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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person works on their mosaic outdoors

Person Works On Their Mosaic Outdoors


shipping labels

Shipping Labels


person sits at a white workbench and works on a mosaic

Person Sits At A White Workbench And Works On A Mosaic


hay bail close up

Hay Bail Close Up


cell phone displaying graphs and numbers

Cell Phone Displaying Graphs And Numbers


solar eclipse notebook

Solar Eclipse Notebook


a touch of glamour

A Touch Of Glamour


hand holds tweezers above glass mosaic of flowers

Hand Holds Tweezers Above Glass Mosaic Of Flowers


white bowl filled with red figs against black

White Bowl Filled With Red Figs Against Black


french fries on yellow

French Fries On Yellow


flatlay of artist tools and variety of paint

Flatlay Of Artist Tools And Variety Of Paint


three notebooks against a pink background

Three Notebooks Against A Pink Background


birthday cake from above

Birthday Cake From Above


social distance in letter tiles

Social Distance In Letter Tiles


white wooden beads spell out stay well

White Wooden Beads Spell Out Stay Well


vegetables on wood surface flatlay

Vegetables On Wood Surface Flatlay


flatlay of a white plate with fresh biscotti on a table

Flatlay Of A White Plate With Fresh Biscotti On A Table


hot pizza from the box

Hot Pizza From The Box


flatlay of travel documents and a facemask

Flatlay Of Travel Documents And A Facemask


wooden blocks with black letters spell lets dance

Wooden Blocks With Black Letters Spell Lets Dance


flatlay of a small screen showing graphs and numbers

Flatlay Of A Small Screen Showing Graphs And Numbers


letter board with the words merry christmas

Letter Board With The Words Merry Christmas


flatlay of a cell phone and colourful beaded string

Flatlay Of A Cell Phone And Colourful Beaded String


looking down at red bell peppers sliced in half

Looking Down At Red Bell Peppers Sliced In Half


halloween candy bowl

Halloween Candy Bowl


school is starting crayons

School Is Starting Crayons


pink blanket with lavender bundle

Pink Blanket With Lavender Bundle


top view of dried flowers and gold paper clips

Top View Of Dried Flowers And Gold Paper Clips


chalkboard mirror and flowers on marble

Chalkboard Mirror And Flowers On Marble


wireless earbuds in a pink case lay on a table

Wireless Earbuds In A Pink Case Lay On A Table


carrot gradient flatlay

Carrot Gradient Flatlay


flatlay of books with plants and a smoothie on a white sheet

Flatlay Of Books With Plants And A Smoothie On A White Sheet


an assortment of vibrant vegetables

An Assortment Of Vibrant Vegetables


view of a person working at their desk from above

View Of A Person Working At Their Desk From Above


flatlay of boxes surrounding table

Flatlay Of Boxes Surrounding Table


flatlay of a passport vaccine card and facemasks

Flatlay Of A Passport Vaccine Card And Facemasks


portobello mushroom and onion

Portobello Mushroom And Onion


view of a computer desk as seen from above

View Of A Computer Desk As Seen From Above


selection of fresh veg

Selection Of Fresh Veg


close up of eye glasses on a computer desk

Close Up Of Eye Glasses On A Computer Desk


rustic tea service

Rustic Tea Service


raw red meat lays in a wooden cutting board

Raw Red Meat Lays In A Wooden Cutting Board


flatlay of vaccine card and a passport

Flatlay Of Vaccine Card And A Passport


flatlay of a passport and three disposable facemasks

Flatlay Of A Passport And Three Disposable Facemasks


three paper woven carrots

Three Paper Woven Carrots


silver fishing lure

Silver Fishing Lure


white pizza and herbs

White Pizza And Herbs


a stack of currency on a black background

A Stack Of Currency On A Black Background


portrait image of plants and potting tools on a light background

Portrait Image Of Plants And Potting Tools On A Light Background


candy corn in dish

Candy Corn In Dish


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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.