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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Product Photography - Help please!
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 05/17/2006 11:21:49 AM · #1
I have an opportunity to do some product photography for someone. It's a bakery business and they have about 4 or 5 cakes they want shot for their website. My question is, how much should I charge? They will be able to bring the cakes to me for the shoot. Advice please. Thanks in advance.
 05/17/2006 11:24:21 AM · #2
I can't help you out with the serious questions...but I wonder if you'll be inviting the rest of us over for the "clean up" party?
=)
 05/17/2006 12:22:55 PM · #3
Originally posted by KaDi:
I can't help you out with the serious questions...but I wonder if you'll be inviting the rest of us over for the "clean up" party?
=)


Sure! c'mon over... you can help hold some lights too! :-P

I'm just hoping the darn things don't melt on me.

Message edited by author 2006-05-17 12:23:25.
 05/17/2006 12:26:36 PM · #4
If you don't have strobes, they WILL melt. Been there, done that.

I have no idea how to price for the web. I wouldn't do it myself for less than $250...

R.
 05/17/2006 12:29:28 PM · #5
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
If you don't have strobes, they WILL melt. Been there, done that.

I have no idea how to price for the web. I wouldn't do it myself for less than $250...

R.


LOL... I need the job to pay for the strobes.... need the strobes to do the job.... Chicken or the egg!?!?

I was thinking in the $100-$200 ballpark (since I'm still pretty new)... I thought that would be a bit high... good to see I'm on the right track (a little low even).
 05/17/2006 12:34:37 PM · #6
Then be sure to use bounced light; do NOT shine those hotlights directly on the cakes, dude...

R.
 05/17/2006 12:37:16 PM · #7
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Then be sure to use bounced light; do NOT shine those hotlights directly on the cakes, dude...

R.


Yeah, that was kind of the plan... I was also considering doing a makeshift light tent. How do you think that would work? What fabrics should I use?
 05/17/2006 12:37:17 PM · #8
Yeah, cakes will melt under hot lights.

Are these just plain shots of the cake? White BG, no props etc?

If so, it shouldn't be too bad, just get the lights, set up a tent and have everything set beforehand. Set the cake in place, switch the lights on take some shots, switch off the lights and go to the next one. I'd keep the lights off as much as possible.

If you're going to have the lights on all the time for props, adjusting setups, etc. I predict problems.

Nothing like watching the icing slide completely off the good side of a cake before you take "the" shot. DAMHIKT
 05/17/2006 12:41:28 PM · #9
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Yeah, cakes will melt under hot lights.

Are these just plain shots of the cake? White BG, no props etc?

If so, it shouldn't be too bad, just get the lights, set up a tent and have everything set beforehand. Set the cake in place, switch the lights on take some shots, switch off the lights and go to the next one. I'd keep the lights off as much as possible.

If you're going to have the lights on all the time for props, adjusting setups, etc. I predict problems.

Nothing like watching the icing slide completely off the good side of a cake before you take "the" shot. DAMHIKT


I'm not sure what kind of cakes yet... If they are plain cakes, I'll want to "jazz-em-up" with some props (fruits, silverware, plates, etc). I think she is just basically looking to showcase some of her work and what she can do. Hot lights are definitely a concern and I have already mentioned that to her but she seems to think the cakes will be able to stand up to some heat. We shall see. My big concern for the moment is how much I should charge. I want to be fair, but I don't want to scare off one of my first paying clients either.
 05/17/2006 12:41:51 PM · #10
I'd go with a lightbox... Here is a home-made one that is easy to build.

//www.pbase.com/otfchallenge/light_box
 05/17/2006 12:42:34 PM · #11
cool... thnx for the linky
 05/17/2006 12:55:19 PM · #12
A suggestion: After you do the shots of the full cakes, do some of the cut-out pieces. It is definitively more interesting (at least to me) to see what's inside, what does a cross-section look like.

You can take those shots on some not-too-fancy plates, something simple yet elegant, not to take away attention from the cake. Avoid highly polished silverware, it's just calling for PP trouble later.

Hope this helps.

-Serge
 05/17/2006 12:56:44 PM · #13
Get your hands on some energy saver bulbs. A 20W one output as much light as a regular 100W incandescent, which means you have 80W less thermal energy to melt the cakes. I use them, they're cool enough to stick a waxpaper diffuser right on the bulb. The light is also more white than with an incandescent. Then stick them around a light-tent.
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