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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pink heart made of flower petals

Pink Heart Made Of Flower Petals


carpentry tools covered in sawdust

Carpentry Tools Covered In Sawdust


wood working tools framing a work bench

Wood Working Tools Framing A Work Bench


a close up of wood working tools

A Close Up Of Wood Working Tools


a flat lay of wood working bench

A Flat Lay Of Wood Working Bench


sawdust covers work bench and tools

Sawdust Covers Work Bench And Tools


carpenter's pencil and tools in sawdust

Carpenter's Pencil And Tools In Sawdust


wood working tools laid on a bench

Wood Working Tools Laid On A Bench


happy easter sign

Happy Easter Sign


four paper crafted carrots

Four Paper Crafted Carrots


three paper woven carrots

Three Paper Woven Carrots


flatlay of a model spelling "gold" on a blackboard

Flatlay Of A Model Spelling "Gold" On A Blackboard


flat lay view of hockey player against the ice

Flat Lay View Of Hockey Player Against The Ice


landscape view of currency on a black background

Landscape View Of Currency On A Black Background


a stack of currency on a black background

A Stack Of Currency On A Black Background


gift and roses

Gift And Roses


remote office setup flatlay

Remote Office Setup Flatlay


busy hands typing in flatlay

Busy Hands Typing In Flatlay


business flatlay in india

Business Flatlay In India


summer dinner party setup

Summer Dinner Party Setup


summer gingham fashion flatlay

Summer Gingham Fashion Flatlay


flatlay of boxes surrounding table

Flatlay Of Boxes Surrounding Table


boxes and packages spread out

Boxes And Packages Spread Out


flatlay of boxes on left side of table

Flatlay Of Boxes On Left Side Of Table


packages ready to ship to customers

Packages Ready To Ship To Customers


flatlay of boxes on lower half of table

Flatlay Of Boxes On Lower Half Of Table


a flatlay of packages on white table

A Flatlay Of Packages On White Table


business meeting over coffee

Business Meeting Over Coffee


getting business finances in order

Getting Business Finances In Order


rolling out paper with purple flowers

Rolling Out Paper With Purple Flowers


laptop at the table with tea at side

Laptop At The Table With Tea At Side


yellow tools on white and yellow background

Yellow Tools On White And Yellow Background


purple tools flatlay

Purple Tools Flatlay


small wrenches in a line

Small Wrenches In A Line


close up of painted tools

Close Up Of Painted Tools


plaid tree wrapping paper on gift

Plaid Tree Wrapping Paper On Gift


festive gift box holiday wrapping

Festive Gift Box Holiday Wrapping


holiday gift wrapping flatlay knolling

Holiday Gift Wrapping Flatlay Knolling


decorative gift wrapped box

Decorative Gift Wrapped Box


christmas gift wrap flatlay

Christmas Gift Wrap Flatlay


row of hot peppers

Row Of Hot Peppers


automotive wrecking yard aerial

Automotive Wrecking Yard Aerial


rows of cars in junk yard aerial

Rows Of Cars In Junk Yard Aerial


vertical aerial car junk yard

Vertical Aerial Car Junk Yard


white background with brances frame

White Background With Brances Frame


dried leaves on branches and paper background

Dried Leaves On Branches And Paper Background


film camera on pink background

Film Camera On Pink Background


camera lens detail closeup

Camera Lens Detail Closeup


creative layout of an open book

Creative Layout Of An Open Book


black coffee and phone flatlay

Black Coffee And Phone 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.