Perfecting the Product Flatlay

Y’all know I love my LipSense side business.  It’s brought me out of my comfort zone, introduced me to some great new friends, and of course, provided some extra funding for those “wishlist items” without dipping into the hub and I’s budget.  

As I look across some of the ladies that are successful in this business, I see one clear commonality – gorgeous product photos, both of the packaging and on themselves.  Direct sales is all about the personal connections, and while there are some great images that have been created, your customers see more of you when you took the photos themselves.

I challenged the girls on my team to take their own flat lay photos last year, and they really impressed me.  

Seriously, look at this shot Christine captured on vacation when some limited edition colors were released.  LOVE! 

Perfecting the flat lay product shot is so easy, and doesn’t require much investment.  Just follow these easy steps and you’ll be developing gorgeous, unique shots in no time!

LEVERAGE NATURAL LIGHT

I wrote a photography guide for Eggland’s Best that was all about how to use natural light to your advantage earlier this year – the same tips for photographing food apply here, too.  The photos you get will be cleaner and will show off the products in their truest form, without the glares or yellowing that artificial light can cast.  Take a few test shots of the same item around your house and see where the lighting is best.  

For me, the image third from the left, taken in my office, offers the best lighting, no matter what time of day.  

CREATE YOUR OWN NEUTRAL SURFACE

I know the logo and font may be a little outdated, but I love the navy and gold color palette  that Senegence uses.  Make the most of those bold colors by creating your own neutral background to shoot the products on.  I love the faux-hide pillow Christine used in the shot from her Airbnb in Montana at the top of this post!  At home, I use either a simple piece of white foam board (the best $3 investment!) or an old cabinet shelf that I’ve adhered a piece of faux-marble cabinet liner to (you can buy your own here).  I recently added a chalkboard-look vinyl to my collection of flat lay backgrounds that I can’t wait to use.  

ADD PROPS

Whether you’re photographing for a holiday promo or to show off your new favorite finds, a few props can add visual interest to your photos.  They don’t have to be a big investment, either.  I bought a few faux flowers when I was at the dollar store to make some purples pop, stole a few pinecones from my Christmas centerpiece (which I bought on clearance last year) to use in my Christmas photos this year, grabbed my sunglasses for a shot with our sunless tanner, and used a sequined top from my closet to photograph some glitter glosses.

USE DOUBLE-STICK TAPE

LipSense tubes roll, y’all.  A little double-stick tape or a small piece of tape rolled underneath will keep it exactly where you want it, when you want it.  And in the final shots, you can’t even see it!

SHOOT FROM ABOVE

Photographing your setup from above solves a few issues:  First, you don’t have to worry about creating an attractive background.  My office is chaos, and yet none of it shows in the photos.  Second, the product looks more realistic (in my opinion).  How often do you walk into someone’s bathroom to see 5 LipSense tubes standing perfectly on end?  Not in my house!  Mine are scattered all over my counter.  Lastly, you avoid shadows.  Laying the products on their side ensures you have nice, even lighting over the entire frame.  

So grab your iPhone, some foam board, and your favorite products, and start setting the scene!  Get a great shot?  I’d love to see it!  Share the link in the comments below!

SHOP MY FLATLAY FAVORITES

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