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7 Tips to Help You Master Flatlay Photography
If you’ve spent even a second on Instagram, you no doubt have come across a flatlay before. It’s essentially an image taken from up above of products laying on a flat surface. These types of images usually tell a story. And when done well, they’re Instagram gold taken from the fountain of youth that baby unicorns bathe in. Yes, they’re that good.
If you struggle with creating beautiful flatlays, these 7 tips will help you elevate your game and bring in the likes!
1. Prop Selection is Key
The props you select for your flatlay can make or break your photo. Before you begin pulling any supporting props, it’s important to first nail down a theme. For example, if your focus is on travel, it’s best to pull related props like a passport, a travel guide or even a fanny pack (no judging!). If your focus is on natural skin care products, you may consider a wood backdrop, leaves or maybe even some of the ingredients that are contained within the products (e.g. lemons, cucumbers, etc.).
A few of our favorite places to pick up props are Target, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Store. However, don’t limit yourself to these stores. Props can be found just about anywhere, even out in nature! Let your creativity run wild!
2. Backdrop Selection
When it comes to flatlays, solid backgrounds usually work best. As a general rule, you don’t want to use colors/backdrops that distract from the product(s). If you do decide to go with multiple colors, that’s absolutely okay! Just be sure to use complementary colors that do not conflict with one another or with the products.
3. Cut the Crop
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your cropping! It’s not always necessary to fully showcase EVERYTHING in your photo. In fact, cropping your images can add a level of interest and uniqueness to it.
4. Natural Lighting Is Everything
Just like with most photography, natural lighting is the king and queen of flatlay photography. If you’re shooting products it’s best to lay them out next to a window that lets in a lot of light. To really take things up a notch, try shooting outside in direct sunlight. It makes a world of a difference. And if you’re at a cafe and wish to photograph your meal, be sure to sit as close to the window as possible.
Natural lighting will take your flatlays to another level!
5. Experiment
The beautiful thing about flatlays is that there are an infinite number of ways to style your photos. The best way to improve your skills is to experiment and to get your practice on. Test out different layouts. Play around with multiple backdrops. Choose creative props to shoot with.
Experimenting will help you quickly learn what does and does not work with flatlay photography.
6. Shoot from Above
The trick to nailing the perfect flatlay is to shoot your images from up above. To accomplish this, you may need to stand on top of a sturdy stool or use a tripod to elevate your camera and capture the image from above.
Tip: If you plan to include yourself in the photo, you can use a remote control to trigger your camera to take a photo.
7. Seek out Inspiration
This last tip is the most important tip on our list. When you’re just getting started, it really helps to look at what other people are doing. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest allow you to search photos via hashtags. They’re both great places to start your search for inspiration!
Not sure where to save it all? Instagram’s ‘Collection’ feature is a great way to store your inspirational images and reference them whenever you need a little motivation. Pinterest boards are great to use as well!
Tip: If you find an image that you really love, try replicating it! This will help you familiarize yourself with the steps necessary to create a winning flatlay. Just be sure not to share any of these imitation images on social. This exercise is just for practice! Once you feel comfortable enough with your skills, you’ll be able to create your own flatlays that other people save as inspiration!
We hope you found these tips helpful! If you decide to implement any of these tips, be sure to use the hashtag #PIXFlatlays to share with us!
Join the PIX Tips Community
If you’d like to learn more about photography and share your work in a safe community, visit our PIX Tips Facebook Group here.