How to boost flat lay clothes photography business in 2024 – Highly Actionable Guide

This article is your best resource for learning about 2024 trends in flat-lay clothing photography and how to implement them into your own business. Flat lay clothing photos are a simple and efficient method of photographing garments after the ghost mannequin effect has been applied.

In 2023, this trending method of fashion photography will be widely used to illustrate products for online retailers. With less time and effort invested, flat lay clothes photography is becoming increasingly popular among online retailers.

This article will discuss a few easy-to-implement yet highly effective flat lay clothing photography setups. Taking pictures in a flat lay format can be done in many different ways. Because of its inherent ease of use, it works wonderfully for making self-contained, eye-catching visuals.

When looking at an object from a certain angle, it appears flat, as if it were only three dimensions in reality. It is possible to add dimension and definition to forms by employing shadows. If you want a simpler picture, you could, for instance, eliminate the subject’s shadow. From this point of view, Clipping Path CA will prove to be the most effective photo editor that you will require.

A flat lay is an image that has been taken directly from above, giving a bird’s eye view of a collection of objects that have been carefully arranged. This style of photography has never been more popular, particularly in the fields of fashion and food photography.

People are drawn to the flat lay photography style because it is such an efficient method of telling a story. This is one of the reasons why people gravitate toward this type of photography.

The creator of the flat lay has complete control over the composition of the image, which translates to having complete control over the message that is communicated by the image.

Flat lay photography can be defined as a type of photography in which the subject(s) of the photograph are arranged on a flat surface, and the photograph is taken from above.

Anyone can try their hand at the flat lay style of photography at home if they have the right setup and a few straightforward props. Because of this, it is a style of photography that is approachable. It makes your content more relatable by demonstrating how a recipe or project can be completed by anyone with the necessary components and tools.

Since the surface and the lens are parallel from a predetermined distance apart, no angles are displayed. The photograph, on the other hand, depicts a particular angle captured from an analogous vantage point above the plane of the surface.

On various social media platforms, a popular sub-genre of photography is called “bird’s eye view,” which gives the viewer an aerial perspective of the subject being photographed. When operating a small business as an eCommerce business, this is an outstanding way to display the products that are for sale.

Examples of flat lay clothing photography

✔️ Novel, distinctive, and user-friendly

Photography of clothing displayed in a flat lay format is novel, distinctive, and user-friendly. The use of flat-lay product photography in marketing campaigns is also cost-effective. A benefit of flat-lay photography for commercial use is this. The use of flat-lay product photography in marketing campaigns is also cost-effective. A benefit of flat-lay photography for commercial use is this.

✔️ Flat lay photos are engaging

Selling involves more than just individuals. It’s a way for people to share details about their lives, such as what their morning routine is like or the items they always bring on vacation. Through the use of flat lay photography, audiences have been able to gain insight into the lives of their favorite creatives and the places they visit.

With a flat lay, the photographer or designer has total say over the final product and the message it conveys. Everybody can give the flat lay style a shot with just the right equipment and a few basic props. It’s a friendly approach to photography, and it makes your content more approachable by demonstrating that anyone with the right materials can finish a given task.

✔️ Share an experience with the audience

The best flat lays tell a visual story, so decide on a topic and choose a few items to serve as the “stars,” surrounding them with a “supporting cast” of additional elements. Use colors that are in harmony with one another and that complement one another, and try to keep things as simple as possible; often, less is more.

The square layout is the most common one for flat lays, and within that framework, you should strive to create a composition that is uncluttered and simple to understand. Use the rule of thirds as a guide whether you decide to go with a square, portrait, or landscape format. To do this, imagine a naught and crossed grid superimposed on the image and place the elements that are most important in the area roughly where the gridlines intersect.

✔️ A Perspective on Clothes

In this presentation, the clothing perspective is the main attraction. You can’t just take random photos of your clothes and put them up on online retailers’ websites. The next step is to adopt a practical system for representing your wardrobe. The lighting in a flat lay photograph of clothing is crucial in creating a positive first impression. A good catch may occasionally be obscured by a piece of clothing. However, shadows can be added in post-production.

• The camera settings
• Using a tripod
• Lighting kits
• Gear for shooting
• Using a mannequin
• Additional Lens
• Tape with two sides
• Board in white color

① The camera settings

You want to ensure that everything in your flat lay is in sharp focus from front to back, so you want to maximize depth of field. To do this, select aperture priority or manual mode on your camera, and then choose a small aperture, such as f/16. Because of this, you will need to use a slower shutter speed, such as one second. This is another reason to use a tripod, as it ensures that the camera remains rock-steady even during extended exposures, resulting in clear and sharp photographs. Helps. Shooting with a cable release or the self-timer on your camera is a great way to reduce the likelihood of blurry images caused by camera shake.

② Additional Lens

To have multiple options while shooting, it is always recommended to have multiple lenses with different variations available.

③ Using a tripod

You’ll require some height to position your camera above the flat lay. You could stand on a chair or small stepladder and hand-hold the camera directly downwards, but using a tripod will make things significantly simpler and safer – for both you and your equipment! You can buy an accessory side (lateral) arm that attaches to where the tripod head typically fits; you then fix the tripod head and camera to the end of the arm extending over your flat lay. Alternatively, some tripods have a tilting center column that lets you position the camera vertically downwards. You may need to attach some counterweights to the opposite end of the arm to keep the apparatus from toppling over.

④ Lighting kits

It may be challenging to put home-based ideas for clothing photography into practice because most people do not own lighting kits. The light sources should highlight the clothing appropriately so all the essential details can be seen. As a direct consequence of this, you will have no choice but to purchase a lighting kit. The variety with three lights is the most desirable of the bunch. This method allows for the creation of a three-point lighting system. One key light, one back light or hair light, and one fill light make up the three lighting points.

⑤ Board in white color

Because reflectors can be quite expensive, a whiteboard is an excellent substitute. The board can also be used as a backdrop or a platform for your photograph.

⑥ Gear for shooting

When it comes to flat-lay photography, the most important piece of gear is undoubtedly the tripod. You are going to need something that is exceptionally long-lasting. You will need something that allows you to transcend the confines of your subject matter to succeed. Using a conventional tripod will render this task impossible for you to complete. Then, to take good photos of products laid out in a flat-lay format, you will need a professional camera. Naturally, having prior experience is going to give you a significant advantage.

⑦ Using a mannequin

If you work in the clothing industry, you know how challenging it can be to demonstrate how a product will fit accurately. Customers require specific information regarding the three-dimensional shape of a product, which can’t be provided by displays that are flat or folded. Because models are expensive and mannequins can be intimidating, the products being photographed need to be shown being worn to avoid either of these problems.

The use of a mannequin does not in and of itself indicate that the photograph was taken using the flat lay technique. In addition, invisible mannequin photo editing is a technique that can be used to get rid of the mannequin and give the appearance that the garments are floating in space.

⑧ Tape with two sides

This may appear insignificant, but double-sided tape can be a lifesaver when needed. It is ideal for when you need to secure a clothing item to a platform for it to remain still.

① Establish the setting first.

Take care when selecting the background for your flat-lay photo. Do not be afraid to experiment with different colors and textures, such as wood, corkboard, fabric, or wallpaper – whatever matches the theme of your flat lay. Although plain white is very popular and often extremely effective, do not be afraid to experiment with other colors and textures.

② Make sure the lighting is perfect.

The use of natural daylight yields excellent results and will significantly cut down on shadows, which are the bane of flat lays. Place yourself in front of a window that faces either the north or the east for a gentle, diffuse light; the brighter light that comes through windows facing the south or west is more likely to cast shadows. The creation of a “closed set” by positioning boards that are matt white or gray around your set-up is yet another method for avoiding shadows.

Additionally, using a burst of bounce flash from an accessory Speedlight that is angled up to the ceiling will also help reduce the likelihood of shadows.

However, shadows can sometimes add to the overall effect of your flat lay, so it is important to experiment to determine what works best to achieve the desired effect.

③ Putting clothes in order

There are a lot of do-it-yourself solutions that you can use to help maximize the improvements to your flat lay photography. The most fundamental strategies include utilizing matching positioning, organizing a collection of handbags, or arranging a tablecloth.

If there are a lot of clothes, put them all in one place and arrange them so that they are appropriate. Alternatively, you could form a line with the garments so that they appear to be neatly arranged. Additionally, this is essential for the ideas of flat lay photography for clothes.

④ Make use of folded clothing for either one or many

Another thing that can help with photography is folding your clothes in a specific pattern. At a glance, you will be able to see everything that is in your possession. Ideas for a clothing flat lay include “filing” your shirts, jeans, sweaters, and socks vertically and standing them up, respectively. To achieve an appealing appearance, you can, of course, put your imaginative skills to use.

⑤ Hanging over a hanger

Although not technically considered flat lay photography, photographing garments while they are hung from a hanger is an important technique. The most important distinction is that, rather than laying down, you will need to hang the garments on the wall. Because the shoulder is holding it and the neck, the appearance of the garment will also be a little bit different when it is hung from the hanger. However, after taking a photograph, they appear almost identical.

⑥ Placed in a horizontal position on a flat surface

The first thing you need to do is lay the garment or clothing out on a completely flat surface. To maintain the garment’s stability, you must use a tough and rough cloth or mat. To begin, items of clothing, such as jackets, suits, padded bras, and the like, do not require hard cloth below. Nevertheless, the background of the clothing in a flat lay photograph is an essential component of the perfect capture. You can choose to do it yourself or hire someone to help you remove the background later.

① Iron Clothing for a Professional Appearance

• Wrinkles need to be ironed out
• Re-iron it if needed during the photoshoot

You have to give careful attention to the fact that the wrinkles in your clothes need to be ironed out. Therefore, before you begin shooting, you should make sure to plug in your iron or steamer and remove any wrinkles from the clothing.

Even if you iron your clothes before you wear them, the garments might still end up looking wrinkled even after you smooth them out. Even if you are in the process of styling an item of clothing, it is essential to iron it and re-iron it as needed.

Don’t worry about ironing the items while you’re working on decorating your flat lay set. You’ll be photographing the clothes on a flat surface, so thankfully this won’t be too difficult of a task for you. If you want to avoid wasting time by having to retake the photos, you should make sure that the garments in your flat lay photos are wrinkle-free.

② Naturalize Clothing

• Show the natural pattern of the cloths
• Highlight the distinctive qualities
• Actual pattern coverage

Flat lay photography of clothing allows you to see and feel the differences between fabrics. You will notice that the appearance and texture of various fabrics vary from one another when doing a flat lay photo session of different articles of clothing. In comparison to cotton and satin, wool possesses several distinguishable qualities. This will be immediately apparent in the photographs you take.

However, this is not a problem because this is the scarf in its most natural state. You are not showing what the actual product looks like because it appears smooth because you ironed the garment. Make sure that the distinctive qualities of the fabric used in the garment are highlighted.

③ Check Your White Balance

• The colors of the clothing are captured accurately
• Use Adobe RAW or Lightroom
• Make the necessary adjustments

Getting the color balance right is one of the most important things you need to focus on when taking photos of flat lays. When it comes to taking flat-lay photographs of fashion items, you need to ensure that the colors of the clothing are captured accurately. You don’t want to hear complaints from customers saying that the color of the actual product is different from what was pictured on the website.

Going to the White Balance section in either Adobe RAW or Lightroom is all that is required of you once you have reached the editing phase of the process. Choose the Eyedropper tool, and then use it to click on the card that is gray in the image. After that, the information from the card is read by your editing program, which then makes the necessary adjustments to the white balance of the image.

④ Details should be shown

•  Light your clothes from a lower angle
• Shadows give your picture depth
• Use ISO 100-200
• Aperture between f/11 and f/16

The products are only things that are seen in flat lay photographs. So details of the products must be shown.

Light your clothes from a lower angle to ensure they stand out from the background. By doing this, you can add some shadows to the wrinkles that are already there. These shadows give your picture depth and make the textures of the clothes stand out.

Change the settings on your camera to get a clear picture. The best ISO setting is somewhere between 100 and 200. Because the least amount of image noise is made by these values. If you use a high ISO, your photos will be grainy, which will lower their quality.

For aperture, anything between f/11 and f/16 is best. These values have a deep depth of field, giving the sharpest results.

✔️ Foam core or white posterboard

Just take my word for it that you’ll need a bunch of these. Get some at the dollar store and you’ll be grateful to me forever. If you want your products to stand out, put them on a white background. They can also be used as easy-to-prop reflectors. The rigidity of the boards allows you to permanently attach fabrics to them by stretching them over the boards and securing them with binder clips or fabric glue. Whiteboards can be painted any color or texture you like. You can easily bring them along to photoshoots because of how light they are.

✔️ Fabric

Use a variety of fabrics such as silk, linen, velvet, and burlap. When choosing fabric, it’s best to do so in natural light, so place samples next to a window at the fabric store. Photography looks great on textured fabrics. To avoid the distracting effect of moire, which can occur when photographing highly detailed fabrics with a digital camera, you’ll need to exercise caution. If you run into this issue, try using a wide aperture or film.

✔️ Used lumber purchased at garage sales

My stock of barn wood includes many pieces of different widths. If the boards are bulky or difficult to transport, or if you want to have options for how to use them, you can keep them in separate containers. Two 1x2s and some screws can also be used to keep them from coming apart. My go-to firework storage backdrop is an old wooden crate with a black finish.

✔️ Chalkboard (or chalkboard poster board)

You can’t beat the richness of the black background you get with chalkboard poster paper. It has a high matte finish, making it ideal for diffusing light and disguising the background. Rolls of it are sold in hobby shops.

✔️ Gift wrap

When shopping, I always give the wrapping paper a cursory glance to see if anything good is hiding there. I prefer unobtrusive designs, so I seek out plain, matte papers. I think wrapping paper is the best gift wrap option because it is cheap, lightweight, and versatile.

• If at all possible, position your flat lay so that it is near a window.
• Depending on the position of the windows in your home, the time of day that you choose for the photo shoot could be an important consideration.
• Make the most of the natural light coming in through the window by positioning a reflector or bounce board directly across from it.
• A great do-it-yourself bounce board can be made out of a piece of foam board or white poster board.
• Alternatively, you could make a lightbox on your own.
• If the light coming through your windows isn’t sufficient, you can use an artificial light that is angled in a diagonally downward direction toward your arrangement.
• You can achieve more even lighting by using a diffuser to soften the light and placing a reflector or bounce board directly across from it.

① Find a surface that is level

Photographs of flat lays can be taken on a dining or coffee table, a desk, the cushion of a couch, your bed, or the floor. As long as the surface you’re shooting on is reasonably flat, you’ll be off to a good start when it comes to your shooting.

When there are many items laid out against a background that is blank and free of distracting patterns or textures, flat lay photography works well. If the surface you are working on is not neutral in color or texture, look for a baking sheet, use the natural texture of your table, or look for a piece of foam core that is neutral in color to place over your flat surface.

② Arrange Your Items in the Space You Have

A great photograph will have motion captured within the confines of the frame. The strategic placement of objects and the use of light are the keys to producing motion in a flat lay.

Instead of placing all of your objects in the middle of the shot with a border of negative space surrounding them, arrange your objects in such a way that they overflow out of the frame and only parts of some objects are in the frame. This is an alternative approach to object placement to placing all of your objects in the center of the shot with a border of space surrounding them. This stimulates the viewer’s imagination and makes them feel as though they are only seeing a fragment of a larger scene, which encourages them to think about what is happening outside the confines of the frame.

③ Develop Depth Through the Use of Layers

If your frame is looking a little too flat, one great way to add depth and movement to it is through the use of layers. You can create the illusion of depth by stacking plates of varying sizes and placing your primary subject on top of the stack. For even more dimension and texture, place a towel or cloth under the plate you are using as a base. You could also look for things that already have a natural tendency to be closer to the camera, as well as things that are shorter when they are laid out on your surface.

④ Get High

Taking the photo at an angle that is parallel to the flat surface you are using is the most important step in creating a great flat lay. To accomplish this, you will need to position yourself so that you are directly above your subject. To achieve this, you might need to use a step stool or shoot your items while they are placed on the ground. This will allow you to position your camera so that it is directly above your scene.

⑤ Keep your photo from looking too cluttered

Find a middle ground between an empty scene and one that is too crowded. Too much white space or unnecessary additions are two common blunders I see. It’s great to get creative with your props, but remember that they shouldn’t detract from your main focus.

⑥ Put in some context, some color, some texture

With the flexibility that comes from shooting flat-lay images, you can easily experiment with new concepts. You have a lot of room for original thought. The colors you use or the atmosphere you build around them should reflect the desired effect. Fabric, paper clippings, confetti, and other rogue materials add important textural variety.

Tall objects that are most visually interesting when viewed from the side are not ideal flat lay props. Lift and tilt a tall prop toward the camera if you need to use it. Perspective and distortion can be corrected with this.

Why ‘Clipping Path CA’ is the best company for flat lay photography editing?

In the field of outsourcing and highly skilled image editing, Clipping Path CA has made a name for itself on the global stage. Some tweaks are required for every image. The modification gives the impression that much higher-quality equipment was used to capture the images. With clipping path CA, flat lay photography advice will be even better. Clipping Path CA is responsible for handling this.

✔️ Easy-to-navigate service providers

If the completed work satisfies you and you’re happy with it, then you can give us the green light and finish the project details. In order to meet your deadline, we will immediately begin working on your assignment.

✔️ Attempt It! Totally Free

If you’re interested in trying out our services, fill out the Free Trial form on our site and send us some sample images. A number of images can be submitted in a short amount of time. Our demo version’s upload process is simple and takes very little time to complete.

✔️ When do you plan on taking pictures?

We will return your photos to you within the promised time frame. To get the pictures, save them to your computer. Make sure to let us know if there are any other changes that need to be made. Whatever painting repairs need to be done, we’ll do it.

✔️ Timeliness of one’s responses

Our response time is quick. Because of this, you can expect to receive a reply email from us within the next 15 minutes. The next step is for you to send us the photos you’d like us to alter. If you are not confident in our abilities at first, you are welcome to request a trial period with us. In order to edit your photos, please send us a few examples and specific instructions. After that, you’ll decide if you think we can pull it off.

✔️Control over time

We understand the importance of upholding your reputation and the duties you have taken on, and we appreciate your efforts to do so. As a result, we will be able to realize our objectives. You can have faith that Clipping Path CA will finish your project to your satisfaction.

✔️ Communication

We believe that good communication is essential when it comes to creating high-quality work. Since this is the case, we consider it crucial to keep lines of communication open with our intended demographic at all times. to help us understand their perspective and the method they plan to convey the image. When you have a firm grasp on how people think, editing becomes much simpler.

✔️ Revisions

Make as many changes as you see fit if you don’t like the editing we did. We’ll do it again if you’re unsatisfied with the revised version.

 

Questions and Answers for clothing flat lay photography