What are Flatlays + How Can I Use Them for My Brand? Answered!
If you’ve ever heard or seen the term “flatlay” tossed around the internet and wondered, “what the heck is a freaking flatlay?”, this post is for you.
If you know what a flatlay is and have found yourself wondering “but how would this style of photography be useful to me or my brand?”, this post is for you as well!
Here’s a quick and simple breakdown of what a flatlay is AND how it can be implemented within your life and brand in valuable ways:
Part One
The Chez Núñez definition is this: a flatlay or flat lay is a photograph that features an arrangement of objects, typically styled on a flat surface. You can interchange the term “flatlay” with “product photography” - the implied approaches and meaning of these terms are similar if not exactly the same.
Flatlays are most commonly shot from an overhead angle. Think, Wes Anderson’s famous style of shooting an arrangement of objects from above a flat surface.
I also associate flatlays with images taken from a side angle. Think of a staged still life scene that your art teacher might set up for a class to draw.
Part Two
Here’s a list of some creative areas in which intentionally styled flatlays can enhance and support your brand.
You can use flatlays to style and shoot:
Product listing images for an online shop
Engaging content for email newsletters or blog posts
Sponsored social media collaborations
Portoflio images displaying designs or artwork
Branded images for publications or look-books
Wedding photographs of stationery + rings
Table settings for gatherings
This is not an exhaustive list! Your imagination and application of flatlays is only limited to your creativity. The principles of design that it takes to create them are versatile and useful in many different ways.
As a designer, they’ve been the most engaging way for me to present my finished branding work over the years. My flatlays have helped me build a brand, blog, social media presence, and email list that hinges heavily around engaging visuals. Working with flatlays has also allowed me to meet, support, and collaborate with small businesses who are looking to feature and share their products in interesting ways!
You’ll find flatlays all over this website. ;)
If you want to level up your brand’s product photography, marketing materials, or social media presence by using flatlays, you can check out our newly released educational tool, How to Style Flatlays: E-Book + Video Workshop, to start learning from me today!
Thanks for reading!
