Expert tips to capture stunning flat lay photography
What is flat lay photography?
Flat lay photography is all about creating visually captivating images that tell a story. It’s like a snapshot of your (or your brand’s) world, laid out flat for everyone to see. A flat lay photo showcases a bird’s eye view of what you love, what you are doing, or what you can offer.
Flat lay photography is a style of photography that involves taking images from directly above, with all items laid out flat on a surface.
They can also sometimes be called lay photos or lay flat photos.
It’s a popular genre of photography on social media, born in the early days of Instagram before it was filled with reels and marketing messages. Think a cup coffee with a perfect design in the frothy milk, artfully styled on a cafe table with a laptop to the side, some reading glasses and a slice of the prettiest looking cake you can imagine.
Flat lay photographs are perfect for showcasing skincare products, food, and other objects in a creative and visually appealing way. I’ve put together a heap of photography tips, as well as notes on composition, lighting and camera settings so you can follow your creative muse and start shooting asap!
Whether you are a product photographer, a brand or a small business owner creating content for your social media, or a UGC content creator, there’s plenty of opportunity to experiment with styling flat lay photography.
Benefits of using a flat lay technique
- Flat lay photography is a great way to make a strong visual statement and tell a story.
- Flat lay product photography is an effective way to get aesthetic images for social media. They can create visual interest, stop the scroll and allow potential customers to imagine the product in their home in a similar setting.
- Styling flat lay photography can help to elevate objects from everyday items to interesting, artistic objects.
How to create your flat lay magic
Find your light source
Forget harsh overhead lights. Natural lighting is your best friend. Set up and position yourself near a window for that perfect natural light glow that makes your image pop.
- Use natural light for flat lay photography, it’s the best option. We’ve spoken plenty of times about why we love natural light, and personally I avoid artificial light at all costs.
- Choose a big window as your main light source.
- Diffuse harsh light with net curtains or light fabric. If you want to you can avoid shadows by bouncing light with a white card, but sometimes the shadows might add to the image and give the perfect shot.
Choosing a Background
Your flat lay background needs to let your personality shine through and create visual interest.
- You need a flat surface of course, and a plain white background is classic, but you are best to choose a background that matches the mood you’re going for.
- Don’t be afraid to add texture. Think wood, marble, or even a piece of fabric. Use your dining table or desk, or a sheet of vinyl as a background.
- You can also consider looking for ready-made backgrounds specifically designed for flat lay photography. My preference is to keep things “real” though, and I don’t find these pre printed backgrounds look interesting and attractive at all. Be creative and see what you can find laying around your home or office!
Selecting props and how to style flat lay photos
Less is often more when it comes to great flat lay shots, but don’t be afraid to get creative. Choose items to use as props that complement your main feature item and tell a story about it.
- Choose props that are personal or meaningful to you or the scene you are photographing. There needs to be a story as to why you have a passion for the item or why it’s relevant to your small business.
- Don’t overdo it! Negative space is an important feature of aesthetic flat lay images.
- If you are photographing skincare for example, you might be able to source specific ingredients that are included in the product, and the same would apply for food photography.
Positioning the Camera
- Position your camera directly above the flat lay for that perfect bird’s-eye view, parallel to the surface. You can use a DSLR camera if you have one, or your iPhone can do a great job also. Remember, whatever camera you use, give the lens a clean before beginning your shoot.
- If you have access to one, use a good tripod will ensure a steady shot and avoid camera shake. No one wants blurry photos, perfect focus across the entire photograph is the aim!
- If needed, a small step ladder is a good help when taking flat lay photos, allowing you to get high above the scene. Keep an eye on the shutter speed if you are standing on a ladder and taking your photo handheld!
- Make sure you get the right angle for your shot, and take extra care to get the direction spot on. Even an angle few mm either way from dead horizontal can make the photograph look a little warped and some areas out of focus. The key to stunning flat lay photos of beauty products is right there in the name – make sure you keep them perfectly flat!
Composition techniques for great flat lay photography
Use composition to create a visually appealing image. Experiment with different options, and don’t be afraid to break the rules! Consider what items make sense to include in your flat lay photo shoot and step back to double check a few times that everything in the shot, has a reason to be there.
Have fun and experiment with different orientations of all your items to find the right one for your perfect flat lay shot.
Experiment with different arrangements of all your visual elements to find the right balance. Try placing objects in a way that utilises negative space to create a minimalist flat lay feel.
Consider using the rule of thirds, but don’t get too caught up in following artistic rules. Aim to create something unique and that works for your personal style.
Consider different ways to arrange all your props to create a visually interesting image. Take a heap of shots, moving objects in between. You never know what image you might be able to use later.
Keep an eye out for bits of dust or hair, and things that are distracting if they aren’t meant to be the main focal point. Save time in post production by not having to edit out all these things later.
Editing Your Flat Lay Photos
Remember to edit with purpose. Once at the editing stage, you want to enhance your images, but don’t overdo it. Perfect your camera settings (we want everything in focus) and concentrate more on getting the layout correct before you photograph your flay lay rather than thinking you can fix everything in post production.
You want to highlight your products, not create a filter frenzy.
To enhance your flat lay images, consider some post-processing, such as cropping and adjusting contrast or experimenting with the saturation slider. For quick edits, you can use apps on your phone like VSCO or Lightroom mobile. However, for more professional results, consider shooting your photos in raw format and explore advanced editing software on your computer like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.
Optimising flat lay photos for social media
Consider the aspect ratio of your image when setting up the scene. Where do you plan to share the image? You will need to leave space for a 9:16 ratio if you want to use your flat lay on an Instagram story or reel, or as a phone background and you will likely need a 16:9 ratio if you need to use your image as a website banner.
Alternately, if you want to share your finished product as a feed post on Instagram you will need to create your flat lay in a 4:5 ratio, and on a website a 1:1 square might be best.
Another important consideration is if you plan to add text to the image, you will need to leave space for that.
Creating a Cohesive Flat Lay Style
Enjoy styling and photographing flat lays, they can be a fun way to explore photography, to document your life, or to convey details about your brand or products that you sell.
To create a cohesive and recognizable aesthetic, establish a consistent theme or style for your flat lay photography that screams “this is us” or “I took this”. Maintain this visual identity across every photo to strengthen your personal art style or brand’s recognition. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques, props, and arrangements to discover what truly resonates with your audience and elevates your flat lay game.
Remember: Practice makes perfect. Experiment, have fun, and let your creativity shine!