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  • Blog
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  • Style
    • Fashion Hair & Beauty Luxury Handbags Shopping
      How to wear a smocked top // Summer fashion trends 2021

      Summer Fashion Trend 2021: Smocking

      How to wear white in winter: three tips to master wearing winter whites

      How to Wear White in Winter

      How to wear snakeskin this fall // 2020 fall fashion trend

      Snakeskin Print // Fall Fashion Trend 2020

      Pretty Pastels in Havana, Cuba

      Caudalie Premier Cru the rich cream review

      Beauty Review: Caudalie Premier Cru the Rich Cream

      The prettiest silk scarves to wear in your hair // hair scarf styles // scarf hairstyles // silk scarves for hair

      The prettiest silk scarves to wear in your hair

      Pixi Beauty Liquid Fairy Lights & Glow-y Gossamer Duo review and swatches.

      Beauty Details // Pixi Liquid Fairy Lights & Glow-y Highlighter

      The best skincare products for dry winter skin.

      Winter Skincare // The best beauty products for dry skin!

      GG Marmont matelassé leather super mini bag review

      GG Marmont matelassé leather super mini bag review

      Beige pink large Prada Galleria bag.

      Prada Galleria Handbag Review

      Gucci GG Marmont Small matelassé shoulder bag review

      Gucci GG Marmont Small Shoulder Bag Review

      How to choose your first designer bag // Flatlay image with red Chloe Drew bag and sparkly accessories

      How to choose your first designer bag

      Gift idea for your sister: Trinny London makeup stack and a white Instax camera

      Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

      Beige pink large Prada Galleria bag.

      Prada Galleria Handbag Review

      The best places to shop for mommy and me outfits.

      Where to Buy Mommy and Me Outfits

      Gucci GG Marmont Small matelassé shoulder bag review

      Gucci GG Marmont Small Shoulder Bag Review

  • Travel
    • All Travel Destination: America Destination: Asia Destination: Europe
      Hiking at Mont Tremblant is the best way to see fall colours in Quebec

      Where to see the best fall colours in Quebec

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Where to stay in Paris, France

      Winnipeg Summer Staycation

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Cherry Blossoms in Paris // Spring Photo Diary

      Hiking at Mont Tremblant is the best way to see fall colours in Quebec

      Where to see the best fall colours in Quebec

      Pretty Pastels in Havana, Cuba

      Rainbow buildings in Havana - how to spend 48 hours in Havana, Cuba

      How to spend 48 hours in Havana, Cuba

      Where to eat, sleep, shop and explore in Scottsdale, Arizona.

      The Pretty Guide to Scottsdale, Arizona

      A blogger's guide to Seminyak Bali. Where to eat, sleep and play.

      The Pretty Guide to Seminyak, Bali

      Thailand Travel Inspiration

      Our trip to Thailand // A cinematic journey through Bangkok, Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai

      Tips for visiting Wat Rong Khun - the White Temple in Chiang Rai Thailand

      Visiting the White Temple in Chiang Rai // Thailand travel diary – part 1

      Ubud’s Rice Terraces & Waterfalls // Bali Travel Diary – Part 1

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Where to stay in Paris, France

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Cherry Blossoms in Paris // Spring Photo Diary

      The most charming city in Europe: Brugge, Belgium

      Traveling to Europe with a baby. Mom and baby girl in front of Eiffel tower.

      Traveling Europe with a Baby // My Experience & Tips

  • Decor
    • Design Inspiration My Home Tour Parties & Entertaining
      Flocked pink and white christmas tree.

      The best flocked Christmas trees

      Neutral desert inspired home office inspiration photos | One room challenge spring 2020

      Home Office Refresh: The Inspiration

      The best pink coffee table books for decorating.

      The Best Pink Coffee Table Books

      Little girl swan nursery inspiration. White and gold baby room.

      Baby Girl Nursery Inspiration

      Feminine Boho Office and Guest Bedroom // One Room Challenge makeover reveal

      Feminine Boho Office and Guest Room – The Reveal!

      A bright modern living room with a blush pink sofa. Inside the home of Canadian decor blogger Jennifer Ashley of Pretty Little Details.

      Statement Furniture: My New Blush Pink Sofa

      A cozy and glamorous white, black and blush pink bedroom.

      My Cozy Glam Bedroom (+ How to Add Hygge to your Home)

      Little girl nursery reveal. White and gold kids bedroom with dusty blush pink accents and subtle swan theme.

      Emilia’s Nursery Reveal

      How to host an afternoon tea

      How to Host an Afternoon Tea

      Unicorn themed girls first birthday party.

      Emilia’s Unicorn Themed First Birthday Party

      Holiday bar cart inspiration. A whimsical woodland tea and dessert station.

      Holiday Bar Cart Inspiration

      Sweet summer brunch party filled with peonies, lemons and pretty dresses.

      Sweet summer brunch // with local boutique Mad About Style

Blogging 101

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram

March 9, 2018

Since the rise of Instagram, flat lay photos have become an extremely popular way to beautifully style images.  Whether you are looking to create a pretty Instagram feed, feature a product or create stock images for your brand, flat lays are where it’s at!  But, what exactly is a flat lay?  Well, basically it is a styled image taken from a bird’s eye view.  In other words, its a photograph of objects laid down on a flat surface.

While taking flat lay photos may sound easy, photographing and styling a well lit image can be tricky.  So, today I’m sharing my tips for how to up your flat lay photography game and style gorgeous photos for your Instagram or blog.

5 Steps to creating a gorgeous flat lay:

How to style and photograph flatlays.
1. Find the best lighting for your flat lay

For flat lay images the best lighting is soft even lighting. Ideally, you want all of the items to be equally lit with as few harsh shadows as possible. The best way to do this is to take photos using diffused natural light.

I personally take all of my flat lay photos indoors and if it is a cloudy day, I’ll usually arrange my flat lays next to a south facing window. If it’s a sunny day, I’ll usually arrange items in front of a north facing window.  Often I will use a reflector on the opposite side from the window in order to create more even lighting. A simple piece of white posterboard makes an easy inexpensive reflector.

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram
2. Pick a flat lay backdrop

The best backgrounds for flat lays are simple natural textures that aren’t too distracting. My all-time favourite backdrop for flat lays is marble surfaces.  However, as beautiful as marble is, it is crazy heavy and not very convenient for moving around your house depending on where the light is best when you are shooting. My favourite trick is to glue marble contact paper onto a piece of posterboard. The result is a super lightweight backdrop that photographs beautifully and is easy to store.

If marble isn’t your thing, you can also find adhesive prints in many other different textures. I also love shooting against this grey wood grain backdrop.  A few other go-to backdrops I use include plain posterboard, my white bedspread, or the hardwood flooring in my house.

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram

3. Chose your flat lay props

A good flat lay image should tell a story. Are you getting ready for the day with your favourite beauty products?  Sitting down for a delicious snack? Or perhaps working at your office?  Think through the products you choose.  Do they make sense together?  One of my biggest pet peeves is people photographing shoes in the same flatlay as food or makeup.  In what world would your shoes be sitting next to your smoothie bowl… ummm no thanks!

Try to choose items with different sizes, shapes and textures.  Balance round items like makeup compact cases with longer slim items such as a fluffy blush brush or delicate necklace.  For even more texture and visual interest think about adding natural elements.  I almost always include flowers in my flat lays because they add so much natural texture and pretty colour.

Another thing you will want to consider is choosing a colour palate for your image.  To make your flat lay look more cohesive, choose items that have complimentary colour tones.  Pair pastel products with similar colours or curate a flatlay using only bright saturated colours.  If you are unsure where to start, try a monochromatic flatlay; choosing all black and white products always looks amazing.

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram

4. Style your flat lay photo

Now that you’ve picked your backdrop and props, it’s time to arrange all of your products into a stylish flat lay.  My biggest tip is don’t be afraid to layer!  Some blogger like to have all of their products neatly lined in a row when they shoot flat lays but I prefer a more natural look.  Stack a pair of sunglasses on top of a book, or weave a pair of headphones across the image.  The more layering you can add, the more dynamic the finished image will turn out.

Quick tip: Round lipstick containers or nail polish bottles can be tricky to stay in place.  My tip is to use a zot (removable glue dot) to stick the product down.  They are super easy to remove afterwards and keeps everything in its spot until you are done photographing it.

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram

5. Take the picture

Now that you have styled everything to perfection, it’s time to take the photo!  When taking a picture of your flat lay don’t try to fit everything in your image.  It looks more natural if products are cropped out, or if just a corner of an item just makes it into a shot.

So, did you find today’s tutorial helpful?  I would love to hear what you think!  Leave a comment letting me know your thoughts or any questions you may have about creating flat lays.

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram

Flat lay photography // How to style flat lay photos for Instagram was last modified: March 9th, 2018 by Jennifer Ashley
14 comments
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14 comments

Rach February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

This post is so helpful because I am so bad with flatlays! Thank you for sharing!

http://www.rdsobsessions.com

Reply
Kileen February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

Such great tips girl and I love your flatlays! They are beautiful!

Kileen
cute & little

Reply
Stephanie February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

These are fantastic tips! Flatlays have been my jam for a few years now, but I can always use more help with styling. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Whit Wanders February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

I am bookmarking this because I can NEVER get these right. Mine always dont have enough products or just come out uneven looking – so annoying! but this is so helpful!

love,
Britt+Whit

Reply
Kait Elizabeth February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

All of these flatlays are so good! I need the wood grain paper for sure. Hugs, Kait
http://www.baskinginburgundy.com

Reply
how2wearit.com February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

WOW .. you’re so good at these!!! I really need to step up my flat lay skills!

-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

Reply
Maggie Tate February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

You are so good at flat lays!!!

Reply
Emily | Life with Emily February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

So many great tips! Cute flatlays!

Reply
Liz H. February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

Flatlays are my fave! Yours are always so gorgeous. Love these tips!

Liz

Reply
Lisa February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

Your flat lays are stunning! I actually have some flat lays I need to do tomo and these are inspiring me! Love

XO-Lisa
http://www.thatssodarling.com

Reply
House of Loren February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

My photographer is out of town and I had so much trouble with lighting over the weekend so these tips really come in handy! Thanks for sharing x

Reply
Vandenbergs Fine Jewellery February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

This is great inspiration for social media/blog posts. Thanks

http://www.vandenbergs.ca/

Reply
Bryant Nancy February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

It’s always a struggle to do flatlays especially with small items. Thanks so much for the tips.

http://www.bestreviewofproduct.com/

Reply
Logan Porter February 22, 2019 at 9:39 pm

This post was exactly what I needed! I’m horrible with flatlays but these tips are so helpful. I never heard of a zot before… I normally have round bottles fratically falling off my table.

xo Logan
https://peculiarporter.com

Reply

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Meet Jennifer Ashley

Blogger, stylist and mom.
Lover of travel and all things pretty.
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