Cake Photography for Bakeries, Patisseries & Cafés – Tips & Examples

Cake Photography

Professional cake photography for bakeries, patisseries, and cafés. Whether you need images for social media, your website, or display boards, good photography makes cakes irresistible and drives orders. I also shoot desserts for restaurants.

I’ve photographed cakes for local bakeries and large manufacturers, covering everything from celebration cakes to pastries and desserts.

This guide covers what makes cake photography work – from lighting and angles to the difference between styled shots and documentary photography.

Based in Rutland, I work with bakeries across Leicester, Nottinghamshire, and the East Midlands, creating images that show your cakes at their best.

cake photography Delicious homemade berry crumble muffin with a gooey fruit filling and crunchy topping on a wooden surface. Perfect for Ruby Tuesday’s food photography in Rutland captured by a professional food photographer.

What makes good cake photography

Natural light works best – Window light or soft artificial lighting shows texture, colour, and detail without harsh shadows

Angle matters – Most cakes look best shot straight-on or at 45 degrees. Flat lays work for celebration cakes with decorations on top

Context helps – A cake on its own is fine, but showing a slice cut, someone about to eat it, or the bakery counter adds story

Styling – keep it real – Over-styled cake photography with excessive props looks artificial. Your actual cakes in your actual bakery is more trustworthy

Focus on texture – The layers, the icing, the crumb structure – these details make people want to order

Cake Photography Examples

These examples show different approaches to cake photography – from styled celebration cakes to close-up texture shots. While these are more styled than documentary photography, they demonstrate lighting, composition, and the kind of detail that makes cakes look irresistible.

For bakeries, I typically shoot your cakes as you actually make and display them – less artificial styling, more authentic representation of what customers will get.

  • Rich homemade carrot cake with icing and chopped almonds, served with fresh strawberries and raspberries on a ceramic plate in a cosy kitchen setting.
  • Fresh raspberry topping on a slice of sponge cake with cream and pink icing, served on a white plate, styled for food photography.
  • Delicious layered cake with a dusting of powdered sugar and fresh strawberry on a black plate, perfect for food photography and showcasing artisanal dessert presentation.
  • Golden-brown coffee cake with scattered roasted coffee beans on a light plate, showcasing fresh baked goods featuring high-quality food photography for bakery and cafe marketing.
  • Delicious chocolate chip cookie with a marshmallow topping and drizzled chocolate, perfect for food photography in Rutland.
  • Golden almond cake with white icing and crushed pistachios on a rustic wooden surface, photographed by Rutland food photographer for the UK culinary showcase.

Styled vs Documentary Cake Photography

Styled cake photography (like many examples above) uses:

  • Props and backgrounds
  • Perfect lighting setups
  • Artificial scenarios
  • Multiple Cakes arranged together

This works for marketing materials, brochures, and social media content where you want that “magazine” look.

Documentary cake photography captures:

  • Cakes as you actually display them
  • The baker decorating or slicing
  • Your bakery counter in action
  • The actual environment

This works better for websites showing real products, social media (authenticity is key!), building trust with customers, Google Business Profile images. Most bakeries need both – some styled hero shots for key products, plus documentary images showing the real bakery experience.

My approach leans documentary – I photograph your cakes as you make and sell them, in your actual bakery, without artificial setups. This builds more trust than perfect-but-fake stock photography.

  • Delicious finger sandwiches and assorted desserts, beautifully presented for afternoon tea, perfect for food photography in Rutland.
  • Freshly baked artisanal bread loafs at Rutland food photography, showcasing high-quality homemade bread for bakery and food marketing. Perfect for promoting baked goods and classic bread styles.
  • Freshly prepared pizza bases in a professional kitchen, showcasing artisanal food photography by Rutland Food Photographer, ideal for showcasing culinary expertise and food styling.

What Bakeries need photographed

  • Signature cakes – Your bestsellers and special occasion cakes deserve professional photos
  • Daily selection – Pastries, slices, cupcakes – the everyday items customers see in your counter
  • Celebration cakes – Weddings, birthdays, special events – if you do custom cakes, show examples!
  • Behind-the-scenes – The baker decorating, piping, assembling – shows your skill and care
  • The counter/display – How cakes look in your actual bakery helps customers visualise visiting, knowing what to expect
  • Process shots – Mixing, baking, decorating – great for social media stories
  • Seasonal specials – Christmas cakes, Easter treats – photograph each season to stay current


One half-day shoot typically covers 12-15 cakes plus some behind-the-scenes content – enough for weeks of social media and marketing.

  • Delicious finger sandwiches and assorted desserts, beautifully presented for afternoon tea, perfect for food photography in Rutland.
  • Delicious mixed nut tart prepared by Rutland food photographer; close-up of a nut-filled tart in a fluted tart tin with a blurred kitchen background.
  • Freshly baked muffins being dusted with icing sugar by a professional food photographer in Rutland, capturing high-quality food styling and culinary photography for menus and promotional content.

Cake Photography for Social Media

Instagram and Facebook are essential for bakeries – people buy with their eyes, and cake photography needs to stop the scroll, as well as showing your products at their best.

What works:

  • Close-ups showing texture and layers
  • Slicing videos (still frames work too)
  • The baker at work
  • Happy customers with their cakes
  • Seasonal displays

What doesn’t work:

  • Dark, poorly lit photos
  • Phone shots with harsh overhead lighting
  • Blurry images taken quickly
  • Stock photos that don’t match your products

Professional photography gives you weeks of content from one shoot – alternating between product shots and behind-the-scenes content keeps your feed interesting.

Cake Photography FAQ

Ready to start your project, but have a few questions first? I believe in keeping things simple and transparent. This FAQ section covers all the common things people ask, like licensing, turnaround times, travel, and how to book a project.

Proud to be a member of authentic photography organisation Fearless Photographers

I shoot on location in your bakery. This shows your cakes in their real environment and captures the authentic atmosphere. Studio shoots are available if needed, but most bakeries prefer in-situ photography that customers can relate to.

Half-day shoots are 3-4 hours, perfect for photographing your current range. Full-day shoots are 6-8 hours, allowing time for products, behind-the-scenes baking, team portraits, and your bakery space. Most bakeries book half-day shoots during quiet periods.

Yes. All images come in high-resolution for print and web-optimised versions for social media. You get full commercial usage rights – use them on Instagram, Facebook, your website, printed menus, display boards, wherever you need.

No, all travel time and mileage to locations within the core East Midlands area (including Rutland, Leicester, and Nottingham) is included in your standard Half-Day or Full-Day rate. Travel fees are only applied for national commissions requiring travel outside of this area.

Images are delivered within 5-10 business days via private online gallery. You can download, share, and start using them immediately. Rush delivery available if you need images sooner for a specific launch or campaign.

Cake Photoshoot Pricing

Half-Day Shoot – £395

3-4 hours on location
30+ edited, high-resolution images
12-15 cakes photographed

Perfect for updating your product library

Full-Day Shoot – £650

6-8 hours on location
60+ edited, high-resolution images
25-30 dishes photographed

Complete bakery coverage – products, team, behind-the-scenes

All images come with full commercial usage rights – use them on your website, social media, printed menus, display boards, wherever you need.
Based in Oakham, Rutland – quick travel to Leicester, Nottingham, and across the East Midlands.

Ready to Book Your Bakery Photoshoot?

If you’re a bakery, patisserie, or café looking for professional cake photography that shows your products at their best, get in touch.

I work across Leicester, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, and the East Midlands, shooting in your bakery with minimal disruption to your business.

📞 Call or text: 07919 927105
📧 Email: barney@clean-plate.co.uk
🌐 View my portfolio

Images delivered within 5-10 days, ready to use across all your marketing.

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