Flat Lay Product Photography: Complete Guide To Mastery
Introduction
Flat-lay photography is a way for people to interact with their followers and brands through the visual storytelling business. This enables brands to adopt a comprehensive viewpoint when crafting carefully chosen product compositions. It unveils an entirely new product narrative that the audience has yet to encounter. In fact, The Brand Shop reported that 92% of consumers want to engage with advertising when the ad tells a story about the product. The flat-lay photography is an optimized way to present products as part of their larger context.
What is a Flat Lay?
A flat lay refers to a photograph that captures objects lying on a surface from above. This type of overhead angle captures a scene as the viewer looks down upon it, allowing them to visualize themselves in that position. By creating a grid-style product collage, you can showcase each item’s features in an aesthetically pleasing manner, perfectly aligned with the creative composition. Flat-lay photography is a necessary part of the strategy behind product storytelling for any brand that wants to make waves.
The Importance of the Flat Lay Style in Product Photography
The fashion flat layout photography concept truly captures the essence of the product. This offers a significant advantage in boosting brand recognition and attractiveness. Here are some benefits of the flat-lay style:
Beautifully Presented: A top-down image provides an aesthetic appeal and illustrates the product without any visual distractions. Such a style is wonderful for highlighting the features of the product.
Creative Composition: You can style and stage props and products yourself with Flat Lay, which provides you complete control over how you want your story to unfold. For instance, photographing a beauty product line with ornamental flowers can enhance its natural and luxurious appearance.
Plain Tile: Flat lay setups can range in simplicity from a camera and tabletop to get beginners or pros started on the same playing field. This allows you to shoot with minimal equipment and just about anywhere. The process involves capturing the product’s relevance, mood, and style through flat-lay photography.
How to Build Your Own Camera Flat Lay Studio
You don’t need to invest heavily in expensive equipment to create a DIY studio at home. So, here is a guide to setting up your own studio.
a) Choose the Right Camera
From a mobile phone to a DSLR, you can use any camera to shoot flat-lay photography. But for professional use, like for a website or print media, a DSLR camera is recommended. Shooting with a mobile phone camera sometimes gives more noise in the image, but with a DSLR, the control is in your hands. You can adjust the focal length, minimize camera shake, etc. with a DSLR.
b) Select the Right Lens
The perfect focal length for flat-lay photography is 50mm. A 50mm lens is great due to a versatile focal range that can catch a wide variety of products. It is also beneficial for capturing images of small objects with intricate details that you wish to highlight, like jewelry. A good all-around choice for flat-lay photography is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens.
c) Set Up a Backdrop
The background plays a crucial role in drawing attention to the product and setting the mood. A white background draws all attention to the product, but try adding a little color for a whole new vibe that complements your company.
For example, a soft green backdrop may highlight the natural beauty of eco-friendly products. Although you can purchase backdrops online, you can create one at home using sheets of cloth, paper, and other readily available materials.
d) Get a Stable Stand or Tripod
When you are in need of a steady, consistent shot, nothing is more crucial than your tripod. Opt for a tripod with extendable legs and flat-lay arm to maneuver the camera directly above your setup. Use a bubble level to keep the camera aligned perfectly. If you have a light setup, putting some extra mass on the tripod is good for stability.
e) Perfect the Lighting
Light is more important than you think when it comes to creating an image that has depth and looks 3-dimensional. Ideally, you should have natural light; hence, it would be a good idea to set up near a large window that faces south. If you are shooting for a low-light scenario, then consider buying artificial light sources like ring lights or LED panels, which provide continuous lighting. You can use a whiteboard as a reflector to help soften shadows and spread light evenly.
f) Choose Appropriate Props
Props are key to telling a product tale. Choose props that align with the product’s theme, target audience, and brand story. Toys, for instance, can serve as effective props for a children’s clothing brand. When you market an organic product, using leaves is one example of this approach that works well and creates a harmonious composition.
Flat Lays – to Tell the Product Stories Captured
Even if you have your setup ready, read on to bring some life back into those products by applying the following techniques:
a) Stick to a Theme
A cohesive theme extends into your flat lay, fostering consistency in storytelling, which is crucial for successful imagery.
b) Prepare the Background
While a clean background can help make your product pop, using something like this textured backdrop can give the image a little more character. Great options are fabrics, wool, or paper. It’s important to note that a two-color backdrop can complement a variety of styles you may be creating.
c) Experiment with Layouts
Composition is key in flat-lay photography. Adhere to the rule of thirds so that it is both balanced and eye-catching. Another advantage of having negative space around the product is that it helps to focus attention on the image.
d) Lighting and Avoiding Shadows
Place the product close to a window light to reduce shadows. Reflectors can help soften any shadows that might crop up, and a black reflector adds depth to the shadowy areas if you want some more drama.
e) Keep Products and Props Tidy
Consider the narrative that you wish to convey in your arrangement. When shooting organic beauty, use leaves and natural product-relevant items to keep it real.
f) Edit for Vibrancy
Some quick and easy adjustments, like raising brightness, contrast, and color saturation, will create a dynamic atmosphere, which will really make your product stand out. Keep the edits subtle to avoid being aggressive and boost its appeal.
g) Focus on Storytelling
The end result will be natural and emotional. When you position each product, your audience should do a double-take and already see themselves reaching for that item in the scene.
How I Edit My Flat Lay Photos in Photoshop
Editing enhancements, even on strong images already captured, can result in a better final product. Here’s a quick guide:
a) Adjust Exposure
First, go to brightness & contrast and adjust the settings like highlights as well as shadows for an even toning picture. If the product is colorful, it is preferable to place it against a brighter background.
b) Sharpen Details
Zoom in on the item, then apply sharpening tools to enhance details and textures. It will bring more clarity and establish focal points.
c) Correct Color
You can adjust saturation or the hue and color balance to brighten up a photo. It can also delete unwanted color casts.
d) Use the Clone Tool
If there are any background elements or imperfections, simply apply the clone tool over them. There are no distracting elements in the polished and clean result.
e) Final Touches
Include a PNG or JPG image, adjusting its lightness and saturation as needed.
Professional Editing — Outsource it!
If you have to edit all the photos with a similar look across them, it tends to take more time than required. Professional editing ensures consistency in color and lighting across images and upholds your brand, resulting in a more uniform and professional appearance. Most professional photo editing services offer flat lay editing, and many of them can execute more advanced techniques like color grading or intensive background adjustments to improve your flat lay images even further.
The basic principle of flat-lay product photography is to create an appeal of the brands to the customers whose story you want to convey with proper composition and thoughtful arrangement. If you use all of these techniques and focus on editing, you will in no time be able to take pictures that successfully show your original brand concept. Flat-lay photography can enhance your product marketing and make you stand out.
