Flat lay photography has become one of the biggest trends of the last 5 years. Even if you haven’t heard of the term “flat lay”, you will have most definitely seen them.
Flat lays are meticulously arranged items photographed from above.
They became popular with food and lifestyle bloggers, but they are perfect for any brand whether you are service or product-based business.
The reason I believe flat lays have been, and still are so popular is that psychologically, we find beauty in simplicity.
When items are in perfect alignment, our brain engages a wide range of cognitive, emotion and memory circuits, which leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction.
Flat lay photography have been very popular for shooting product and lifestyle imagery.
The key factor is that they are extraordinarily simple to work with, and the minimalist staging is well suited to modern web design.
Why I love flat lay photography
I personally love flat lay photography. They are so much fun to create, style and shoot!
The sheer convenience of creating a flat lay shouldn’t be underestimated.
Anyone with a camera, a flat surface and a few props can make a fantastic looking flat lay.
With the rise of independent online brands, this has given start-up and small businesses a leg up in terms of creating content that looks professional and is visually appealing.
So, where to start and how to create the perfect flat lay. Here, I will be revealing all.
The Flat Lay Photography Formula
Preparation
Like most things in life, the prep work is always the longest part of the process.
Spend some time getting inspiration for your image and source props that complement your product.
Flat lays are a visual story so think about the objects that relate to your hero product and how they relate.
You want to give yourself a number of different options, so make sure you have lots of different props just in case something doesn’t quite work out when you’re shooting.
Lighting is key!
Before you start shooting, first you have to consider the light. How are you photographing your flat lay? Are you using natural light or a flash?
Living in the UK can be an issue as sunlight is not always guaranteed. However, if you have a flash/strobe lights, you can create beautiful light that can be used at any time of the day.
What I really love about flash is it produces a consistent light. When I need to shoot multiple images for a brand, it’s crucial that my pictures all look cohesive with one another.
The next question is what kind of light are you looking for?
Are you looking for beautiful soft light, or are you looking to create an image with glossy reflections and hard shadows?
How hard or soft your light depends on two main factors:
- Distance. The closer the light source, the softer it becomes.
- Size of the light source. The larger the source, the softer it becomes.
Soft Light
Soft light wraps around objects, creating beautifully diffused shadows with feathered edges.
Think about the sunlight on an overcast day. The clouds act as a giant softbox, bouncing and spreading the light, so there are barely any shadows.
Soft lighting creates a beautiful ethereal look to your images, which is relaxing to the eye.
Hard Light
Hard light cast crisp, well-defined shadows and glossy reflections. If a hard light source hits a textured surface at an angle, it will accentuate all the details in an object, giving a 3D-appearance.
You might want to use hard light if you’re going to cast reflections of liquid in a glass, create crisp leaf shadows or provide a glossy look to your products.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio, otherwise known as crop ratio, is a proportional relationship between an image’s width and height.
In simple terms, it describes an image’s shape. Usually, aspect ratios are written as a formula of width to height, i.e. 3:2, 4:3. For example, a square image has an aspect ratio of 1:1, since the height and width are the same.
Depending on how you want to use the image, i.e. Instagram, web banner, you need to shoot accordingly. It’s essential to know how the image will be cropped before you begin shooting.
For example, if you’re shooting a square image for Instagram, you know you need to make sure that all your props fit within the square, so nothing important gets cropped out at the end.
You may find that you can take one shot that will work in a variety of different aspect ratios, but it’s always useful to have the back of your mind.
Composition
The composition is a crucial factor when creating a stunning flat lay.
I always begin by playing the hero product down first and then add in objects one by one to see how each item affects the overall image.
Doing it this way gives you more control over how the picture comes together.
Depending on your objects, you can arrange them in a straight line, grid, follow the rule of thirds.
Unless you are creating symmetry, stick with odd numbers in your composition. Odd numbers of objects create visual interest.
Rather than placing all of your objects in the centre of the shot with a border of negative space surrounding them, I love arranging props so that they overflow out of the frame.
Doing so creates intrigue and encourages you to feel as though you see a snippet of a larger scene, engaging the viewer’s imagination to think beyond the frame.
Remember to allow space between each object to keep, so the image doesn’t look cluttered.
You can create balance by using small objects with larger objects and using similar colours on both sides of the picture.
Text/Graphics
If you want to add text or graphics in post-production, remember to leave some space.
This is especially useful if you are looking to create an ad. You could add your logo or branding. If you’re going for an inspiration look, you could use a quote.
I always use Canva to add text to my images.
Colour Scheme
I believe less is always more with colour. By sticking to no more than three colours or using a variety of tones from only one colour, you’ll make images that really catch the eye.
Layering
Layering is a great way to add depth to your frame if it’s looking flat. You can create depth by stacking different sized objects such as books, plates, trays etc. and placing your main subject on top.
For even more depth, you could add in a piece of material such as cloth, towel or scarf to create added depth and texture.
Props
I always recommend using props to compliment your product, business or brand.
For example, if you are selling a beauty product, you may want to think about the ingredients in the product.
The other option is to use props that you would associate with the product. If you were shooting a body scrub, you might want to include a body brush and a moisturiser, for example.
When I photographed pigments for the cosmetic company, Shades of London, I used makeup brushes around the product.
Whether you are running short on some prop ideas, these 101 flat lay props will seriously help you to up your flat lay photography game in no time.
- Notebook
- Pen
- Laptop
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Phone
- Books
- Quotes
- Gift Box
- Calendar
- Printable Lists
- Photo Prints
- Scrabble Letters
- Clock
- Glitter
- Paint
- Pens/Pencils
- String
- Frames
- Scissors
- Planner
- Magazines
- Candles
- Camera
- Tray
- Confetti
- Fold back clips
- Newspaper
- Ornaments
- Ribbon
- Paper Clips
- Postcards
- Magnifying Glass
- Map
- Passport
- Globe
- Compass
- Sunglasses
- Business Cards
- Leaflets
- Brochures
- Fresh flowers
- Petals
- Greenery
- Tea/Coffee
- Teapot
- Teacups
- Coffee Mug
- Water Bottle
- Soft Drink
- Straws
- Cakes
- Sweets
- Coconut
- Macrons
- Doughnuts
- Fruit
- Eggs
- Coffee Beans
- Honey Drizzler
- Wooden Tea Spoon
- Spices
- Vegetables
- Chopping Board
- Spices
- Kitchen Utensils
- Chocolate
- Hand Bag
- Shopping Bag
- Hat
- Suncream
- Moisturiser
- Natural Sponge
- Flannel
- Soap
- Body Scrub
- Perfume
- Nail Varnish
- Makeup Brushes
- Lipstick
- Foundation
- Bronzer
- Eye Shadow Palette
- False Lashes
- Eyelash Curlers
- Makeup Bag
- Hair Brush
- Straighteners
- Curling Wand
- Fake tan
- Rings
- Bracelets
- Earrings
- Necklace
- Watch
- Shoes
- Dresses
- Tops
- Trousers
- Jumpers
- Knitwear
Having a prop box drawer with some of the essential props is a great way to gain inspiration, and you’ll probably find that you already have a good majority of the things on this list too!
For props I don’t already have, I tend to check out Amazon for interesting props and accessories.
