I love creating and writing cake books and even though I do months of work before a first photoshoot, a book doesn’t feel real until the camera shutter clicks and the first cakes are safely digitally stored on a server, as well as in cake boxes!! This has definitely been true for the book I am currently working on, but now with 5 days of photoshoots completed and thousands of images stored, it is starting to feel like a real cake book. I can’t tell you that much about the book as it’s all top secret but I can tell you that it is based around colour and I am thrilled with what I have made for it so far. I do have my favourite cake and it’s in wonderful bright colours, however I have three more cakes to create, so who knows, my thoughts may change. Interestingly I often find that my favourite cake before a photoshoot is different to my favourite in the finished book, this is usually because the styling and lighting play such an important part – so it’s not all about cake!
![photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-props collection of props](https://lindyscakes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-props.jpg)
Props help to enhance a cake, so it’s vital to get these spot on. I start collecting bits and pieces as soon as I’ve designed a cake, however I am not a stylist so like to leave the final choice to the experts!! I am however gradually learning what works and what doesn’t, so sometimes I make successful suggestions.
![photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-fabrics fabrics for photoshoot](https://lindyscakes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-fabrics.jpg)
I’ve always loved the colour and texture of fabrics. My grandmother was a great seamstress and most of my memories are of her sitting at her sewing machine, so I guess I feel a bond with fabric. The colours in the photo above might give you a hint or two as to so of the shades and tones I have used in a couple of my cakes!! For the styled shots we use these to cover surfaces and for example, to use as make shift curtains.
![photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-lighting Lights, camera, action](https://lindyscakes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-lighting.jpg)
Lighting is key to all good photography and for the first time ever my book cakes are being shot using natural light with a little help occasionally from a background flash.
![photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-adding-flowers2 Making the most in the change of weather](https://lindyscakes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/photoshoot-for-lindys-creative-colour-cake-book-adding-flowers2.jpg)
The other first is that rather than being in a cramp studio we are out on location – how refreshing!! It has been something I’ve always wanted to do however in many ways it’s a lot more challenging especially when you have the British summer weather to contend with!
I plan to write about the step photoshoot days shortly but in the meantime…
Happy Baking and Decorating
Lindy