i am baker

Food Styling Challenge: Tidymom

The Food Styling Challenge is all about showcasing talent for styling food. I have asked 12 amazing bloggers to pick any chocolate cake recipe they want and style it anyway they want. The catch? They only have $25 to do it! Join us on the journey to see how they can transform a cake stand into a work of art!

April is all about Cheryl from Tidymom. Cheryl is one of my favorite bloggers and has taught me SO much! When she agreed to be a part of this challenge I was literally giddy.

Not only is Cheryl one of the smartest bloggers I know, but she is totally willing to share everything she learns. Her blog is an amazing combination of scrumptious food and homemaking and photography tips!

And just look what she made for us today!

Malted Chocolate Cake with Toasted Marshmallow Cream

(be sure to click over to Cheryl’s blog to get the recipe for the mouth watering cake creation!!)

Did you find the Food Styling Challenge to be easy or difficult? A little of both. Generally I don’t give much thought to how I will style a shoot before I make a recipe. I usually make it, them rummage thru what I have and start playing while I shoot. – I know that’s not how the pro’s do it, but, it works for me. I’ve learned to just pick up cool stuff when I see it, so I’ve grown a pretty good collection of props.

For your challenge I actually gave thought weeks ahead of time of how I wanted to style my cake shots, and had items in mind that I wanted to look for. Shopping second hand is what I usually do, but it’s definitely more challenging when you have specific items in mind. I do have a large Antique Mall almost walking distance from my house, and GoodWill and a few resale shops in town, so I was able to eventually come up with what I thought would work.

Decorating cake is a challenge in of its self, so I decided to make this an easy one, and I found shooting a dark chocolate cake to be a challenge too. It’s hard to get the right light on the cake, without blowing out everything else in the shot. That took some time, I didn’t expect.

Was the spending limit a challenge? Not at all, I’m pretty sure I was well under budget. Let’s see….. the silver tray was $3.50, the assorted silver ware came to $4.00, the blue cup $ .50 (the pink cup I had), plates $1.00, books were $2.00, fabric remnant $1.00, blue mason jar $.50, glasses $2.00, the faux wood surface is a piece of wallpaper I had. So that comes to… $14.50!! All of these items are pieces I will use again.

What are your favorite props to style with? Oh gosh, I’d have to say old darker pieces, especially pans and fun fabrics and napkins, I have a huge collection of both.

What is your favorite part of the challenge? Pushing myself to think about styling BEFORE I even make a recipe. I also tried my hand at more of a darker feel, by using my black foam boards instead of white. I wanted my photo to have a feel that “is was a lazy day spent reading, it was getting late and I stopped to enjoy a piece of cake with a glass of milk.” It’s funny to look at my first photo in a shoot, and then see where I end up, usually nothing like where I started.

Kudos to you Amanda on all your beautiful cake decorating AND styling! You sure make it look easy!

I cant get over how delicious this cake looks. I might have to skip breakfast and lunch so I can have cake for dinner!

Thank you so much Cheryl! Please do take the time to visit the amazingness that is Tidymom. net. And check out her Pinterest boards… over 100,000 people follow everything she pins!

Blog TidyMom.net

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TidyMomFanPage

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/tidymom

Pinterst http://pinterest.com/tidymom/

Instagram http://instagram.com/tidymom/

Google + https://plus.google.com/106011087914023320492?rel=author

Be sure to check out the Food Styling Challenge Participants thus far!

JANUARY – Dine & Dish

White Chocolate Confetti Cake

FEBRUARY – Verses From My Kitchen

Blackberry Chocolate Cake

MARCH – Inspired by Charm

Cookies and Cream Cake

April 22, 2013 · 12 Comments

Food Styling Challenge: Dine and Dish

I am so so SO excited to share with you a new feature on my blog!!! One of my passions has long been admiring the talent and skill of the folks that are able to beautifully style food. I personally find cake to one of the hardest foods to style, and am constantly searching for new and creative ways to share baked creations.

Since my talents are so very limited, I thought it would be fun to see what the best in the business could come up with!

I asked 12 different fabulously talented bloggers if they would be up for a little challenge. With $25 total and the common theme of Chocolate Cake, I was dying to see what they could produce. I requested that they shop only second hand, but were able to buy and use any props within their budget.

January is all about the fabulous Kristen from Dine&Dish.

I am a long time fan of Kristen’s ability to style her food and pictures. Every time I go to her site I want to immediately make what she has shared!

Kristen also shared her about her experience on her site, and it is definitely worth checking out!

I asked Kristen a few questions about her experience:

Did you find the Food Styling Challenge to be easy or difficult? It was a mix of easy and difficult. We don’t have any antique stores near where I am, and if we did, going there with a 3 year old in tow would not be my idea of a good time. So instead, I hit up Goodwill. Goodwill is one of those places where it’s either hit or miss. The price is often right, but whether you find what you are looking for with just one trip can be the challenge.

I believe the right textures in a photograph make or break a picture. I had trouble finding the base fabric I wanted to use, but finally found an ivory tablecloth with a coffee stain or something on it for cheap. Considering I would only be using a portion of the cloth, it worked out beautifully.

Beautiful White Chocolate Rose Cake from Dine&Dish

Was the spending limit a challenge? Surprisingly, it wasn’t, but it’s because I found things with blemishes. The tea kettle is missing a leg. The tablecloth has a stain. I bought the tea cup but could have probably gotten away without it as I didn’t really like it in the pictures (seemed like too much). In fact, my favorite picture is the simple stack of plates without the extra props. I spent $1 on the forks, $3 on the plates, $2 on the tablecloth and got the napkin like fabric out of a remnants bin for 25 cents. I could have spent that much and would have been happy with the pictures without the extra props.

What is your favorite part of the challenge? Attempting to decorate a cake

Cake decorating is not my forte, at all. My daughter is currently taking a cake decorating class so I am having fun learning along with her. Even though I didn’t nail your rose technique, I loved trying it. Following your tutorial made it so easy – mush easier than all those things we are learning in her class.

White Chocolate Rose Cake from Dine&Dish

White Chocolate Confetti Cake

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
4 ounces high quality white chocolate squares, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cups butter, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup pastel sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare your baking pans by sprang with Pam Baking Spray (see note at end of recipe regarding pan size).
Sift together cake flour, baking powder and salt.
Heat milk in a microwave safe bowl until hot (not scalding or boiling). Stir in the chopped white chocolate pieces and stir until melted.
In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat butter, sugar and sour cream together until light and fluffy. Mix in eggs and vanilla until well incorporated.
Turn your mixer to low speed and add melted chocolate mixture followed by the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
Turn off mixer and remove bowl. Using a wooden spoon, fold in pastel sprinkles until just incorporated.
Pour batter into prepared cake pan(s). Note: I baked mine in mini 5 inch spring form pans for 20-23 minutes. For 2 8 inch round pans, bake for 18-20 or until toothpick comes out clean.
Top with your favorite Vanilla Buttercream
Adapted from wilton.com White Chocolate Cake with Raspberry

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White Chocolate Cake from Kristen of Dine & Dish

*****

Thank you SO much Kristen for being the first to take on the Food Styling Challenge! Your work is stunning and your personal style and passion are beyond inspiring!

So I must know… what is your favorite picture of Kristens? What do you love about it?

You can find Kristen on Pinterest, on Twitter (and she is one fantastic tweeter!) , Facebook , Google+, as well as Instagram and Vine.

Stay tuned for next month, you are not going to want to miss the seriously talented blogger who is stopping by!

January 31, 2013 · 51 Comments

Food {Faux}tography

I gotta keep it real here. Food photography is tough. I struggle with it every single time I do it. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that I am totally faking it.

This is my favorite shot of a slice of cake. When one person (whose opinion I trust implicitly) saw it they said, “Can I just tell you everything that is wrong with that shot?”

Yes!! Please do!! (Seriously, I appreciate all feedback!) Because when I took it I didnt realize the back was blown out and that the fork placement draws your eye away from the cake or that my depth of field is way to shallow. I just thought it was pretty.

So this is not a series on how to be a better food photographer. Because clearly I know very little on that topic. And there are amazingly talented people out there who DO know how to do food photography and styling.

These guys are the real deal. One reason that these folks speak to me is that when I see their pictures I dont think, “That is beautiful styling.” I think,

“I want to eat that food.”

They are so masterful with telling my eye where to go, where to linger, and what exactly it should be focusing on.

They just get it.

(I highly encourage you to check out those blogs… if you love their talent as much as I do, be sure to tell them!)

I am quite secure in the fact that food styling & photography is NOT my gift. I DON’T get it. I have taken classes, I have watched video’s, I have tried to flat out copy people. (always giving credit of course) Its just not. my. thing.

So I fake it.

One way I fake it is with props. I tend to make lots of cakes so side plates are a big prop in my life. I have many, many, way-to-many side plates.

And way to many cake stands. But thats another post!

For this {faux}tography post I want to show you the power of a side plate. I am not kidding you when I say that they can transform a piece of cake.

Things to look for: In which picture do you think, “Oh, thats a pretty plate,” and in which (if any, remember I am not a pro) do you think,

“I must eat that cake!”

So does one stand out?

Look at how much a difference a red plate vs. a white plate can make. Can you imagine if we added a glass? Or a pretty napkin, or even the whole cake behind? I have a hard time seeing that so I have to try and build as I go, a piece at a time.

So. While I fully suggest if you want to be a great food stylist and food photographer, learn from the best.

But if you need to fake it like I do, try focusing on one prop. Like plates. Or silverware. Or napkins. And then build up your supply so that you can experiment and see what you prefer!

(Most of these plates were purchased at Thrift Stores and yard/salvage/garage sales. One of these days I will take you shopping with me!)

Wanna know which one I like the best?

Plain ole white.

Did you have a favorite?

March 24, 2012 · 141 Comments

Food Blogging Etiquette

Something that amazes me is the number of new food blogs. Every single day 100′s of people join the food blogging community and begin this fantastic journey of documenting the one thing that we all share… a love for food.

I thought maybe I could share a few tips for creating a successful, but more importantly, friendly food blog.

Why is “friendly” more important then successful? It is my opinion that you cannot attain great success unless you first choose to do it the right way.

1. Do not post someone else’s recipe verbatim. Do post the directions in your voice.

You can certainly post ingredients exactly, but the directions should always be in your own words. How did you prepare the food? That is how your directions should read. Even if you followed another recipes directions precisely, you should still share your experience in your words.

2. Do not use someone else’s pictures without permission. Do take your own pictures.

In some instances you really just want to showcase someone else’s work. (if you are using their pictures, try to limit it to one) This is a wonderful aspect of the food blogging community and one that is encouraged! However, always always always provide proper links back to the original blog. If you really want to use someone else’s pictures, simply ask them for permission. Most bloggers have a disclosure preference on their blog if you are unsure. When in doubt, ask!

Even if you are not an expert photographer, people still want to see how you prepared the food. It is your blog!

There is always opportunity to learn more about taking better picture of food. (Here is a quick tutorial)

3. Do not take credit for someone else’s work. Do provide proper links and accreditation.

If you chose to make someone else’s recipe (which is not only common but expected) you make sure you are very clear with your readers about who provided your inspiration. This involves clearly explaining where the recipe source originated. If possible, try to include a link back to the creators website.

If ever in doubt, just ask yourself the food bloggers Golden Rule, “How would I want to be credited if someone was using my recipe?”

I hope that these little tips can help you to not enjoy enjoy the food blogging experience, but help you to develop strong and long lasting relationships with other food bloggers!

June 21, 2011 · 66 Comments