I was browsing through some pictures for the book and realized that they all looked the same.

White background with a cake in front of it.  Maybe some plates.  Some forks.

White background.

White, white, white.  Then more white.

This will not do!

So I pulled up pinterest and entered photography backgrounds.

I just adore pinterest.  Everything you could want or dream to one day be/have/do.

And, as it always does, I was inspired by all the ideas that pinterest offered!

I got a few pieces of MDF, each measuring 2 feet by 4 feet.  (You can use cardboard, particle board, plywood, anything that is sturdy enough to hold its shape.)

Then grabbed my trusty staple gun.

And some fabric remnants I got at the fabric store.

Then simply wrapped the fabric around the board and started stapling.  I always pull the centers tight and staple, then work my way out to the corners.

I was careful cut the excess fabric when trimming the back… if there is enough left it can be used as coordinating napkins!

This is the green background.

I really, really liked how it turned out.  Seriously, this project took about 30 minutes (total!) and I now have some great options for the backgrounds of those silly cakes of mine!

And this is the khaki linen.  I choose pretty neutral colors as I am hoping they help make the food really stand out.

And this is both the green and the khaki!  There are really versatile and very inexpensive.

Next I will be tackling the faux-wood backgrounds!  If you have any great links or tips please feel free to share. :)

 There is still time to enter the KitchenAid 7QT Commercial Mixer giveaway!  It runs through Dec. 5th.

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion – With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Reader Comments

  1. Wonderful tutorial Amanda!! Ok, here’s my “hot” tip for the week. Lowe’s sells packages of wainscotting – beadboard (which is already primed!) and a wider ( about 3 inches) version. From each package you can make two boards – just get a little bottle of wood glue and glue the boards together – they are already cut with a tongue and groove so it’s pretty easy! This will give you 4 different wood surfaces – pretty good for about $10 – $11!! Next hot tip – find a wood stain you like and stain one side – then to add some depth use Bri wax (you can find it at a good hardware store – found mine at our local Ace). or just plain old Johnson’s furniture wax (the stuff in the yellow can). Gives a subtle sheen to the stained wood!!
    Hoping to do a little tutorial on the blog about this soon!!

  3. This is great, Amanda! And its so much easier (for me) than painting 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing. I needed this inspiration. Cheers!

  7. Thank you for the amazing photography info! I think you need to add a tab….I am Photographer!

  8. Let me just say, I LOVE your site! I’m an amateur food photographer myself (although you are much better) and I feel like I’m constantly just faking it. Glad to see that someone as good as you feels the same way. I love your tips and I will actually use them. Thanks! XOXO

  9. these are great tips. I would never have guessed that this is fabric. It looks like painted wood. Great ideas and I needed some inspiration as my food photography is falling flat lately. Thanks.

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