9 Tips To Mastering The Flat Lay

I have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SamsungUnlocked #CollectiveBias

One of the most important aspects of my brand is styling and photography. It is important to capture my message and brand through amazing photos, especially flat lays. I often shoot and post a flat lay on my social media outlets when I don’t have new blog content or to create a Pinterest-friendly image.  My DSLR camera is my right hand but not always practical.  This is where my Samsung Galaxy GS5 comes in and I love it.  But once my husband upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy GS8 and took amazing low light photos, it was time for me to upgrade as well.

Available only online at Walmart.com, the Unlocked GS8 and GS8+ lets you pick more than just your smartphone. You have the freedom to choose your carrier ², data plan, features and apps, so you can tailor your phone exactly the way you want it. ¹  As the world’s first Infinity Screen, both have an expansive display that stretches from edge to edge, giving you the most amount of screen in the least amount of space.  They can also handle a splash or accidental dunk; with an IP68 water resistant rating, you can take pictures in less-than-dry circumstances.

Not only are there fewer pre-loaded Apps eating up memory, I can expand my storage up to 256 GB when I purchase a microSD card that makes room for all those amazing photos I’ve just taken.  And just in case something does go sideways, all Unlocked by Samsung smartphones come with a standard U.S. limited warranty.³

Now that you have your awesome phone, it’s time to put its 12 megapixel rear camera to use.  I’m sharing my 9 tips for taking great photos for social media by creating flat lays with everyday objects.  Perfect for brand photos or celebrating holidays and just-because events like back to school,  the flat lay isn’t just for celebrities and style experts.  Except for the photos with the phone in them (duh, had to use my camera!) all images were shot with my GS8!

1. Shoot in square for Instagram

If you want to take flat lay photography, there are certain rules and guidelines. It’s important to shoot in square if you are using the image for Instagram.  You don’t want to have to do any cropping later and lose parts of your image.  With the GS8, it is easy to change your camera settings to shoot your images square.  Just go under the camera settings and change the front camera Picture Size to the 1:1 setting.

2. Select/choose a theme

When you pick a theme, stick to it! Whether it’s food, holiday or brand-oriented, each and every element should make sense when they’re combined.  If you are styling your favorite bowl of cereal, elements can be a spoon, dry cereal scattered around the bowl, a glass of juice…you get the picture. Insert rim shot. Or, it could be a simple as a collection of your favorite washi tape. But remember, too many different types of elements can be confusing in a flat lay…there is a fine line and sometimes you know when you cross it. See tip #8…

3.  Use a basic background

You want to use a flat lay background that complements the items and doesn’t distract the viewer. White or wood backgrounds are the best for any type of flat lay photos because of their versatility and simplicity.  I use a white foam core board or for food items, my white marble cutting board. If I am styling white or light items, I like to use a coordinating sheet of cardstock.

4.  Shoot in natural light

Natural light, natural light, natural light! Natural light is best because it does not create harsh shadows.  Try to shoot somewhere that is drenched in natural light, perhaps near a large window or covered patio, like I do.  Try different places around your space until you find a place that gives you the best lighting.

5.  Leave space between each object

Make sure to leave a breathable amount of space between your objects to prevent the photo from looking too cluttered. Play around with white space but having balance is important.

6. Composition is key 

Composition is key to creating a great flat lay. Even if you’re looking for a simple and clean appearance with a lot of white space, you must consider composition. You can be ‘rigid’, placing your main components on a grid or use symmetry on both sides. Or you can be a little less structured like having the main component in the center and smaller components orbit. Remember, you are telling a story, especially when you want a certain product to pop!

7. Experiment with different layouts

Don’t always settle for the first arrangement you create; move things around and experiment with your layout until you find something that you are happy with.  Place large items next to small and dainty items, or layer items on top of each other.  I take a shot or two and see what is missing or needs to be moved.  There maybe a glaring open area that doesn’t balance well, or it feels too cluttered.  In fact, I originally shot the image below with all the items placed randomly in a circle.  Then I noticed there were a lot of items in each color and decided to sort them by color!  I feel it is more purposefully and eye-catching.

8. Work some basic editing magic

There are many free photo-editing apps that are available to enhance your images. Instagram has great editing options and I love using this one.  They are a robust program with editing abilities like using curves and inexpensive filters for purchase.  If you need to edit larger images for website and brand use, this one is great for text and overlays.  Find one that works well with your style and your editing will be done in a couple of taps.

9. Hashtag Away

Once you have published your gorgeous flat lay don’t forget to tag all of the brands and products that you have used. Using tags gives your image more exposure and increases your chances of being ‘regrammed’.  Even more important, those hashtags! Using the right hashtags can expose your image and brand to large and targeted audiences.

In fact, your chances of attracting new followers, getting more likes, and increasing engagement are vastly increased by the use of hashtags. #flatlay and #flatlaylove are most common to use for flat lay photos.  I’ve been noticed and regrammed by several major brands and even developed a working relationship with a few by repeated (but relevant) use of their brand hashtags.  It put me on their radar as an engaged consumer!

Do you have a flat lay tip for Instagram that I missed? We’d love to hear it, so leave a comment below or join us over on Instagram and check out more of my flat lays.

¹ Wireless voice, data and messaging services on Samsung Unlocked Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge devices are compatible with most major U.S. GSM and CDMA networks. For these devices, wireless services are available on GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile and CDMA networks such as Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular®. Visit www.samsung.com for more information on your device. Support for certain features and services such as VoWiFi and hotspot, vary by wireless service provider. Wireless voice, data and messaging services on Samsung Unlocked Galaxy S6 and Galaxy J3 devices are compatible with most major U.S. GSM networks. For these devices, wireless services are available on GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile. Visit http://www.samsung.com/ for more information on your device. Support for certain features and services such as VoWiFi and hotspot, vary by wireless service provider.

SIM card must be compatible with area’s available networks. International calling, data services and coverage vary by network provider. Contact provider for details.

² This Samsung Unlocked phone will work on any GSM or CDMA compatible network. For these devices, wireless services are available on GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile and CDMA networks such as Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular®. Support for certain rate plans, features, and services such as VoWiFi and hotspot vary by wireless service provider. SIM card must be compatible with area’s available networks. International calling, data services and coverage vary by network provider. Contact provider for details.

³ For more information on Samsung standard U.S. limited warranty, go to samsung.com/customersupport/