A Peice of Cake featuring Cakes with TLC

Not everyone has the opportunity that I had this previous week to sit down and works side by side with  a baker/cake decorator. I had the privilege of working with Torey from Cakes With TLC, every year she makes my daughters birthday cake and over the years we have become friends but this year was different because she had surgery and was unable to make her cake. So I made it myself! With the guidance of Torey of course...she walked me through the whole process from baking the cake..(because mixture is key to the perfect cake) frosting, staking, cutting out fondant etc. I couldn't believe the cost it takes just to buy ingredients for cake and frosting. I spent approximately $60 just on ingredients alone, that doesn't include all the tools or the time needed to make the cake as well. The tools would     have cost hundreds to get, from frosting color, cake pans, pan coat an air brush machine etc. It  took me 7 hours to make. Yes I just said 7 hours!!! Everyone wants a custom cake for their special day and not everyone wants to  pay what bakers ask. I had a behind the scenes look at what bakers do and I can honestly tell you that they are worth every penny!!! They are doing it for the joy they get from making someone else's day special, and it is also their job..and honestly who wants to work for free? I know as a professional photographer I don't.. It takes a lot of time and dedication to make a cake to get it precise and straight.. hours upon hours..skipping meals and more. So I wanted to blog about my experience and share with everyone how time consuming this cake was even though Torey walked me through it, it still took time and her being a perfectionist could you imagine how long she would have spent on it?? So here is the cake I made... it may not be perfect but it was my first and like I mention without Torey from Cakes With TLC this cake would have not been possible it probably would have been a big pile of crumbs haha... hope everyone enjoys this...