Flat lay photography guide for beginners
Just by browsing through social media alone, you’ll find the prevalence of flat lay photography all around. It is a style that many go with for its artful look and feel to depict whatever items there are on a specific workspace. In this article, we talk about flat lay photography guide for beginners.
It is a style that most food bloggers and photographers go for, showing the whole mise en place consisting of ingredients and tools. There is, of course, more to it than just shooting from a high angle, as there are other variables at play here.
In this article, we’ll get a little deeper into flat lay photography. If you’re at very least interested in making your photos stand out using this style, read on to find out more.
It is all about natural lighting
You can make use of any light source, but for flat lay photography, natural light is the best way to go. It provides a more even distribution of illumination, which translates to a better overall photograph, afterward.
Harsh lighting from above or even too much sunlight can cause unnecessary shadows to appear. Remember that when it comes to photography lighting, less is more.
If you’re planning a flat lay photography session, pick a room with the most natural light at a specific time of the day. For best results, get the spot that is situated right next to a window.
Phone cameras over DSLRs
When it comes to taking flat lay photos, smartphones are the better option over the fancier, more intricate DLSR cameras. Why so? For the simple reasons that it is a lot easier and more portable to handle.
DLSRs can be a little too heavy to work with given its hefty frame, while smartphones provide much more convenience. Phones are also as capable already in terms of rendering high-quality images that aren’t only worthy of Instagram, but a publication, as well.
So save yourself the hassle and the potential to damage your expensive camera and go with your smartphone, instead.
Be thematically creative
Yes, flat lay photos are popular among food bloggers, but this style of photography applies to any theme you may wish to use. It will all be about the props and background you’ll be using to create the entire canvas.
Go ahead and play around with various ideas. It can be a look at the contents of your equipment bag, an image of your entire workspace, or things that involve your daily life. Each of these props can tell a good story, so feel free to do some exploring.
Who knows, your flat lay photos may end up as the next hottest thing on Pinterest or Instagram.
Since many are making flat lay photography to be their go-to method of shooting, it can be a challenge to find ways to stand out. Photography, however, is all about letting your personality emanate through a still image, so it will all be about your presentation.
Try these simple tips yourself and see your flat lay photography game improve slowly but surely. If you have any other ideas that we didn’t include in our flat lay photography guide, share them down below.