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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a toast to yourself

A Toast To Yourself


gold tree holiday lights

Gold Tree Holiday Lights


cell phone screen displaying graphs and numbers

Cell Phone Screen Displaying Graphs And Numbers


automotive wrecking yard aerial

Automotive Wrecking Yard Aerial


flatlay of blocks spelling lets dance on colorful dots

Flatlay Of Blocks Spelling Lets Dance On Colorful Dots


brown package labels

Brown Package Labels


halloween candy and decor on black

Halloween Candy And Decor On Black


back to school with pencils

Back To School With Pencils


money money money

Money Money Money


green grass with gardening tools on the left side of the frame

Green Grass With Gardening Tools On The Left Side Of The Frame


christmas gift wrap flatlay

Christmas Gift Wrap Flatlay


hands cup ripe red strawberries on black background

Hands Cup Ripe Red Strawberries On Black Background


tea cup and teaspoon

Tea Cup And Teaspoon


green plate filled with fruit in the middle of frame

Green Plate Filled With Fruit In The Middle Of Frame


wooden blocks lay in colorful dots and spell smile

Wooden Blocks Lay In Colorful Dots And Spell Smile


cake icing decoration

Cake Icing Decoration


flatlay of blocks the middle spelling out stay well

Flatlay Of Blocks The Middle Spelling Out Stay Well


flatlay of orange beverage with lime and orange garnish

Flatlay Of Orange Beverage With Lime And Orange Garnish


colored pencils scattered on pink and blue balls

Colored Pencils Scattered On Pink And Blue Balls


buttons corner frame

Buttons Corner Frame


carrots and friends

Carrots And Friends


cell phone screen displaying text and numbers

Cell Phone Screen Displaying Text And Numbers


happy easter purple and yellow

Happy Easter Purple and Yellow


artsy layout with a book and coffee

Artsy Layout With A Book And Coffee


rounds of raw meat on butcher paper

Rounds Of Raw Meat On Butcher Paper


strawberries on a wooden plate over black surface

Strawberries On A Wooden Plate Over Black Surface


turntable & record

turntable & Record


dragon cookies with red white and green icing

Dragon Cookies With Red White And Green Icing


handmade natural soap with ingredients

Handmade Natural Soap With Ingredients


kids hands molding clay on a messy table top

Kids Hands Molding Clay On A Messy Table Top


bruschetta with balsamic on pan

Bruschetta With Balsamic On Pan


wooden colored pencils scattered on pink and blue balls

Wooden Colored Pencils Scattered On Pink And Blue Balls


circuits and wires for building technology

Circuits And Wires For Building Technology


trumpet tamborine and flute instruments

Trumpet Tamborine And Flute Instruments


a round white plate full of strawberries

A Round White Plate Full Of Strawberries


fruit and veggies angle view

Fruit And Veggies Angle View


black background photo of cellphone with graphs

Black Background Photo Of Cellphone With Graphs


crafting flatlay on texture

Crafting Flatlay On Texture


nail polish

Nail Polish


travel plans are the best plans

Travel Plans Are The Best Plans


cell phone and earbuds in sunlight

Cell Phone And Earbuds In Sunlight


carrot gradient with greens

Carrot Gradient With Greens


celebrating silver

Celebrating Silver


ready, set, picnic

Ready, Set, Picnic


white pizza slices and cutter

White Pizza Slices And Cutter


clothes fan

Clothes Fan


summer strawberries and blueberries on blue linen cloth

Summer Strawberries And Blueberries On Blue Linen Cloth


flatlay of boxes on left side of table

Flatlay Of Boxes On Left Side Of Table


halloween candy corn

Halloween Candy Corn


sunglasses and nail polish for holidays

Sunglasses And Nail Polish For Holidays


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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.