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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doctor's office flatlay

Doctor's Office Flatlay


pink tulips on wood texture

Pink Tulips On Wood Texture


beauty flatlay

Beauty Flatlay


happy valentines day

Happy Valentines Day


garden carrots

Garden Carrots


beauty products and flower

Beauty Products And Flower


cozy reading in bed

Cozy Reading In Bed


writing stationary

Writing Stationary


black coffee and phone flatlay

Black Coffee And Phone Flatlay


medical toy flatlay

Medical Toy Flatlay


latte art

Latte Art


coffee in plants

Coffee In Plants


birthday party gift trimmings

Birthday Party Gift Trimmings


a papaya is surrounded by fruit on yellow background

A Papaya Is Surrounded By Fruit On Yellow Background


bank for saving money

Bank For Saving Money


notebook and coffee

Notebook And Coffee


online shopping credit cards

Online Shopping Credit Cards


woodgrain with christmas ornaments

Woodgrain With Christmas Ornaments


makeup, powder, foundation & brushes

Makeup, Powder, Foundation & Brushes


have cameras will travel

Have Cameras Will Travel


warm holiday drink & decor

Warm Holiday Drink & Decor


makeup and beauty products

Makeup And Beauty Products


doctors medical gear

Doctors Medical Gear


decorative gift wrapped box

Decorative Gift Wrapped Box


autumn wood texture

Autumn Wood Texture


beauty products flatlay

Beauty Products Flatlay


roasted turkey

Roasted Turkey


young children sharing

Young Children Sharing


gift card envelopes

Gift Card Envelopes


four students study flatlay

Four Students Study Flatlay


spa flatlay

Spa Flatlay


gift and roses

Gift And Roses


business meeting in office for team

Business Meeting In Office For Team


creative designers desk

Creative Designers Desk


christmas gift

Christmas Gift


contact us phone

Contact Us Phone


office women on laptop computers

Office Women On Laptop Computers


kids art project

Kids Art Project


christmas decor on woodgrain

Christmas Decor On Woodgrain


toast & eggs for breakfast

Toast & Eggs For Breakfast


valentines hearts on pink

Valentines Hearts On Pink


colorful party plates

Colorful Party Plates


laptop at the table with tea at side

Laptop At The Table With Tea At Side


pink lip gloss

Pink Lip Gloss


travel flatlay

Travel Flatlay


work journal

Work Journal


heart shaped holiday wreath

Heart Shaped Holiday Wreath


wrapping presents

Wrapping Presents


gift card

Gift Card


stay connected flatlay

Stay Connected Flatlay


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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.