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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free shipping wooden sign

Free Shipping Wooden Sign


three pine cones on crinkled paper

Three Pine Cones On Crinkled Paper


pine cones and acorns lined up on paper

Pine Cones And Acorns Lined Up On Paper


rustic tea service

Rustic Tea Service


tea cup and teaspoon

Tea Cup And Teaspoon


loose leaf tea brewed on purple

Loose Leaf Tea Brewed On Purple


tea set on wooden table

Tea Set On Wooden Table


blank notebook and writing flatlay

Blank Notebook and Writing Flatlay


free shipping written in notebook

Free Shipping Written In Notebook


gold tree holiday lights

Gold Tree Holiday Lights


festive gold christmas lights

Festive Gold Christmas Lights


french fries pile on yellow

French Fries Pile On Yellow


french fries on yellow

French Fries On Yellow


bridal wedding flatlay

Bridal Wedding Flatlay


gentlemans fashion flatlay

Gentlemans Fashion Flatlay


grooms prep kit for wedding

Grooms Prep Kit For Wedding


harmonica on sheet music

Harmonica On Sheet Music


happy halloween on orange flatlay

Happy Halloween On Orange Flatlay


halloween candy and decor on black

Halloween Candy And Decor On Black


glitter and unicorn costume headband

Glitter And Unicorn Costume Headband


costume headbands cat and unicorn

Costume Headbands Cat And Unicorn


lilies on ink white and gray

Lilies On Ink White And Gray


trumpet tamborine and flute instruments

Trumpet Tamborine And Flute Instruments


fresh pepperoni pizza

Fresh Pepperoni Pizza


hot pizza from the box

Hot Pizza From The Box


back to school with pencils

Back To School With Pencils


student back to school supplies

Student Back To School Supplies


back to school knolling flatlay

Back To School Knolling Flatlay


school is starting crayons

School Is Starting Crayons


school supplies knolling

School Supplies Knolling


school and study supplies

School And Study Supplies


back to school flatlay on wood

Back To School Flatlay On Wood


toast with peanut butter and fruit

Toast With Peanut Butter And Fruit


pieces needed for building a robot

Pieces Needed For Building a Robot


survival equipment flatlay

Survival Equipment Flatlay


circuits and wires for building technology

Circuits And Wires For Building Technology


robot components

Robot Components


fresh green and purple fancy lettuce

Fresh Green And Purple Fancy Lettuce


afternoon picnic reading and ukulele

Afternoon Picnic Reading And Ukulele


afternoon picnic flatlay

Afternoon Picnic Flatlay


contact us sign with phone on desk

Contact Us Sign With Phone On Desk


knife coffee compass

Knife Coffee Compass


campers hiking kit

Campers Hiking Kit


camping gear flatlay

Camping Gear Flatlay


assorted hot beverages tea matcha coffee

Assorted Hot Beverages Tea Matcha Coffee


children sharing and playing with toys

Children Sharing And Playing With Toys


kids playing with block toys

Kids Playing With Block Toys


toddler hands playing with colorful blocks

Toddler Hands Playing With Colorful Blocks


business meeting in office for team

Business Meeting In Office For Team


students meet and study

Students Meet And Study


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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.