Photographing cake is as a lot about storytelling and creativity as it’s about technical talent. Whether or not you are showcasing a birthday cake or a seasonal bake, capturing its magnificence can rework it into a visible masterpiece.
For our Nationwide Cake Day weblog, we’ve gathered insights from two winners from the World Meals Images Awards that will help you take your cake pictures to the following stage: Ming Tang-Evans, winner of the Tiptree Cake Award 2024 and Barbora Baretic, winner of the Lodge Artwork Group Meals Stylist Award 2024, 2nd within the Tiptree Cake Award 2024 and baker/pastry chef at Chez Maitre in London.
‘Blood orange and cardamom cake’’ by Barbora Baretic, Winner of Lodge Artwork Group Meals Stylist Award, 2024
1. Begin with an idea and story
Ming suggests starting with a basic concept or story to information your shot. A story framework helps set the temper and search for the cake, whether or not you need to spotlight its baking course of, an emotion, or an important day.
Ming’s tip: “Your idea might evolve away from the beginning concept or change utterly, nevertheless it is smart to a minimum of have a place to begin for the inventive journey.”
Barbora additionally emphasises storytelling, suggesting introducing human parts to the body can add depth to the narrative.
Barbora’s tip: “Including a human component into your body can add emotion, storytelling and life. This may be achieved by blowing candles, chopping the cake or just consuming the cake. All of those will make your body extra fascinating.
I as soon as captured my daughter’s response to a cake I made for her birthday displaying her pleasure, and to this present day it’s nonetheless certainly one of my favorite images.”
‘Chocolate fudge pearl cake’ by Barbora Baretic, Winner of Lodge Artwork Group Meals Stylist Award, 2024
2. Use pure gentle or a substitute
Each photographers agree that pure gentle brings out the cake’s true colors and textures. Barbora works with pure daylight close to a window, adjusting her baking and taking pictures schedule to suit the accessible gentle. Ming notes that in some instances, managed lighting like flash will be efficient when a selected type requires it otherwise you’re constrained by your location.
‘White chocolate ganache sculpture truffles’ by Barbora Baretic, Winner of Lodge Artwork Group Meals Stylist Award, 2024
3. Choose props and magnificence thoughtfully
Props can elevate your photograph, however each photographers agree on protecting them minimal. “The first topic shouldn’t have too many distractions, be it props or colored backgrounds and surfaces. In the event that they’re there for a cause then they’ve so as to add to the narrative and play a supporting function. Bear in mind the cake is the hero,” says Ming.
Barbora, who received the Lodge Artwork Group Meals Stylist Award in 2024, has a wide array of cake styling concepts:
Barbora’s tip: “When taking pictures items of truffles, create a lovely scene utilizing plates, cutlery, maybe a tea pot or linen to create some texture.
To be able to seize a contemporary cake, use minimalist props and a primary background. For a classic cake, use classic/quaint plates, classic cake stands, outdated postcards or newspapers. I like going to classic markets on Sunday mornings and discovering bargains!
One other strategy to improve your picture is by including arms into the body. I like together with arms with my desserts for a greater and deeper storytelling.
I additionally type my truffles seasonally. Utilizing varied flower preparations in spring, berries in summer season, apples and pears in autumn whereas in winter you’ll be able to typically spot gingerbread homes or Christmas bakes in my Instagram gallery.
Then take into consideration a motion you may add into your body. Put your shutter velocity up and dirt some icing sugar on prime of the cake, catch the smoke from the candles, or drizzle some salted caramel on the cream cheese frosting. All price attempting and capturing for a fascinating shot.”
‘Lilac-inspired cake’ by Barbora Baretic, Winner of Lodge Artwork Group Meals Stylist Award, 2024
4. Good your composition and angle
Ming advises that the dimensions, form and top of the cake typically decide the perfect angle. Barbora usually makes use of a straight-on angle for truffles lined with buttercream, ganache or frosting, however recommends an overhead or flat lay shot for tarts or flatter truffles.
Barbora’s tip: “If an excessive amount of effort is put into adorning your cake on the highest, a three-quarters angle shot is your best option. If you happen to personal a macro lens, you may also seize a detailed up of frosting or filling. This shine and a easy texture is price capturing too!
‘It’s raining cake! Hallelujah!’ by Ming-Tang Evans, Winner of Tiptree Cake Award, 2024
5. Embrace spontaneity
Lastly, Ming recommends going off-piste:
“Don’t be afraid to experiment and push your preliminary idea. It’s typically the unplanned moments the place the magic can generally occur, that inventive serendipity.
Within the case of my profitable entry, it was on the finish of the shoot and we had unused flower petals that couldn’t be used once more or stored, so we had the concept of increasing on the idea of cake as a metaphor for celebration and got here up with the concept of utilizing the petals as marriage ceremony confetti.
It took a number of makes an attempt, a little bit of improvisation and wobbling on prime of a ladder to discover a strategy to make the petals unfold and fall in the precise approach, and the usage of flash helped to freeze the motion.”
Whether or not you are a newbie or an skilled photographer, we hope these professional suggestions from Ming Tang-Evans and Barbora Baretic will information you in capturing the persona and fantastic thing about cake.
Maybe you may enter our Tiptree Cake Award class? See earlier finalists and discover out extra right here.
