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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happy thanksgiving letters

Happy Thanksgiving Letters


happy thanksgiving flatlay

Happy Thanksgiving Flatlay


give thanks flatlay letters

Give Thanks Flatlay Letters


fall season flatlay

Fall Season Flatlay


fall harvest spread

Fall Harvest Spread


fall harvest basket

Fall Harvest Basket


chocolate pie & spoon

Chocolate Pie & Spoon


baked apple pie

Baked Apple Pie


autumn wood texture

Autumn Wood Texture


cake icing decoration

Cake Icing Decoration


butter cream icing swirls

Butter Cream Icing Swirls


birthday cake from above

Birthday Cake From Above


cottage country aerial

Cottage Country Aerial


clear blue lake by forest

Clear Blue Lake By Forest


canoe passing shoreline

Canoe Passing Shoreline


boats dock from above

Boats Dock From Above


silver fishing lure

Silver Fishing Lure


berries & granola

Berries & Granola


toast & eggs for breakfast

Toast & Eggs For Breakfast


garden carrots

Garden Carrots


doctors medical gear

Doctors Medical Gear


dental care tools

Dental Care Tools


cheese and crackers

Cheese And Crackers


watermelon scooper

Watermelon Scooper


toothbrush & floss

Toothbrush & Floss


tools for teeth

Tools For Teeth


shipping supplies

Shipping Supplies


shipping labels

Shipping Labels


shipping label

Shipping Label


product packaging

Product Packaging


knife chopping vegetables

Knife Chopping Vegetables


brown package labels

Brown Package Labels


makeup brushes close-up

Makeup Brushes Close-up


makeup and beauty products

Makeup And Beauty Products


pink lip gloss

Pink Lip Gloss


makeup brush & jewelry

Makeup Brush & Jewelry


makeup beauty flatlay

Makeup Beauty Flatlay


beauty products and flower

Beauty Products And Flower


baby toys bottles & products

Baby Toys Bottles & Products


baby nursery diaper products

Baby Nursery Diaper Products


makeup, powder, foundation & brushes

Makeup, Powder, Foundation & Brushes


beauty products flatlay

Beauty Products Flatlay


office meeting flatlay

Office Meeting Flatlay


nail polish with flowers

Nail Polish With Flowers


flowers nail polish flatlay

Flowers Nail Polish Flatlay


brushes blossoms

Brushes Blossoms


beauty product flatlay

Beauty Product Flatlay


beauty flatlay

Beauty Flatlay


lenses & lattes

Lenses & Lattes


sliced orange

Sliced Orange


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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.