Over the past few months, I’ve had several bloggers ask me questions about my blog photography. I really appreciate receiving these questions and I’m always willing to answer them! While I definitely don’t consider myself to be a photography or flatlay expert, I’ve learned quite a lot about it in the (fifteen?) months I’ve been blogging. Today I thought I’d compile a list of the most common questions that I receive.

What do you use for your flatlay background? 

For most of my flatlays, I use marble laminate as my background. (I actually wrote a post about the different backgrounds I’ve used a while back if you want to check that out!) Personally, I find laminate to be the easiest background to use. It’s lightweight, so you can move it from place to place without trouble. Plus, you can roll it up for easy, space saving storage. I know a lot of bloggers who use laminate like to mount it to a piece of cardboard, but for me it is a lot less hassle to just roll it out when I need it.

What are some of your favorite blog props? 

I have a lot of favorite blog props! If I had to narrow it down, I’d say that my top favorites are decorative notebooks, candles, sequins, and makeup. Makeup is probably my all-time favorite because it tends to photograph well. Plus, it allows me to get more use out of my expensive products.

Do you edit your photos? 

Yes, I do edit my blog photos! I didn’t actually start editing them until last summer, but once I realized what a huge difference it can make, I never left my photos untouched again. My favorite editing platforms are BeFunky and Facetune. BeFunky is great for making the colors in my flatlays appear brighter and livelier, whereas Facetune helps me achieve cleaner, whiter looking marble. Editing is one of the most important changes I’ve made to improve my blog photos and I highly recommend trying it. It may take a while to find an editing style you like, but once you do you’ll be amazed by how great it is.

Do you shoot photos with your phone? 

I shoot all of my photos on a digital camera from Samsung. (I would link the camera, but it’s an old, discontinued model). I think IPhone photography is just as great as photography on a camera like mine, but it’s easier for me storage wise to take photos on a camera. (Am I the only one who never seems to have storage space on their phone?)

Where do you like to buy blog props? 

One thing I’ve learned about blog photography is you can use almost anything as a blog prop. A lot of the items that I use on a regular basis are things that I had well before I started taking flatlays. When I do purchase items to use specifically as props, I like to go to craft stores, dollar stores, or places like T.J. Maxx. I find a lot of interesting notebooks, faux flowers, and sequins in these stores.

How long does it take you to set up a flatlay?

It honestly depends on a lot of different factors. If I’m in a photography mood, it takes a lot less time for me to get a flatlay right. But if I’m not feeling it, it can take quite a while. I’m definitely the type of person who’s very nit picky with my photos. If I don’t like even the slightest part of a flatlay, I re-shoot the entire thing, which can take a pretty long amount of time. I’d say that my photography sessions usually last between 40-60 minutes. I like to take photos in large bursts, so I’ll end up shooting several flatlays in this time frame.

Where do you take your photos?

I take my photos on my floor directly under a set of windows. The spot that I normally go to is in the corner of my bedroom with the windows being on either side of the wall. I think this is a great place because the light comes in from two different directions, giving me the ideal amount of light.

Do you use a soft box? 

No, I currently don’t use a soft box. I’m definitely thinking about getting one though, especially with the winter dreariness coming up. Taking blog photos can be a nightmare when it’s dark outside all the time, so I think it would be a good investment. On nice, sunny days, natural lighting works perfectly fine for me. It’s all a matter of finding what you personally like in your pictures.

That concludes this post! Once again, I really appreciate receiving these questions. If you have anything else you’d like to know, never hesitate to ask!

Are there any questions you have that I didn’t mention? 

Sincerely,

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