Advanced Wedding Cake Photography 2020
How to make a wedding cake smile...

• The Wedding Cake will be a visual centerpiece, but should not be located in a high traffic area where the table could be bumped by servers or guests. The corner across from the entrance may be a good option.
• If your cake is white, a darker background (vs. a white wall) will make the cake pop in the photo Make sure your table linens are pressed and clean. Creases are very photogenic.
• Go for the green – Greenery in the background or around the cake table will make for a more beautiful photo. Just make sure it doesn’t look as if the plants are growing out of the cake or the bride or groom’s head.
• Take advantage of the natural beauty of your outdoor wedding setting. Don’t take your cake photos with the tent in the background when you could have the golf course or rose garden. Both landscaped and natural green areas photograph well.
  
  Picture Perfect Studio Photography for Your Wedding Cake
  When photographing a wedding cake in the studio:
  • Locate the cake at four feet from the background
  • Place camera on a tripod 3 to 4 feet from the cake
  • Place two 42’ umbrellas, set up at a 45 degree angle, one on each side of the cake facing the background
  • Set the camera in a vertical position with a diffused strobe light above the camera set at a 45 degree angle
  • ISO set at 200 or ISO 250
  • Camera shutter set at 60th of a sec
  • Lens at F8 and or F11
  • Never shoot directly into the cake, you should always bounce the light or set the flash at a 45 degree angle
  
  
  Photographing the Wedding Cake at the Reception
  • Shoot the cake prior to the wedding to get a great picture for your wedding album
  • Take close up shots of the cake so you remember every detail
  • Place cake in front of a nice clean wall, solid painted backgrounds are usally better than a busy background such as wallpaper, because you want the cake to stand out as the centerpiece, and if your cake has intricate decorations, designs on the wall could clash
  • Make sure there is nothing blocking the view of the cake - both for guests or the photographer - especially during the cake cutting ceremony
  • If your cake is located near a window... most cameras will meter on the light outside the window, leaving the cake in a deep shadow. If you can, pull the curtains behind the cake and then shoot the picture
  • When photographing the couple cutting the cake, position the groom behind the bride both facing the cake and take the photo from a profile angle.
  • Have the bride pick up the cutting knife and have the groom reach around the bride and place his hand over the bride's hand, as they make the first cut of the cake. Work with your photographer and hold this pose a moment to allow for a good wide shot of cake cutting as well as a close up
  
  More "Must Have" Wedding Cake Shots:
  • Bride and Groom in front of the cake
  • Looking at the cake
  • Facing the camera
  • Looking at each other
  • Cutting the cake
  • Feeding each other the cake
  • Kissing after eating the cake
  
  Snappy Ideas:
  • Place two champagne glasses along with the Brides flowers on the side of the cake
  • Place decorated flowers around the cake which would accent the same color of the glassed trimming
  • Place Bride and Grooms hand in front of the wedding cake to show off the wedding rings
  • Before the cake cutting make sure the Bride, Groom, and Photographer are know if you will be “caking" each other
  • It is best to not have any balloons on the cake table because they will likely cast shadows
  
  Here are a few more “Do’s and Don’ts” for wedding cake photo backgrounds:
  Do’s
  • Nature: trees, sky, water
  • Traditional: gazebo, garden, church
  • Artistic: spiral staircase, hand carved wooden doors, antique photos or tables

  Don’ts
  • Windows or mirrors
  • The DJ table or the speakers
  • The side of the tent
  • Restroom doors or signs
  • Electrical outlets or wiring
  • Vents/Utility doors
  • Busy or dated wallpaper or wood paneling
  • Include Mirrors with caution
  • When outdoors, avoid mud puddles, weeds or uncut grass, broken limbs or dying flowers
  • Take lots of shots - both vertically and horizontally - there are sure to be several photos you will love
  
  Wedding Cake Table Setup and Checklist of items needed for the Cake Cutting Ceremony
  In addition to the wedding cake with nice greenery or floral arrangements, candles, confetti or other decorative touches to coordinate with your reception, be sure to have the following items at your wedding cake table:
  • Cake Knife
  • Cake Server
  • Dessert Plate(s)
  • Two (or more) Napkins
  • Two forks
  • Two Champagne Glasses – Filled
  
  Traditional Photography Shots of the Wedding Cake:
  Photos of the wedding cake before the guests arrive:
  • Entire Wedding Cake Table Setup
  • Cake Front
  • Cake from top angle
  • Cake from bottom angle
  • Cake from side angle
  • Close up of topper
  • Close up of monogram
  • Close up of special decorative touches such as the icing matching the lace design on the bride’s dress
  • Groom’s cake – several angles and decorative touches
  • Dessert table – bride and groom strawberries, mini-wedding cakes or cookies
  
  If possible, photograph the bride and groom in front of the cake and the bride and groom with the entire wedding party in front of the cake. Include the cake in a few family photo shots as wells.
  Action Shots
  Make sure the photographer is set up and in place before you bring attention to the event. You may also wish to ask your guests in advance to please allow the professional photographer to complete his shots first so that the images will not be compromised by other flashes, then be sure to allow a few extra moments for posing after the photographer is finished for your friends and family to snap away!
  Toast: Generally, photo of bride and groom in front of the wedding cake when the toast is made before the cake cutting begins.
  Regional/Optional - Ribbon Pull: Coordinate the ribbon pull with the cake cutting process. Generally, the ribbon pull should take place just after the bride and groom have shared their first slice of cake.
  Sharing the first slice of the cake: The cut should be made generally toward the front and center of the cake, but anywhere that makes for a good photo of the event is just fine. Be careful not to make the cut near one of the pillars or other supports for the cake if your cake has tiers as this could cause the layers to begin to tilt or even fall. To cut the cake, the bride holds the Cake Knife in her dominant hand and the groom places his hand around the bride’s hand. Together, the couple makes two slices in the cake about an inch apart. Don’t worry if the cake slice is not perfect. A triangle cut may work best since you are cutting from the center of the cake. Use the Cake Knife or Cake Server to place the first slice of cake on a dessert plate or napkin. Next, the groom uses a fork or breaks off a small piece of the cake and feeds it to the bride, and the bride does the same in return. You may wish to discuss in advance your feelings on smashing cake in the face of your new spouse. While it still happens, the tradition has become less popular.
  Sharing the cake with your new families: Represented by the bride bringing a slice of cake to the groom’s parents and the groom bringing a slice of cake to the bride’s parents.
  
  Looking for a professional photographer to capture your wedding cake memories and more? Visit our friends, the Wedding Photography Experts at Lindelle Studios Photography and Video.