How to Master Flat-Lay Photography doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you are doing flat lay product photography, flat lay food photography or flat lay photography for clothing…these tips all apply and will teach you the best flat lay photography set up to have.
How to Master Flat-Lay Photography
The #flatlay is one of the most aesthetically pleasing photos to shoot. They can communicate a variety of things such as your #ootd or even #skincare. It’s an easy way to showcase items you own or wear, without needing to be in the shot itself (basically it’s great if you’re antisocial, on a social media platform –> see our 13 Tips to Improve Your Instagram Photos!
Flat-lays need not be complicated – follow our tips to see how you can master the flat-lay photography style:
- Choose a theme/colour palette
- The theme of your flatlay can make or break it. It should tell a story or describe the objects in that moment in time. Your theme could be anything from fashion to travel.
- Whatever your chosen theme is – use objects that pair well together, such as a coffee mug and your apple laptop.
- Use natural and/or studio lighting
- This is a fairly common rule as it gives your photos a more natural view and tends to resonate well with viewers.
- The best time to shoot in natural light is early in the morning or mid-afternoon when the light isn’t at its harshest.
- Shoot in square
- Instagram photos, as a loose ‘rule’ should be shot in square. In order not to crop into your flat lay master pieces we highly recommend swiping to a square format to make it easier for you to fit what you need to in one image.
- If you decide to shoot your flat lays on a DSLR – ensure you shoot roughly close to 640×640 so your composition is in frame.
- Make use of popular editing apps –> BEST Photography Apps in 2018
- By making use of natural light you shouldn’t have to do too much editing. There’s an abundance of free editing apps at your disposal and we can’t recommend a style for you to edit in, as it’s down to your unique theme! Find apps that work well with your individual style, and in no time you’ll be able to edit your flat lays with a couple of taps.
- By making use of natural light you shouldn’t have to do too much editing. There’s an abundance of free editing apps at your disposal and we can’t recommend a style for you to edit in, as it’s down to your unique theme! Find apps that work well with your individual style, and in no time you’ll be able to edit your flat lays with a couple of taps.
- Get a bird’s eye view
- You might seem silly standing on top of a stool or a wide lunge on your bed. Do whatever it takes to take that golden birds-eye view that perfectly captures each element of your composition. Theexposure.co suggests standing on a stool – no matter how silly you look!
- Keep your backgrounds simple
- Opt for a background that won’t detract attention away from your subject/s. Simple backgrounds such as marble floors (or fake tile samples from the bathroom store), table tops or even bed sheets are often go-to backgrounds that never fail for the top influencers.
- Opt for a background that won’t detract attention away from your subject/s. Simple backgrounds such as marble floors (or fake tile samples from the bathroom store), table tops or even bed sheets are often go-to backgrounds that never fail for the top influencers.
- Leave space between each object
- Ensure your flat-lay masterpiece isn’t cluttered with objects placed too close together. This makes your flat-lay image uneasy for the viewer to digest, let alone see what the main subject focus of the photo is.
- Composition is key – whether you’re going for the cluttered or clean look regardless. Keep lines clean, consider weight and symmetry and use simple photography principles like the rule of thirds or golden ratio.
- Ensure your flat-lay masterpiece isn’t cluttered with objects placed too close together. This makes your flat-lay image uneasy for the viewer to digest, let alone see what the main subject focus of the photo is.
- Instagram photos, as a loose ‘rule’ should be shot in square. In order not to crop into your flat lay master pieces we highly recommend swiping to a square format to make it easier for you to fit what you need to in one image.
- The theme of your flatlay can make or break it. It should tell a story or describe the objects in that moment in time. Your theme could be anything from fashion to travel.
Guest Blogger: Antonio Leanza owns the London School of Photography in England, UK. He is a photographic artist, coach and teacher with much experience in past lecturing roles at LCC for over ten years and for Ilford Films across the UK. He has a unique approach to teaching and mainly focuses on a students’ creative journey and helping them realize their aspirations in the photographic world.
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