A Beginner’s Guide to Styling Flat lays for Product Photography

F latlay photography is becoming increasingly popular. As more passionate beginners join the field, there’s also plenty of growing confusion around what is flat lay photography for products? 

To simplify it for our readers, a flat lay is a product photography shot that is captured from directly above. Products are laid out on a flat surface at an angle, which becomes the background of the image. 

This is also referred to as the bird’s eye view, or a landscape shot. The idea is to showcase the product very clearly, and directly. 

Styling flat lays for products is not as challenging as it may seem right now. There are a few ways to successfully achieve the perfect shot and we are here to share those secrets. 

Plan the Product Shot

Before you begin making use of your camera, envision a shot. What’s the perfect shot look like to you? What colors are in the frame, is there any texture, width, or depth being added? Are you playing with sunlight? 

Some questions to keep in mind when thinking of the perfect flat lay shot. Styling flat lays for products is not a difficult task, if you know what end product you are aiming at. 

So, begin with the image in your mind, and collect props to bring the image alive.

Choose the Type of Layout for Your Flat Lay

A common misconception is that flat lays are all only at a straight angle. Whilst that is indeed how they started, there’s room to play around with angles even when styling flat way products for photography. 

There are some common layouts for achieving flat-lay product photography without making it all look the same, or to save it from being boring. 

Traditional Style Grid

This is the most common, and the oldest grid style for flat lays. This calls to layout products in a grid format, with edges parallel to each other. 

The end shot is clean, well-balanced, and a sigh of relief. For this, a straight shot from directly above is the trick to capturing the image. 

Alternate Angle

Products in this one are laid out on the flat surface at alternate angles. For this, the image is taken from a slight angle and is aligned with the prominent angle of the grid layout. 

Creative Chaos

For a little bit of fun, you can opt for creative chaos and spread around the product. This image will also be photographed from directly above, but the scattered products are styled to give it a fun, lively, and casual look. 

Negative Style Look

A negative style look is one in which the product is taken to one of the corners/sides of the flat surface, and the negative space is left as is. This works wonderfully for branding, if the text needs to be added, or if the image will be further designed on Adobe. 

Characteristics of a Flat Lay Image

When styling products for flat lay photography, you are essentially working with these four characters in the frame:

1. The product itself: This is the hero of your shot. For ideas, check out here as to how the product is focused upon in the flat lay setup.
2. Light Source: You want to focus on the product, and light is key here. Place the product against the light, and not in the way of it. Adding candles, fairy lights, or a lamp is another way of adding character through a light source. 
3. Texture: An image without texture will look flat, especially for flat lays. Add texture, such as paper, ruffled cloth to the side to minimize negative space, or spreading petals around the object. There is no limit to ideas when it comes to textures. 
4.  Props: Textures can be props, and so can the secondary light source. You can also add more props, those that complement the primary object. Props can be added, or not, depending on the visual you have in mind. 

Perfect Flat Lays

The organized nature of flat lay photography is appealing. Styling flat lays for products can be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, there’s no going back!

Begin with envisioning the image with its colors. Think in terms of colors, light, textures. They must all bring the image together, but around the primary product. 

The next step is to choose the grid style. Depending on your product, you can also mix and match two to three grid styles and take pictures in each for a variety of flat lay shots. 

Always stand on a chair, stool, or a bench that gives you adequate height above the product layout so that you can zoom in and out of the image for getting the perfect image. Keep these tips in mind when you are styling flat lays for products!