{"id":25794,"date":"2022-04-14T14:46:37","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T21:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nicolesy.com\/?p=25794"},"modified":"2022-04-14T14:46:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T21:46:37","slug":"flat-lay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nicolesy.com\/2022\/04\/14\/flat-lay\/","title":{"rendered":"Flat lay photography tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flat lay photography is the art of photographing an arrangement of items on a flat surface, photographing them straight down (from above). It’s a different perspective on traditional still-life photography and can give a scene a unique look. It’s also great for displaying a collection of items (such as cameras and lenses).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Use a tripod<\/h2>\n

When using a mirrorless or SLR camera, to get the best setup, you’ll want to make sure that you photograph from a tripod. Position the camera so that it is pointing straight down and is not angled in any way (you want your lens to be as perfectly perpendicular to the flat surface as possible). Any tilt of the camera could potentially add tension to the scene, especially if the tilt is in the opposite direction of the viewer.<\/p>\n

If you are using a mobile phone for your photograph, you should be fine without using a tripod, so long as you have sufficient light and can angle the phone so that it is parallel to the surface with no camera tilt.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Light from the side<\/h2>\n

When you position your table or surface for the flat lay setup, try positioning it next to a window with natural light shining through, and avoid overhead lights<\/strong>. In fact, it’s best to turn off all lights in the room you are using when working with the window light. This helps prevent color casts and multiple shadows from being cast on your image. Using side lighting will add depth to the photo and give a more pleasant look.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Aperture & focus<\/h2>\n

When creating a flat lay photograph, it’s best to make sure that all of the items within the are in focus. Use a wide enough aperture so that there is no blur in the scene. The aperture you use will depend on how far away you are from the surface, as well as how tall the items are in your setup.<\/p>\n

For example, if you have a setup with cookies on a table, and because cookies are typically quite short (less than an inch tall), you would be able to get away with a wider aperture because there is not much depth from the top of the cookie and the surface it is on. However, if you have a tall item (such as a bowl with food or a glass filled with liquid) you will need to adjust your aperture so that both the top of the item and the surface area is in focus, and will likely need to use a smaller aperture for this setup.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Composition is key<\/h2>\n

Composition is one of the most important parts of a flat lay setup. Here are some tips to help<\/p>\n