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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holiday shopping sale signs

Holiday Shopping Sale Signs


math cards & colored pencils

Math Cards & Colored Pencils


candy canes on green

Candy Canes On Green


black friday flatlay

Black Friday Flatlay


online shopping deals

Online Shopping Deals


berry wreath on marble

Berry Wreath On Marble


red and white holiday flat lay

Red And White Holiday Flat Lay


a tupperware lunch box separates salad ingredients

A Tupperware Lunch Box Separates Salad Ingredients


dental care tools

Dental Care Tools


fruit and veggie cirlces flatlay

Fruit And Veggie Cirlces Flatlay


cyber monday sign sale

Cyber Monday Sign Sale


avocado and herbs on stripes

Avocado And Herbs On Stripes


present or gift

Present Or Gift


makeup brush in flowers

Makeup Brush In Flowers


several different fruits lay on a pink background

Several Different Fruits Lay On A Pink Background


back to school flatlay on wood

Back To School Flatlay On Wood


give thanks flatlay letters

Give Thanks Flatlay Letters


camera looks down on wooden table with two bao buns

Camera Looks Down On Wooden Table With Two Bao Buns


love and romance on fur

Love And Romance On Fur


landscape image of succulents and gardening tools

Landscape Image Of Succulents and Gardening Tools


sliced orange

Sliced Orange


gold pocket watch on a black notebook

Gold Pocket Watch On A Black Notebook


pieces needed for building a robot

Pieces Needed For Building a Robot


high fashion fingers

High Fashion Fingers


sliced tomatoes and basil with white wine

Sliced Tomatoes And Basil With White Wine


remote office setup flatlay

Remote Office Setup Flatlay


tools for carpentry

Tools For Carpentry


love and rose petals

Love And Rose Petals


cyber monday shopping

Cyber Monday Shopping


tiles lay on a black surface reading mental health matters

Tiles Lay On A Black Surface Reading Mental Health Matters


student back to school supplies

Student Back To School Supplies


coffee beans and mug flatlay

Coffee Beans And Mug Flatlay


latte art on book

Latte Art On Book


healthy close up flatlay featuring celery

Healthy Close Up Flatlay Featuring Celery


be mine letters

Be Mine Letters


roasted rainbow carrots

Roasted Rainbow Carrots


camping gear flatlay

Camping Gear Flatlay


business person desk flatlay

Business Person Desk Flatlay


makings of avocado toast

Makings Of Avocado Toast


gift wrapped

Gift Wrapped


sewing tools corner flatlay

Sewing Tools Corner Flatlay


online retail cyber monday

Online Retail Cyber Monday


view from above as person sits at white desktop

View From Above As Person Sits At White Desktop


natural soap made with oatmeal

Natural Soap Made With Oatmeal


summer dinner party setup

Summer Dinner Party Setup


work desk in order

Work Desk In Order


holiday cookie cutters

Holiday Cookie Cutters


candy corn pile

Candy Corn Pile


healthy flatlay featuring potatoes

Healthy Flatlay Featuring Potatoes


holiday gift

Holiday Gift


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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.