10 Flat Lay Ideas to Try on Your Next Instagram Post

by Mara Agner   |  Jun 11, 2017
Image: instagram.com/helloemilie, instagram.com/thepinkdiary
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Flat lay photos may look like they're all a bunch of items taken from an overhead camera angle aka bird's eye view, but the truth is, there are different styles you could experiment with to keep your photos interesting. Here are 10 styles to try.

  1. Neatly organized

This classic flat lay technique can be achieved by neatly laying out the items you want to take photos of and alloting equal spaces between them.

  1. Organized mess

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Just like all flat lays, you also still need to compose the elements in a "messy" flat lay. The goal of this flat lay is to look effortless or like it was taken as it is even if it wasn't.

  1. Same colors

Posting items with of the same color make a great flat lay. You know what else is? Items of the same color against a background with the same color!

  1. Layered elements

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The items in flat lays don't always have to be placed side by side. You can layer the items to make your photos more interesting 

  1. One focal point

Put your subject at the center or at the side and add smaller or lighter-colored elements around it to make it stand out.

  1. Human element

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Whether it's your hand holding food or your legs crossed, adding a human element to your flat lay photos make it more personal.

  1. Complementing colors

Using items with complementing colors also make a great image. 

  1. Shapes or letters

Make shapes or letters using your items to make your photos anything but basic.

  1. Clean background

A flat lay taken against a clean background also works well.

  1. One side

You don't have to fill the frame with items to make a great flat lay. Put the items you want to photograph on just one side of the frame—whether it's horizontal or diagonal—and the image would still look interesting.

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What other Instagram tips would you like us to write about? Sound off in the comments below!

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Mara Agner
Assistant Lifestyle and Features Editor
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