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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makeup brush & jewelry

Makeup Brush & Jewelry


office wooden desk workspace

Office Wooden Desk Workspace


christmas & tree decor flatlay

Christmas & Tree Decor Flatlay


contact us iphone

Contact Us IPhone


preparing to travel

Preparing To Travel


sale sign flatlay

Sale Sign Flatlay


free shipping written in notebook

Free Shipping Written In Notebook


art supplies and painting

Art Supplies And Painting


how to reach us

How To Reach Us


ecommerce black friday

Ecommerce Black Friday


paint brushes, palette & canvas

Paint Brushes, Palette & Canvas


plaid tree wrapping paper on gift

Plaid Tree Wrapping Paper On Gift


fruit and veggie with greens

Fruit And Veggie With Greens


gaming glasses & mouse

Gaming Glasses & Mouse


contact us sign with phone on desk

Contact Us Sign With Phone On Desk


beauty product flatlay

Beauty Product Flatlay


lipstick

Lipstick


grey slippers on carpet

Grey Slippers On Carpet


woman's hands typing on laptop

Woman's Hands Typing on Laptop


christmas gifts flatlay

Christmas Gifts Flatlay


purse, wallet & money

Purse, Wallet & Money


brushes blossoms

Brushes Blossoms


woodgrain with pumpkins

Woodgrain With Pumpkins


grooms prep kit for wedding

Grooms Prep Kit For Wedding


red orange yellow green vegetables

Red Orange Yellow Green Vegetables


rolling out paper with purple flowers

Rolling Out Paper With Purple Flowers


fresh vegetables flatlay

Fresh Vegetables Flatlay


candle nestled among flowers

Candle Nestled Among Flowers


free shipping wooden sign

Free Shipping Wooden Sign


lenses & lattes

Lenses & Lattes


flatlay iron skillet with meat and other food

Flatlay Iron Skillet With Meat And Other Food


construction tools flatlay

Construction Tools Flatlay


valentine roses and champagne

Valentine Roses And Champagne


veggies corner flatlay

Veggies Corner Flatlay


contact phone notepad

Contact Phone Notepad


art supplies seen from above

Art Supplies Seen From Above


office meeting flatlay

Office Meeting Flatlay


art supplies

Art Supplies


children sharing paint brush

Children Sharing Paint Brush


coffee from above

Coffee From Above


lipstick from above

Lipstick From Above


santa hat on woodgrain

Santa Hat On Woodgrain


woodgrain autumn flatlay

Woodgrain Autumn Flatlay


overhead man drawing on notepad

Overhead Man Drawing On Notepad


business newspaper coffee time

Business Newspaper Coffee Time


desk office workspace flatlay

Desk Office Workspace Flatlay


black friday sale tablet

Black Friday Sale Tablet


flatlay with knife and vegetables

Flatlay With Knife And Vegetables


flatlay for construction

Flatlay For Construction


i heart cyber monday

I Heart Cyber Monday


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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.