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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holiday gift wrapping flatlay knolling

Holiday Gift Wrapping Flatlay Knolling


flatlay of tortoise shell sunglasses on white

Flatlay Of Tortoise Shell Sunglasses On White


film camera on pink background

Film Camera On Pink Background


wooden toothbrushes in a row against a green background

Wooden Toothbrushes In A Row Against A Green Background


hand uses tweezers to add to a mosaic

Hand Uses Tweezers To Add To A Mosaic


peppers and other vegetables flatlay

Peppers And Other Vegetables Flatlay


healthy flatlay featuring celery

Healthy Flatlay Featuring Celery


a sliced bell pepper surrounded by other cooking items

A Sliced Bell Pepper Surrounded By Other Cooking Items


ends of colored pencils lines up

Ends Of Colored Pencils Lines Up


mobile phone and walnut speaker

Mobile Phone And Walnut Speaker


person sits outdoors and works on a floral glass mosaic

Person Sits Outdoors And Works On A Floral Glass Mosaic


silver tray with christmas decorations

Silver Tray With Christmas Decorations


flatlay of embroidery coffee and dried flowers

Flatlay Of Embroidery Coffee And Dried Flowers


hands work on a glass mosaic to left side of frame

Hands Work On A Glass Mosaic To Left Side Of Frame


camera looks down at a glass jar filled with red sauce

Camera Looks Down At A Glass Jar Filled With Red Sauce


pliers & saw

Pliers & Saw


flowers on white marble table

Flowers On White Marble Table


flat lay of hands typing on a keyboard

Flat Lay Of Hands Typing On A Keyboard


spoon lays in the middle of oats

Spoon Lays In The Middle Of Oats


flatlay of cheese mushroom and bacon pizza

Flatlay of Cheese Mushroom And Bacon Pizza


flatlay of sliced watermelon  a knife and cherries

Flatlay Of Sliced Watermelon A Knife And Cherries


books bound together with twine on a white cloth

Books Bound Together With Twine On A White Cloth


merry christmas spelled out in gold letters

Merry Christmas Spelled Out In Gold Letters


biscotti lays in a monstera leaf

Biscotti Lays In A Monstera Leaf


camera looks down at a plate of watermelon and lime

Camera Looks Down At A Plate Of Watermelon And Lime


hands ready to mold block of potters clay

Hands Ready To Mold Block Of Potters Clay


close up of cheesy pizza slices

Close Up of Cheesy Pizza Slices


fancy finger nails

Fancy Finger Nails


colored pencils scattered shown from above

Colored Pencils Scattered Shown From Above


white blocks laying in colorful dots spells out smile

White Blocks Laying In Colorful Dots Spells Out Smile


chalkboard with the words healthy in cursive lays on fruit

Chalkboard With The Words Healthy In Cursive Lays On Fruit


two pieces of biscotti next to a cup of coffee

Two Pieces Of Biscotti Next To A Cup Of Coffee


small hands get ready to sculpt with block of clay

Small Hands Get Ready To Sculpt With Block Of Clay


camera lens detail closeup

Camera Lens Detail Closeup


sliced watermelon fanned out on a white plate

Sliced Watermelon Fanned Out On A White Plate


bold black sunglasses lay in a open book

Bold Black Sunglasses Lay In A Open Book


laptop and a cell phone showing a graph on orange table

Laptop And A Cell Phone Showing A Graph On Orange Table


spring essentials on a bed

Spring Essentials On A Bed


sewing and crafting flaltay

Sewing And Crafting Flaltay


white blocks spell there is no planet b on yellow surface

White Blocks Spell There Is No Planet B On Yellow Surface


persons uses tweezers to add glass to a mosaic

Persons Uses Tweezers To Add Glass To A Mosaic


loose leaf tea brewed on purple

Loose Leaf Tea Brewed On Purple


two plates on a linen tablecloth with summer fruit

Two Plates On A Linen Tablecloth With Summer Fruit


flat lay of bars of soap in green holders

Flat Lay Of Bars Of Soap In Green Holders


bingo game flatlay

Bingo Game Flatlay


hand reaches for a book next to sunglasses and a bag

Hand Reaches For A Book Next To Sunglasses And A Bag


bright present

Bright Present


wooden block spell out smile laying on colorful dots

Wooden Block Spell Out Smile Laying On Colorful Dots


notebook with hey sunday written

Notebook With Hey Sunday Written


campers hiking kit

Campers Hiking Kit


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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.