Chris Warnes
Want your Insta feed to dazzle and delight? Shooting objects from above gives you the edge and makes your feed look like the pages of a magazine.
Whether it’s food or fabric, tiles or tassels, plants or pillows that populate your virtual visual diary, HB stylist Tilly Roberts shows you how to take it up a notch in the style stakes.
1. It’s all about light!
Lighting is THE most important part of taking a good pic, natural light is best so try and set out your shot near a window during the morning for beautiful light.
2. Peek-ins and photo-bombers
Make sure there is nothing you don’t want to see peeking in the background and choose your backdrop carefully so not to detract from the main feature of the shot
3. Room to breathe
When shooting a group of objects, make sure each product has plenty of space around it – things look closer together from a birds eye view
4. Background be gone
Chose a simple, clean and clear background that compliments your products. Try to keep to subtle colours and pattern so the shot doesn’t appear too busy
5. Use photo and social media apps
Don’t be afraid to use apps to improve your photographs! There are lots of different filter options available and apps such as VSCO and Whitegram create white space around your image to enhance it
6. Composition
Play around with different set ups before your decide on your final shot. Explore which shapes fit well together – for a flat lay of multiple items, make sure they all have a common link such a colour palette, texture or use
7. Bring out the Blu-tac!
This will be your best friend for pesky circular items that can roll while trying to take the perfect shot! Secure everything so you get exactly the angle you’re after
8. Have fun!
Get experimental and try all kinds of different colours, styles and products to figure out what look works for you
9. Tag us
Join Home Beautiful’s Instagram community and share your creations using the hashtag #hbfridayflatlay
You might also like:
How to style an Insta-worthy bookshelf
5 minutes with stylist, author and man-about-town Mr Jason Grant
How to layer your bed like a stylist
