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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happy thanksgiving pie

Happy Thanksgiving Pie


hanukkah doni

Hanukkah Doni


back to school

Back To School


the word help spelled out with plastic miniatures

The Word Help Spelled Out With Plastic Miniatures


afternoon picnic reading and ukulele

Afternoon Picnic Reading And Ukulele


sugar dusted pie

Sugar Dusted Pie


flatlay with dumplings and chopsticks against a red background

Flatlay With Dumplings And Chopsticks Against A Red Background


salmon and lox

Salmon And Lox


product packaging

Product Packaging


happy thanksgiving letters

Happy Thanksgiving Letters


breakfast gift and flowers for dad

Breakfast Gift And Flowers For Dad


flatlay of varied plated food on white plates

Flatlay Of Varied Plated Food On White Plates


three oranges and three fanned out red cards on white

Three Oranges And Three Fanned Out Red Cards On White


bbq tools flatlay

Bbq Tools Flatlay


hand uses tweezers to add to a mosaic

Hand Uses Tweezers To Add To A Mosaic


person sits outdoors and works on a floral glass mosaic

Person Sits Outdoors And Works On A Floral Glass Mosaic


star anise and cinnamon sticks

Star Anise And Cinnamon Sticks


white blocks spell save the planet on blue background

White Blocks Spell Save The Planet On Blue Background


flatlay of a valentines day card with foil chocolate hearts

Flatlay Of A Valentines Day Card With Foil Chocolate Hearts


tortoise shell sunglass frames on a white surface

Tortoise Shell Sunglass Frames On A White Surface


nail polish gems

Nail Polish Gems


thanksgiving centerpiece

Thanksgiving Centerpiece


clear blue lake by forest

Clear Blue Lake By Forest


bars of soap lay on a wooden surface

Bars Of Soap Lay On A Wooden Surface


wooden toothbrushes in a row against a green background

Wooden Toothbrushes In A Row Against A Green Background


hands ready to mold block of potters clay

Hands Ready To Mold Block Of Potters Clay


flat lay of products on blue

Flat Lay Of Products On Blue


flatlay of tortoise shell sunglasses on white

Flatlay Of Tortoise Shell Sunglasses On White


veggies cutting board grill tools

Veggies Cutting Board Grill Tools


happy birthday flatlay

Happy Birthday Flatlay


flatlay of coffee and computer on wooden surface

Flatlay Of Coffee And Computer On Wooden Surface


candy for halloween

Candy For Halloween


sliced watermelon and ripe cherries

Sliced Watermelon And Ripe Cherries


bright party decor

Bright Party Decor


hands work on a glass mosaic to left side of frame

Hands Work On A Glass Mosaic To Left Side Of Frame


a selection of naturally made soaps

A Selection Of Naturally Made Soaps


person paints drawing of fashion in yellow

Person Paints Drawing Of Fashion In Yellow


spoons lined up holding loose leaf tea

Spoons Lined Up Holding Loose Leaf Tea


holiday gift wrapping

Holiday Gift Wrapping


flatlay of embroidery coffee and dried flowers

Flatlay Of Embroidery Coffee And Dried Flowers


cheese and crackers

Cheese And Crackers


camera looks down at a mug with petals scattered around it

Camera Looks Down At A Mug With Petals Scattered Around It


flatlay of items to make hot chocolate

Flatlay Of Items To Make Hot Chocolate


small hands get ready to sculpt with block of clay

Small Hands Get Ready To Sculpt With Block Of Clay


camera looks down at a glass jar filled with red sauce

Camera Looks Down At A Glass Jar Filled With Red Sauce


three red cards fanned out on a red background

Three Red Cards Fanned Out On A Red Background


flatlay of fruit and vegetables on a wooden cutting board

Flatlay Of Fruit And Vegetables On A Wooden Cutting Board


flatlay of sliced watermelon  a knife and cherries

Flatlay Of Sliced Watermelon A Knife And Cherries


these colorful clothes pegs will help you get organized

These Colorful Clothes Pegs Will Help You Get Organized


persons uses tweezers to add glass to a mosaic

Persons Uses Tweezers To Add Glass To A Mosaic


flatlay of flame grilled steak and ribeye

Flatlay Of Flame Grilled Steak And Ribeye


three red cards lay on a red background

Three Red Cards Lay On A Red Background


pumpkin dish & treats

Pumpkin Dish & Treats


writing in journal

Writing In Journal


cottage country aerial

Cottage Country Aerial


pinecones and bells flatlay

Pinecones And Bells Flatlay


a sliced bell pepper surrounded by other cooking items

A Sliced Bell Pepper Surrounded By Other Cooking Items


white blocks spell there is no planet b on yellow surface

White Blocks Spell There Is No Planet B On Yellow Surface


spoon lays in the middle of oats

Spoon Lays In The Middle Of Oats


camera looks down at a plate of watermelon and lime

Camera Looks Down At A Plate Of Watermelon And Lime


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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.