IG LIVE: FLAT LAY PHOTO DEMO

IG LiveMarketing
Written By Linda D'Arco

Join me for a flat lay photography session.

Crafting the perfect flat lay photo is truly an art form, and today, I'm diving into my process to share how I set up, shoot, and edit a stunning composition. Whether you’ve got a camera in hand almost every day or a curious beginner, these insights can help elevate your photography game.

Preparing the Perfect Backdrop

I often use a stained piece of butcher block for my backdrop, which I procured from Lowe's. Its dark tones make colors—especially floral hues—pop. For most projects, including today’s adventure, I tape out the dimensions of an Instagram portrait image. This ensures my composition fits well on the platform.

Shooting Vertically and Embracing the Theme

For flat lays, I am usually looking to capture a vertically oriented image. This shape fills the instagram frame fully. Occasionally, I will shoot a horizontal image, but I prefer to cut that longer horizontal image up into several vertical pieces that the viewer will scroll through. That’s how I’ll make a seamless scroll. I will have to share with you an easy method for doing that soon.

Our theme today is an homage to Sesame Street, in light of its recent funding cuts. I gathered flowers that represent the eclectic characters of this beloved show—from giant yellow daffodils symbolizing Big Bird to bright blue muscari for Grover.

Arranging and Capturing the Scene

As I place each element, I aim to include everything within the visual boundaries that I’ve taped off with some painter’s tape from the hardware store.

My goal is to have each flower in focus, capturing the details to freeze this moment. I’m using a Nikon Z8 camera paired with a 24 to 70-millimeter lens.

Playing With Camera Settings

I often adjust for a high F-stop (up to 22) to ensure a wide depth of field with every component of the scene in crisp detail. Shooting in manual mode gives me control over the specifics, like setting a lower ISO to avoid graininess, and using slow shutter speeds for the perfect exposure.

Tools utilized in this demo:

Camera/lens settings Utilized in this demo:

  • ISO (200 or 400)

  • F-Stop (aperture) setting of 22

  • Shutter speed 1/5 of a second, 1/10 of a second, 1/15 of a second (depending on light changes in the studio

  • Natural light from an open door

Editing the Image

Post-capture, I edit using Adobe Lightroom, starting by adjusting for any distortion and cropping off any tape visible in the image.

Dehaze is a favorite adjustment, pulling away glare and enhancing sharpness—an invaluable trick for flat lays. Fine-tuning aspects like clarity, texture, and contrast help make colors pop without altering their authenticity.

Troubleshooting and Advice

If you're feeling overwhelmed, start with automatic settings to understand the camera’s preferences. Then, manually adjust based on those values—lowering ISO, tightening aperture, and using a tripod for detail-rich slow-speed exposures.

Reverting to an automatic setting and seeing what the camera recommends is always a good starting place if you feel “lost”. Then, you can make a change based on your desired outcome. You can slow the shutter speed if you need a brighter image. You can increase the f-stop number if you want all items in a scene to be in focus, or lower the f-stop number if you want only a small portion to be in focus (more like “portrait mode” on a cell phone camera).

My setup might look simple, but there’s magic in the details. Each careful placement and camera tweak ensures that the photograph tells the story I want it to convey. Whether you’re staging a flat lay for Instagram or a personal project, the blend of creative themes and precision can produce stunning imagery that stands out.

Enjoy your photographic journey, and remember—the little details make the biggest difference. Happy shooting! Please share any questions you have.

Linda D'Arco
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