Before we dive into tips on styling a flatlay, maybe we should answer the question: What is a flatlay?

A flatlay is an image or a style of photograph in which a number of things are arranged on a surface and then photographed from above.

Now, we can jump in!

Maxit Flower Design | Courtney Leigh Photography | Dreams & Nostalgia

Harry & Frank

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Wedding photographer Robby Lozano, owner of Ten 23 Photography offers his best tips for styling a beautiful flatlay:

• Consider your aesthetic. Go simple for a clean look or add additional elements to make it more fun.
• Gather elements that tell a story and make sense together.
• Choose a color story flatlay using a tight or distinctive color palette.
• Use textures that tie into your flatlay story (ex. concrete, wood, metal, marble, linen, etc).
• Lighting is key!
  • Indirect bright light is best (ex. next to a window).
  • Avoid direct sunlight and harsh shadows.
  • Try to stick to one light color/source (ex. avoid mixing indoor and natural light by turning off all indoor lighting when shooting indoors next to a window).
• Avoid busy backgrounds that compete with the flatlay story.
• Blank spaces and soft backgrounds work best for a clean minimal social media feed.
• Use acrylic styling blocks to: help prop items that don’t sit up straight, make items appear to float above other items (ex. stationery suites), and level out uneven surfaces.
• Add texture and foliage for dimension and top with blooms.
• Balance blooms in opposite corners of the flatlay (ex. create a balance between the upper right and lower left corners of the frame).

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Alabaster Fox

Harry & Frank

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