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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summer fruits on a green plate with a blue tablecloth

Summer Fruits On A Green Plate With A Blue Tablecloth


social distance on brown background

Social Distance On Brown Background


sawdust covers work bench and tools

Sawdust Covers Work Bench And Tools


a person adding glass to their mosaic of flowers

A Person Adding Glass To Their Mosaic Of Flowers


scrabble letters spell distancing

Scrabble Letters Spell Distancing


bfcm gold

BFCM Gold


jade face roller flatlay surrounded by dried leaves

Jade Face Roller Flatlay Surrounded By Dried Leaves


flatlay of a mosaic artist at work

Flatlay Of A Mosaic Artist At Work


flatlay of a mosaic artists tools with cut glass

Flatlay Of A Mosaic Artists Tools With Cut Glass


flatlay of a floral mosaic surrounded by glass pieces

Flatlay Of A Floral Mosaic Surrounded By Glass Pieces


flatlay of a yellow vaccination card and facemasks

Flatlay Of A Yellow Vaccination Card And Facemasks


social distancing in wooden letter tiles

Social Distancing In Wooden Letter Tiles


looking down at mosaic artist making floral design

Looking Down At Mosaic Artist Making Floral Design


flatlay of a grey table with a mosaic and tools

Flatlay Of A Grey Table With A Mosaic And Tools


comb and scissors with a drink

Comb And Scissors With A Drink


flatlay of a floral mosaic design in progress

Flatlay Of A Floral Mosaic Design In Progress


hands working on a floral mosaic on a grey table

Hands Working On A Floral Mosaic On A Grey Table


flatlay of gardening tools on dark grey

Flatlay Of Gardening Tools On Dark Grey


social distancing on a white background

Social Distancing On A White Background


wfh acronym in letter tiles

WFH Acronym In Letter Tiles


social distancing on a board game

Social Distancing On A Board Game


flatlay of a person adding glue to a glass mosaic

Flatlay Of A Person Adding Glue To A Glass Mosaic


distancing in wooden letter tiles

Distancing In Wooden Letter Tiles


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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.