Flat Lay Photos: Pictures of Flatlays

Flatlay photography is an easy and creative way to showcase groups of products, give a stunning snapshot of a work space, or just showcase thematic elements in an aesthetically rich way.

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portobello mushroom and onion

Portobello Mushroom And Onion


makings of avocado toast

Makings Of Avocado Toast


bruschetta with balsamic on pan

Bruschetta With Balsamic On Pan


avocado toast on cutting board

Avocado Toast On Cutting Board


roses and love letters

Roses And Love Letters


romantic roses champagne lingerie

Romantic Roses Champagne Lingerie


red roses lace and lingerie

Red Roses Lace And Lingerie


love letters and roses on fur

Love Letters And Roses On Fur


love letters and romance

Love Letters And Romance


love and rose petals

Love And Rose Petals


love and romance on fur

Love And Romance On Fur


lingerie champagne lipstick roses

Lingerie Champagne Lipstick Roses


close up red rose bouquet

Close Up Red Rose Bouquet


be my valentine with roses

Be My Valentine With Roses


be mine letters

Be Mine Letters


valentine roses and champagne

Valentine Roses And Champagne


santa hat on woodgrain

Santa Hat On Woodgrain


spa flatlay

Spa Flatlay


hanukkah doni

Hanukkah Doni


digital photography flatlay

Digital Photography Flatlay


christmas & tree decor flatlay

Christmas & Tree Decor Flatlay


christmas ornaments greenery

Christmas Ornaments Greenery


bank for saving money

Bank For Saving Money


creative work with color options

Creative Work With Color Options


holiday gifts wrapping

Holiday Gifts Wrapping


medical toy flatlay

Medical Toy Flatlay


colorful toy gears

Colorful Toy Gears


bright colored kids toys

Bright Colored Kids Toys


assortment of toys on pink

Assortment Of Toys On Pink


planning design & being creative

Planning Design & Being Creative


overhead man drawing on notepad

Overhead Man Drawing On Notepad


designers desk flatlay

Designers Desk Flatlay


creative designers desk

Creative Designers Desk


christmas gifts flatlay

Christmas Gifts Flatlay


cozy reading in bed

Cozy Reading In Bed


coffee in sun

Coffee In Sun


christmas decor on woodgrain

Christmas Decor On Woodgrain


christmas berry wreath

Christmas Berry Wreath


wrapping christmas presents

Wrapping Christmas Presents


woodgrain with christmas ornaments

Woodgrain With Christmas Ornaments


warm holiday drink & decor

Warm Holiday Drink & Decor


silver tray with christmas decorations

Silver Tray With Christmas Decorations


holiday love wreath

Holiday Love Wreath


holiday cookie cutters

Holiday Cookie Cutters


holiday cards & gift wrap

Holiday Cards & Gift Wrap


heart shaped holiday wreath

Heart Shaped Holiday Wreath


gold christmas gift wrap

Gold Christmas Gift Wrap


tools for carpentry

Tools For Carpentry


tools for building construction

Tools For Building Construction


pliers & saw

Pliers & Saw


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Tips for Your own flatlay photography

What makes this type of photography so popular is not just the look of the photography style, but that it’s relatively easy to do. Generally you don’t need to be a professional photographer to take a great flatlay image - an iPhone camera and good lighting will do!

Feel free to browse our database of flatlay images or check our tips below for creating your own beautiful pictures.

Shoot for a single color palette

Generally speaking - it’s best to select a colour pallette of about 2-3 unifying colours and work around those colors with varying patterns and textures. Having a predetermined pallette will help to unify the composition of the image and direct the mood of the piece. For example - object in navy blue and deep red will usually give the image a more somber feel to it whereas bright pinks and purples will make the image a bit more playful.

You’ll also want to make sure you use a neutral background colour as well. Most flatlay pictures use a white background, but feel free to experiment with black, grey or more muted wood tones as well. A neutral background colour will make the foreground items stand-out, complimenting the items and focusing your audience's attention towards your subjects.

Let the composition of your pictures tell a story

It’s important to consider the concept of narrative in composing flat-lay photographs. You may want to think of a “theme” before you begin and then select objects that work around this theme. For example - if your theme is “Cluttered Office” - you might choose to use objects like pens, notebooks and coffee cups. If your theme is “Brunch Time” - you might include items like toasted bagels and sparkling mimosas. Let your image tell a story through objects surrounding a common theme.

Experiment with Space and Lighting

Not all flatlay images are built the same. For some - a cluttered workspace might convey a sense of chaos to the audience while a more sparse use of objects with more negative space might give the viewer a sense of calming isolation.

With regards to lighting - it’s generally best to use calm, overhead lighting. You don’t want your lights to be too bright however, as this can wash-out some of the beauty of your colours and create jarring, odd shadows.

Natural light works best as well - especially in the morning when the sun has risen but is not yet in full force. If you’re looking for a more neutral, balanced lighting design, try going out on a day that’s a little bit cloudy to get a soft-light effect.