  end  result  is  your  personal  preference  -­  what  looks  most  pleasing  to  your  eye.  

The  basic  post  processing  steps  are:

Save  a  copy.  (Always  keep  the  original)Crop  (only  as  necessary  -­  too  much  can  affect  the  image  quality)SaturationSharpenStraightenAdjust  levels  of  highlights  and  shadowsWatermarkSaveShare,  print  or  upload

Place your background. in acurve. Whether it is paper or cloth, find away to secure the back and lay itin a curve. The cake sits on thelower part of the curve on a flatsurface.

PUT  CAKE  HERE

Practice!Read  your  camera  manualKeep  learning.Visit  the  website  for  a  list  of  recommended  books  and  online  classes  and  courses  that  willimprove  your  understanding  of  photography.

       

http://cakeplc.comfor  more  tips  and  resources,  visit

AND NOW

TO UNDERSTAND MOREABOUT

THE TECH STUFF

STOP HERE OR READ ON

PHOTOGRAPHY

Right. So here we are: In my non-photographer words I will explain to you the mechanics behindphotography. If you feel your eyes beginning to glaze over just skip this chapter.

Photography is about being creative with light. Capturing images by manipulating light. Anunderstanding of how the camera works will help you be more flexible and creative with thepictures you make.

The camera is made up of the lens and the sensor. The lens is built similar to the eye. Just as thebrain captures the information from the eye. The sensor captures information from the lens.

A good photograph is one that has the correct exposure. A well exposed photograph depends onHow sensitive the sensor is to the lightHow much light comes into the cameraHow long the light strikes the sensor

That is where the big three come in. ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

ISOISO is the measure of the sensitivity of the sensor and is denoted by numbers from 100, 200,400 upwards. The lower the number the more sensitive the sensor and the sharper the picture.More than half the time, it is better to use a higher ISO between 200 to 800 depending. For cakephotos, a safe middle ground is to set it at 400. ISO of more than 800 will result in pixelation ofthe picture. Your photo looks more grainy. This may be what you want in some cases but forcake photos a higher ISO 200-400 is usually better.

APERTUREAperture is the size of the opening in the lens. The size of the aperture determines two things -how much light is allowed into the camera and the depth of field - how much of the objects inthe picture are in sharp focus. When you see a picture where both the near and far away objectsare all in focus then that shows a wide/large depth of field. A shallow/narrow depth of field iswhen a small part of the picture is in focus and the rest is blurred. This can be a very pleasinglook and you would get that effect with a larger aperture on your lens. Make sense? A higherAperture number indicates a smaller opening. So a F1.8 is a large aperture while an F5.6 is asmaller aperture. Setting your camera to a larger aperture (smaller F-number between f 1.8 and f 3.5) wouldusually be more suitable for cake photographs because 1. Most cake photos are taken indoorswhere the light may be low so a larger opening allows more light into the camera.2. A narrow depth of field could also work where you focus on the cake and blur the rest of thebackground giving you that dreamy bokeh look.

SHUTTER SPEEDWhen you take a picture, you hear a click which usually means the shutter opens and closes fora split second. When the shutter opens, light streams in. The longer the shutter stays open, themore light streams in and the shorter it stays open the less light. A faster shutter speed willmean a sharper photo - if the light is a lot. A slower shutter speed will give a good picture if thelight is low. BUT! If it is a moving object, a fast shutter speed will catch and freeze the motionwhile a slower shutter speed will get a blurry picture which can be nice sometimes and a pain atother times - depending on the effect you want.

For  cake  photos,  your  cake  is  usually  not  moving  anywhere  so  you  can  afford  to  slow  down  the  shutterspeed  especially  if  you  are  shooting  in  a  low  light  situation.  In  this  case  you  MUST  use  a  tripod  orsomething  else  to  stabilise  your  camera  because  any  shake  in  the  camera  will  result  in  a  blurry  photo.Suggested  shutter  speed  for  50mm  lens  would  be  1/60th  second  or  60.  

This  is  just  a  guide  because  it  varies  according  to  the  size  of  the  lens  you  are  using  but  basically,  youget  to  a  point  where  the  shutter  speed  is  too  high  or  too  slow  for  you  to  be  able  to  take  a  clear  picturewithout  stabilising  the  camera  with  a  tripod  or  finding  other  ways  to  hold  it  steady  like  putting  yourcamera  on  a  pile  of  books  or  simply  locking  your  elbows  to  your  side  to  steady  the  camera.

I  will  stop  here  even  though  there  is  more.  This  is  good  working  knowledge  and  the  more  you  get  usedto  your  camera’s  control,  the  more  you  can  practice  and  experiment  to  find  the  settings  that  work  foryou.  You  would  also  know  what  to  adjust  if  your  picture  is  too  bright  or  too  dark  or  too  blurry.

So  you  can  see  how  the  three  work  together.  

COMPOSITION  

This  is  a  word  that  professional  photographers  use  to  try  and  confuse  the  rest  of  us.  I  say  thisbecause  when  you  ask  ten  different  photographers  what  the  word  means  you  get  ten  differentanswers.

Here  is  my  take  on  composition.  Composition  is  what  the  photographer  does.  It  is  subjective.  Just  astwo  cake  decorators  can  use  the  same  techniques  to  create  completely  different  cakes,  twophotographers  can  take  completely  different  photographs  of  the  same  scene.  This  is  because  it  issubjective.  You  can  bring  your  own  “vision”  into  the  photograph  you  are  taking.  

Composition  is  what  your  eye  sees  and  what  you  decide  to  capture.  It  is  the  arrangement  that  ispleasing  to  you.  It  is  the  “whole”  picture.  There  are  a  few  “rules”  of  composition  such  as  the  rule  ofthirds  or  shooting  odd  numbers  of  objects,  or  using  leading  line  or  placing  objects  diagonal  to  eachother.  These  are  rules  because  they  have  been  universally  found  to  be  pleasing  to  the  eye.  So  theyare  often  not  really  rules  but  guides  and  these  rules  can  be  bent  or  broken  to  still  produce  awesomephotographs.Your  composition  of  you  cake  photograph  is  how  you  bring  your  cake  into  the  picture  and  how  itrelates  to,  works  with,  blends  with,  balances  with  the  light,  the  space  and  other  objects  in  the  picture.You  are  the  composer.  And  because  you  are  already  creative  (we  all  are),  you  can  compose  greatpictures  if  you  pay  attention.  

The  beauty  of  your  cake  photograph  depends  on  how  much  attention  you  pay  to  it.  Dont  stressabout  the  buttons  and  dials  on  the  camera.  You  have  an  eye.  Start  with  your  eyes  and  yourheart.  You  can  learn  the  mechanics  of  the  camera.    Anyone  can.  If  you  can  see  and  appreciatebeauty  then  you  can  create  a  good  picture.  Simply  pay  attention.  Clear  the  clutter,  look  for  thelight,  set  up  your  shot  and  start  shooting.  You  will  get  better  at  the  camera.  But  first,  get  better  atseeing.

One  thing  is  for  sure.  The  more  you  put  some  thought  and  pay  attention  to  how  you  “compose”your  picture,  the  better  it  will  be.  Think  of  the  “pose”  in  the  word  compose.  Composition  is  thatthing  in  your  mind  that  says  “this  is  the  look  I  am  going  for,  this  is  how  i  want  it  to  feel,  this  is  theatmosphere  I  am  creating".  That  is  composition.

And  as  Forrest  Gump  would  say,  "that's  all  I  have  to  say  about  that".