Take a Picture It Lasts Longer! - Building Your Portfolio
You do not have to be an award winning photographer in order to have photos of your design work. But it is important to have "photo proof" of the work you have done. Not only is it helpful to potential clients in order to see what you can do but also to do to chart your development and progress as a cake decorator. Whether you are a professional full time cake decorator or do it for your family and friends or it's an occasional hobby - take photos of all your work!
Your portfolio is a graphic representation of your work, demonstrating your range and ability as a cake decorator. The portfolio should reflect some of your past favorites but also should be kept current - showing your growth as a cake decorator. Look to include pictures that show a variety of styles that are available for you to do for a client. Some people may have a separate portfolio for weddings, special occasion cakes, etc. When a bride wants to discuss her wedding cake, she doesn't want to sift through juvenile birthday cake and graduation cake photos. So if you have only one portfolio then do separate sections highlighting each category. Make an effort to keep your portfolio as current as possible. You grow in your abilities and expertise as a cake decorator so why shouldn't your photos reflect that?
At http://www.photography-tips.com/Tips.asp... there are listings of photography tips that could be helpful to you. One enlightening tip that was mentioned was not to take a cue from museums. Museums? Yes, museums. When they feature an artists work, they don't have fifty pictures of the same masterpiece. They have a few pictures that reflect the artists' best work. The point is - they don't have every painting they've done from kindergarten finger painting to their present pieces. So make sure you are highlighting your best work and not include pictures of your beginner efforts ( save those for your memory scrapbook so you can see your progress as a cake decorator.). Also Kodak offers some simple tips at : http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/... top ten tehniques from Kodak
National Geographic's site has a small section on photography. I understand you may not be planning a jungle safari but just want a good shot of your cake but this site is a good quick reference of a few tips. I liked what they said under the topic of "Buying a Camera" (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photog... : as they state "As with any tool, you should not buy something too complicated for your level of expertise. On the other hand, don''t buy a camera so simple that it won't let you grow as a photographer. If you can afford it, and if you are serious about your photography, consider a high-quality, single-lens reflex. You can buy one lens, perhaps a 28-mm or 35-mm, and add lenses later". So don't think you automatically have to purchase expensive equipment you don't know how to operate. Buy a camera that works for you and your needs. Leave the professional equipment to the professionals. A basic 35mm camera you know how to operate can be your best option.
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