What is Flat Lay Photography?

 
Purple, navy and sea green notebooks, vintage postage stamps, blue velvet pencil, turquoise and dark blue tape and string. Susan Truseler©

Flat lay photography is a great way to show off both your products and services. Taken from above, a styled flat lay photograph is an arrangement of products or objects on a textured or coloured background.

Keep it simple

A simple flat lay photograph features one small to medium sized product on a neutral background or black background. These work well for all sorts of products:

  • Babywear & Accessories

  • Beauty & Cosmetics products

  • Jewellery & Accessories

  • Cards, Paper & Wrap

  • Homeware

You can see more examples of one product flat lay photographs in my Product Photography Portfolio.

Gift Box with green foliage, Leopard print fake fur baby boots, Black, orange, grey and white teething necklace, Black and hot foil gold Happy Birthday card with orange pencil and gold sharpener, and Calming Purifying Face Clay and rock with purple …

Story telling

More complex flat lays feature one or more products as well as other props. Choosing the right props can help to create a story or feeling about your products. So, your customers can imagine themselves using your products or inspire them to think about your products in a new way.

Florist’s scissors, string, pressed flowers, dried petals, pressed flowers, herbal tea bag, glass tea post and green cloth covered hard backed gardening books. Susan Truseler©

And if you’re a service-based business, a styled flat lay photo needs to tell a story about your services and show how you can work with your clients in a particular way as well as reflecting your brand colours, your values and the way you want your clients to FEEL when they work with you.

Notebook with aeroplane, gold pen, gold paper clips, phone case, pink notebook, gold ruler, gold pencil sharpener, tortoise shell glasses, ear phones. wooden box, pink and grey tape and coffee cup. Susan Truseler©

If you’d like to talk more about ideas for your next product shoot or remote branding photography shoot then you can book your FREE Brand Clarity Call with me and I’d be happy to help.

Yellow envelopes, white tissue paper with string and vintage postage stamps in a black china bowl. Susan Truseler©
 
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