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The CATALOG guide to the perfect flatlay

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The CATALOG guide to the perfect flatlay

Learn the tricks of the Instagram trade (Image: @phoebesoup)
 Who doesn’t love a good flatlay? In this day and age where half of our time is spent liking perfect flatlay shots on Instagram, we figured it’s high time we got some expert tips and tricks on the increasingly popular photography style from our friends at CATALOG. It’s as easy as one, two, snap.

Check out CATALOG’s foolproof tips below!

1. Choose the perfect background

Find a clean, flat surface to lay a random assortment of products on. A plain white background or marble table is preferred. If neither of those are available, a concrete floor, wooden planks or even crumpled sheets will work. Here’s the trick: The lighter the background, the more the objects will pop.

@pvs_sg 

2. Find the right light

Natural light is your best friend. Try to take a flatlay next to a big window that’ll allow lots of light to stream in and bathe your layout with glorious sunbeams. Avoid taking shots when the sun is too high, as this will wash everything out. But if the urge to take a flatlay usually hits you at night, do what the pros do and purchase a box light with a daylight bulb. It’s quite the investment, but imagine all the likes you’ll be getting!

@marcuscflores

3. Lay them good

Arrange the objects in your photograph well. Try to make them look like they just casually landed in that position. If one of them keeps rolling out of place, this is where double sided tape or Blu-Tack comes in handy. If you’re not satisfied with the arrangement, add a sprig of baby’s breath flowers or a cup of coffee. That usually does the trick.

@catalogmagazine

4. Get high

You might not do this at a cafe (or you might, whatever, we don’t judge), but try to stand on a stool when taking a flatlay shot. Not only does this keep your body’s shadow away from the layout, it’ll also help you see everything from the right perspective. Adjust your height accordingly so that everything is perfectly in the frame.

@mossingarden

5. Edit, edit, edit

There’s a saying for writers that goes “Write Drunk, Edit Sober”, and perhaps the same thing goes for editing your flatlay shots. Whatever you do, don’t post it right away! You want to make sure the lighting is perfect, the saturation is perfectly set and unwanted shadows are banished. We’re partial to VSCOCam and Snapseed, so download those apps now!

Source: CATALOG Magazine feed


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