Flatlays are the biggest thing to hit visual marketing. Top brands in every industry are using them to promote their message and offers and you should too! In this episode I’m going to teach you how to create a unique, on brand flat lay so that you can stop using the same cliche stock photos everyone else is.

A flatlay is simply a photo of objects arranged on a flat surface, captured from directly above. Like a bird’s eye view. It’s a great way to showcase everything from the latest product you’re selling to what you had for breakfast.

Flatlays are powerful, eye-catching, and very trendy. While they are simple, don’t let them fool you. There are some things that you need to know before creating one. They need to tell a story, enhance your brand, or showcase an item. Before you grab your camera and start shooting, you’ll need to do a little prep.

Here are five questions to consider when planning out your flatlay:

1. What is the intention behind the photo? You want to know where and how you’ll be using the image before you start creating so that you don’t miss a thing.
2. What mood do you want your flatlay to have? What’s the vibe? A lot of this has to do with the color palette that you choose. I recommend sticking to items that enhance your brand colors. Not everything in the photo needs to be the same color, but if you never use the color red in your brand and then start creating a flatlay with a bright red coffee cup in it, you are probably going to regret it. 
3. What will you use to light your photo? Remember, lighting is everything. I recommend natural light, so don’t start putting your flatlay together at 10 o'clock at night. But we’ll dive more into that later. 
4. What will your background be? There are so many choices and the sky’s the limit. This could be your hardwood floor, desk, piece of fabric, foam core board, countertop. Whatever aesthetic best fits your business. Just make sure that your surface is clean and flat. I mean, that’s why they call it a flatlay.
5. Where will you stand to take your photo? Or what will you stand on? The key to getting a great looking flat lay is to make sure that you are shooting directly from above. This may mean grabbing a stool, chair, or ladder. Or keep it simply by designing on the floor and standing right above it.

So now that you’ve mapped out some of the details let’s get started!

Gather Your Props - Start out with the item that will be the main focus of your photo. This could be a product you are featuring, an upcoming new release, or something that you’ll be talking about on social media or your website. 

Next you’ll want to find some props that will enhance your main subject. These additional props should help tell the story about what you are trying to create. Think about adding texture, movement, shadows, dimension, height, and more to create visual interest. 

Finding The Right Background

Start by making sure your surface is clean and clutter free. Your background is an important part of the flatlay, so don’t neglect it. I recommend trying to stay away from reflective surfaces when you are first starting out. They are a little more tricky to work with. My favorite hack is a simple piece of white foam core. You can also spruce up what you already have by adding fabric or blankets. Just make sure they are nice and wrinkle-free. You’d be surprised how well a camera can pick up wrinkles! And once again, remember, you want your surface to be flat for the best results. 

Learn more at www.britbennion.com/episode66

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