Flat lay product photography solutions

Flat lay is an attractive method of presenting clothes, though it is not limited only to apparel. In simple terms, it shows the view from above of a carefully stretched piece. This presents all the natural creases of the fully visible item.

Check out the range of dedicated Orbitvu solutions that can help you create stunning flat lay photos.

The approaches to flat lay photography can be as simple as a do-it-yourself window and a ladder setup, or you can employ a professional photography studio. Generally, you will need to decide how much automation technology you want to involve and what your basic stylistic needs are.

We write about all these approaches and their techniques in a dedicated article “How to shoot flat lay clothing?” on our blog.

For flat lay photography, it is most beneficial to use a varifocal lens, i.e., with zoom options. We would recommend the lower limit of the zoom to start at around 35mm, but as such solutions are rare, a 24-105mm lens will work perfectly fine. Read our full guide on lenses for product photography on the blog.

Orbitvu solutions for flat lay photography such as Alphadesk and Alphatable guarantee the right lighting options that will allow you to eliminate shadows and shoot perfect flat lays. If you still wish to have the shadow visible, there is an option to add an artificial, digitally calculated shadow. For DIY solutions, always make sure to not let your body interfere with the lighting and to distribute the light evenly. In in-home flat lay photography, it’s usually necessary to cut the product from the background manually.

On an iPhone, you may struggle with repeatability and correct lighting for your flat lay shots. However, this is a quick and easy way to get going with filling your Instagram profile with flat lay pictures. Use as much of daylight as possible, stretch the piece of clothing and shoot with the iPhone from above.