3 Easy Tips for Perfect Flat Lay Photos!

I've spent hours drooling over gorgeous, color-drenched Instagram flat lays and know that a *great* flat lay is pretty tough to pull off. When I dug a little deeper into what most of the 'gram pros were doing, I realized there was a lot of specialized lighting, props, and hours involved to make their photographs really pop. I don't have all of the equipment they do, but I had some cute clothes for sale that needed a fun way to be shot, so I jumped in anyway. Along the way, I've learned a few things that you can use-absolutely no experience or specialized equipment other than a digital camera or smartphone required ;-)

#1: Consistent, Indirect Sunlight! Taking a picture of something really pretty in a dark room or with just a normal overhead light bulb is going to look "eh." Direct sunlight isn't any better; chances are that the bright sunlight directly on the item will cast some unattractive shadows, distracting from the clothes, jewelry, or cool craft you're trying to shoot. Take the time to find a spot either outdoors in some shade or inside next to a big window. Take a few shots, then look at the pictures; does the color and lighting change across the frame? If it does, you need a new place to take pictures. For an example of what *not* to do, here's a photo where I paired sunglasses and leggings with a charcoal striped tunic to promote the Indianapolis 500. This is one of the first flat lays I did, and frankly, I wasn't paying close attention to lighting! See how the left side of the picture is darker than the right side? Not good!

#2: Interesting Backgrounds! While a lot of flat lays utilize the "perfectly crisp white background," I think it's even more interesting if you can use something *besides* white paper. I've been loving using a neutral colored throw with a nice texture to display clothing. You could take photographs against some lush green grass, a sandy beach, or a character-filled hardwood floor! Just don't pick something that has a lot of different colors and patterns; it'll make the actual point of the photo much harder to see, and most viewers don't want to work that hard! Check out this example:

#3: Watch Your Scale! Everybody wants to use some fun props for staging, but the objects might just disappear entirely if they're too small next to the star of the show. I had several outfits that I wanted to pair with fun earrings, but when I shot the pictures, the earrings just ended up being confusingly like little bugs. Everything should be approximately the same size. If you're shooting a shirt, for example, try folding up the shirt so you can see the neckline and the sleeve, then add the earrings in 1/3 of the frame. That way, viewers can see how the textures and colors of the shirt play nicely with the jewelry. In this photo, the bracelet on the left is a little bit more easily seen with the rest of the outfit's add-ons. There still is no doubt about what the point of this picture is--the maxi dress!

And a bonus tip..... - Get a baby carrier ;-) Very few people are just taking Instagram photos for a living, so it's important to find ways to meet your other obligations in order to make it all work together. Here's me and my son making a recent photo shoot coincide with a much-needed afternoon nap!

Baby snuggles make everything fun!