When you are done creating that perfect cake, it’s usually time to snap it and show others the fruits of your labour. This is quite crucial as it will also form the key part of your marketing on social media, as people will be able to see what you do. However, sometimes you may wonder why the pictures don’t look as good as the real thing or as perfect as cakes do on those glossy pages of magazines or blogs.
The key to having those shiny and impactful photos for your Instagram or blog is mastering the art of cake photography. And if you are just getting started, we’ll give you some pointers you can follow to snap amazing pictures of your cakes.
Lighting is Key
The first thing you will need to look at carefully is the lighting as it’s quite important when it comes to cake photography. When you get it right, it will help you show the details you want to show and also the real appearance of your cake. The best type of light to use is of course natural light. This type of light will give you a soft, diffused glow that will help maintain the natural colour of your creation. However, the light should not be direct, as you don’t want to have shadows in your photo.
If natural light is not an option, you can still use artificial light, but you will need to ensure that you get everything right. First, make sure that it is even. And for that, you can use softboxes or ring lights. You can also incorporate reflectors and diffusers, as well as backlighting. There are lots of photo studios in Melbourne that have natural light, and they will also let you experiment with artificial light to master things such as colour temperature.
Use a Clean Background
When taking your photos, the cake should be the star. But while you’ll be trying to ensure this, your background can easily betray you. It won’t be a good photo if you have a bunch of unnecessary things in the background. These can be things such as cups, bowls, magazines, etc.
If you have anything else besides your cake, it should be something that adds to the story. For example, if you are photographing cake slices, you can have a sharp knife and a plate. Otherwise, it should ideally be just your kitchen table. But if you are going to be taking lots of photos, say for your Instagram, it would be better to have a place with a white background. You can create your own photo space or hire a photo studio.
Styling and Composition
Photography is an art, so you will definitely need to master a few camera skills to come up with the perfect photos you are looking for. Some of the basic skills you’ll need are styling and composition, which will prove very important in enhancing the story you are trying to tell with your creation – especially when it comes to making your cake the star of the show.
When selecting the props to use, be careful to ensure that they work well with the story, are small in size, aren’t very bright in colour, are symmetrical (and odd in number), and they don’t reflect light. You also need to follow the rule of thirds, which is crucial in photography to create interest and ensure balance.
Angles and Depth of Field
When it comes to how people will perceive your cake, these are the two aspects that you can play with. Essentially, you want to shoot your cake from different angles and see the one that gives the best highlight of the details. The angle will also help tell the story. For example, a lower one will make the cake appear more imposing and grand. One that is above will highlight the details, while a side one will show the layers and decorations.
As for the depth of field, you can use it to determine the focus. A shallow depth of field, which you can achieve by using a wide aperture (low f-number), will isolate the cake from the background by blurring the latter. The alternative will help you tell the entire story. Remember to experiment with different depths, angles, and props to ensure you come up with the perfect photo.
