Flat lays are a powerful tool for content creators, small businesses, and Instagram enthusiasts alike. Clean, visually satisfying, and story-driven, they allow you to present products, ideas or moods in a beautifully stylised way. But as simple as they might look, there’s real technique behind a great flat lay, and it all starts with thoughtful styling, balanced lighting, and the right kit.
In this blog post, we’re breaking down everything you need to know to take your flat lays from average to eye-catching. Whether you're photographing for a brand, building your personal aesthetic, or simply sharing your latest creative moment, these tips will help you shoot like a pro, especially when paired with smart, reliable tools like Kenro’s Smart Lites and tripods.
Begin with the Story
A strong flat lay starts with a story. Are you showing off your desk setup? Unboxing your latest purchase? Sharing your daily skincare ritual? Defining this story before you style helps create a clear and cohesive layout.
Pick one central item that everything else can revolve around - this could be a journal, a beauty product, or even a plate of food. Then select supporting props with intention. Keep colours, textures and tone consistent across the whole setup to maintain visual harmony.
Think of your flat lay as a visual sentence. Each object is a word, and together they should make sense.
Lighting Makes the Difference
Lighting is one of the most important parts of flat lay photography. It affects everything from the clarity of your shot to the mood it conveys. While daylight can be useful, it’s often inconsistent, especially if you’re shooting throughout the day or in changing weather.
That’s why so many creators opt for reliable, adjustable artificial lighting, like the Kenro Smart Lite Bi-Colour Compact Panel. This light gives you full control over brightness and colour temperature, helping you create soft, shadow-free light in any space. The compact size makes it easy to position close to your subject for even, flattering results.
Want to add creative flair or shoot in more stylised colour palettes? The Kenro Smart Lite 19" RGB Ring Light Kit offers a wide range of vibrant colour options and effects, ideal for beauty, fashion, or editorial-style content. Soft, even light is essential to make textures, colours, and details pop and Kenro’s Smart Lites give you that consistency every time.
Perfect Your Overhead Angle with a Tripod
Capturing a clean, top-down shot is harder than it looks, especially if you’re holding your camera or phone above your setup. A secure, adjustable tripod is one of the best investments you can make for flat lay photography.
The Kenro Karoo 3-in-1 Photo & Video Tripod Kit offers the stability and flexibility you need. With smooth pan and tilt controls, adjustable legs and a platform that adjusts vertically up to 90 degrees, as well as a centre column that can be inserted horizontally for distinctive horizontal axis shots, it’s easy to set up the perfect overhead composition without straining or introducing camera shake.
If you’re using your phone, simply add the Kenro Smartphone Adapter for a secure, hands-free shooting experience. This setup frees you to style and adjust your layout without needing to touch your camera each time.
A stable top-down shot not only looks more professional, it saves you time and allows for better focus, framing and sharpness.
Nail Your Composition
Composition is what separates a “nice” flat lay from a brilliant one. A strong layout has flow, balance, and purpose. Start by placing your main object slightly off-centre and use smaller items to lead the viewer’s eye around the frame.
Keep spacing even, avoid clutter, and embrace negative space, it helps your composition breathe and highlights your hero items. Use the rule of thirds, or even sketch a rough layout before you begin to guide your styling.
Backgrounds also matter. Wooden surfaces, linen cloths, painted boards or marble-effect backdrops can set the tone for your flat lay while keeping it simple and elegant. Don’t forget to keep colour palettes in check, a limited palette often has the most visual impact.
Even subtle shifts in object placement or orientation can completely change the feel of your image, so take your time to adjust and review between shots.
Add Depth with Layers and Levels
Despite the term “flat lay,” your image doesn’t have to be totally flat. Adding height variation and layering elements helps create dimension and interest.
Try placing paper on fabric, stacking books or props, or subtly lifting smaller items with hidden risers like bottle caps or small boxes. These simple tricks catch light and shadow more effectively, giving your flat lay a more dynamic, lifelike appearance.
If you’re using directional lighting, like the angled beam from a Kenro panel light, these changes can add softness and depth that makes your composition feel far more intentional.
Edit Lightly and Consistently
A well-shot flat lay needs only minimal editing. The goal is to enhance, not fix, what you’ve already created. Adjust brightness, contrast and white balance to keep colours accurate and shadows soft. Crop to a square (1:1) or portrait ratio (4:5) to suit Instagram’s layout.
Try to maintain a consistent editing style across your images to build a recognisable look. Using Lightroom pre-sets or batch editing tools can save time while keeping your feed cohesive.
It’s also worth keeping your lighting and shooting setup consistent. Using the same tripod and light kit helps ensure continuity between shoots, even if you're photographing on different days.
Make Your Setup Work for You
One of the best things you can do as a content creator is build a reliable, repeatable flat lay setup. Having tools like an overhead tripod, continuous lighting and a secure phone or camera mount means you can spend less time fighting with logistics, and more time styling and shooting.
Whether you’re shooting for clients, crafting reels, or just curating your own aesthetic, these tools help you work faster, smarter, and with far more control.
Final Thoughts
Flat lay photography is an incredibly versatile format whether you're a lifestyle blogger, small business owner, or content creator looking to build a stronger brand presence on Instagram. But to get consistently beautiful results, it's not just about styling. It's about control. Control over light, composition, and shooting angle.
With thoughtful planning, simple techniques, and the right tools, you can create stunning flat lays that engage your audience and elevate your content.
Explore the essentials that make flat lay photography simple and impactful:
📸 Kenro Smart Lite Collection
🎥 Kenro Tripods
💡 Bi-Colour Compact Panel Light
🌈 RGB Ring Light Kit
Tag @KenroLtd in your flat lay creations or use #CapturedWithKenro for a chance to be featured on our Instagram or TikTok.
