If you don’t have a product-based business, it can be an ongoing challenge to come up with ideas for visuals, especially when you’ve been going a while!
As well as using yourself in your imagery, an easy win is to mix it up by using flatlay (top down) photos that are in keeping with your brand and values. Over time, you can start to build up a varied supply of photos that truly represent you.
In this post we look at some ideas for what to include in your flatlays to kickstart your inspiration. (If you’re a Fledgling or Songbird member, you can download our template for planning your photography shoot list from the Vault).
Ideas for hero elements
A hero element is the main focus of your photo – where someone’s eye naturally lands when they look at it. If you asked someone what the photo was about, or you were writing ALT text (see our sister company’s post on How To Write Great ALT Text Descriptions For Accessibility and SEO) for it, it would be about that item. For example:
Your business card
Have your business card printed in different sizes, colours and shapes to change things up. Utilising different angles, additional props and backgrounds can also create very different looks.
You could even use it as a “watermark” or subtle easter egg by having it partially peeking out of a book or as part of a mix of other props.
Your website on a tablet
This can be done in a variety of different ways, for example you holding a tablet in front of you (pick a good nail colour/style that suits your brand), resting on a table or sofa with other elements that represent your brand, you holding the tablet with the photo taken over your shoulder, or partially covered by flowers or a plant.
A screenshot can be added after in Photoshop if there’s too much glare – take a shot of the screen just black instead. This also makes your images more versatile, so you can use screenshots of different pages, social media channels or websites as you need.
A branded mug or bag
If you don’t have your logo, slogan or brand phrases on any physical items, you can use a plain item and Photoshop it in later. We have plenty of plain props at the Createry, including mugs, tote bags and even pennants.
These can add a personal, custom feel to your flatlay and also makes it more noticeable if people take it!
Mockups for testimonials
Pointing at your laptop, or having your laptop screen as the main focus of the image, creates an easy blank canvas for you to add quotes and testimonials in Photoshop later. Simply draw a white rectangle over the top of the screen and add your text accordingly.
Your go-to tools
Any and all equipment associated with what you do, e.g. computer, microphone, purse, kitchen gadgets, makeup brushes – the main day-to-day items that you use for your business.
Planning/organisation items
Pens, notebooks, to do list pads, small clipboards, sticky notes, interesting paperclips, and attractive push pins work for nearly all businesses.
Check out our stacks of props in the photography studio – we have lots of stuff you can use in a range of different colours.
Objects that represent time
A concept that feels almost universally relevant, photos representing time are also super useful to notify people of limited-time offers or sales. You could use small clocks, traditional brass alarm clocks, or sand timers.
Any relevant printables
For example, if you help people organise their space or business, maybe you use checklists that you could print and show a partial look of in your photos. Or if you create worksheets, ebooks, opt-ins or similar, you could incorporate those too.
Awards
If you’ve received any awards for your business, showcasing them in a flatlay or side-view shot can boost your credibility and authority. This works well coupled with a caption of how you felt at the time or how your business has grown or changed since.
Ideas for space fillers
Space fillers are secondary items that add interest to your photo and support the elements of the story you’re trying to tell without being the main feature. These could be things like:
Small items that represent you/your business
Tarot cards, small succulents, your phone, crystals, small stationery items, and so on. These can be placed around or offset your hero element.
Ideally they should be different colours to your hero element, so it stands out against them.
Items that represent a textural feel of your brand
When you’re a service provider, your business doesn’t typically connote a sense of touch, so photography gives you a way to express it in your brand.
For example, flowers and chunky throws create a soft look, whereas solid desks and laptops with hard lines have a more serious vibe.
Open books
These tend to work best as space fillers (unless you’re an author!) so it doesn’t just look like you’re advertising or recommending a particular book. But if books are your thing, a big stack can work well too. Take advantage of spines for a more neutral feel, or use a rainbow colour palette in the background of your shot to add interest without detracting from the main focus.
Need more options? Our coworking floor bookshelf and cupboard give you plenty to choose from!
Different heights
Having plants, stacks, stands, frames, or other things that introduce different heights gives you more options for having elements in or out of focus, and can help bring a soft look or add more interest to your photos.
Representing feelings
Something that represents how people feel when they work with you – a lovely hot drink, a nice blanket, small candle or similar – subconsciously attracts people to you through your imagery.
Suggestions of authority
Objects to represent your knowledge and position add an extra flair to your photos and help create a sense of trust. These could be things like carefully chosen books, a pair of glasses, or even a small owl or bee trinket if you’re looking for something different.
Hobby items
It doesn’t have to be all strictly business – you could also include items in your flatlays that represent your own hobbies, such as pop culture figures/ornaments or retro cameras. If music is your thing, attractive headphones can add interest to your photo. Check out the wall of headphones in our podcast studio and borrow some you like the look of.
Ideas for themes
If you’re not exactly sure what types of photos you want, or you struggle to make them look cohesive for your website or social media, having a specific theme can help. Here are some theme ideas to kickstart your inspiration:
Your go-to scenes
What does your natural work habitat look like? Overhead shots of you working at your laptop, sitting in a yoga studio, or on a sofa surrounded by books is a different twist on a flatlay, and also means the focus is on the environment for a more flatlay feel. Or bring the outside in with particular plants or flowers you love.
Seasonal
Although it’s an obvious one, pairing traditional seasonal colours and elements to your style can help lead you back to a sense of unity in your photos. For example, if your Instagram grid leans more toward light and airy, thinking in terms of spring may inspire you. If cosy comfort is the first thing you think of when you see your business, warm autumn tones may be more your thing. Love bright colours? Maybe a summer feel is your go-to.
Thinking in terms of seasons can help you brainstorm prop ideas for photos, and clarify your choice of colours. But of course you don’t have to stick with just one season – you can transition through in the best way that works for you.
Invoking a sense of community
Having elements that invoke the idea of community, collaboration, or support can subconsciously make a big difference. For example, instead of including one coffee mug in your shot, include two or three. If you work with young children, include a bottle or sippy cup along with the mugs, or some wooden alphabet blocks.
A signature element
You could create a tradition of having something in each shot that represents you, e.g. something in a specific shade of green, a specific shape, or something in the shape of your logo (a triangle or animal).
Implementing non-negotiables
Set must-haves specific to your brand type – for example, if you’re an eco conscious person, having natural elements/items instead of plastic, or if your business says luxe, including feathers and faux fur somewhere in your styling.
And that’s a wrap! I hope you found some ideas here to kickstart your inspiration. If you’d like to book the Createry photography studio or coworking floor for flatlays or brand shoots, you can find all the information via the navigation bar at the top of the page.