Welcome to week three! This week we are actually going to tap into some of the design skills you learned in Jay’s class last year + our knowledge of light and composition to create a flat lay!
You have seen flat lay styled photos all over, here are a few examples (not taken by me, these are from the internet):
Basically, a flat lay is a photo taken on a flat surface, with the camera above and paralell to the surface. You lay out the items in an artistic way that is pleasing to the eye, you follow some good lighting techniques so you don’t have wonky shadows and BAM you have a simple, pleasing flat lay photograph! These are often used to take pictures to show how to style outfits and accesories or to advertise clothing for sale:
A flat lay is often used by bookstagrammers to show their latest read, or by crafters to show off their latest project:
Finally, you’ll often see the flat lay technique in food photography!
This week I’m going to ask you to create ONE of your three photos in the style of a flat lay photograph. You can choose for your other two photos if you would like to do a flat lay or if you would like to continue to build your skills with portraits, landscape, composition etc. and take a photo in that style. The photo that I am requiring become a flat lay is photo #1, the photo of your favorite color.
An example of a flat lay that showcases a favorite color would be this one:
Because I do not have a tutorial for this style photo on my website, instead I would like you to read through all of this article very carefully:
READ THIS ARTICLE BEFORE YOU START
This article is written in a very casual conversational style but don’t just skim, she shares good tips throughout on how to capture a beautiful flat lay. After you have read the article go on to take your three photos for the week!
Photos To Create:
PHOTO ONE: Favorite color. For this assignment gather a bunch of stuff from around your house that is in your favorite color. Think, school supplies, craft supplies, toys, books, food … whatever it is but in a shade of your favorite color. You must promise me to put all these random things back where they belong so that your mom doesn’t get annoyed, ok?? Create a flat lay image of these items in your favorite color. Please use a white or colored poster board or foam core for your backdrop.
PHOTO TWO: This photo will be of a food you love or foods that you love. Work with your mom on this one because you need to be flexible — if your favorite food is steak but your mom only makes steak for a special occassion then be willing to choose your next favorite food 😀 This can be a photo of a prepared dish like soup or spaghetti, or it could be a picture of a store-bought food like candy or chips. Your food photo could be a ton of cucumbers or a single popsicle, the only rule is that you use good light and composition to take a photo of your food (you may choose flat lay style as your composition if you would like). Remember, LIGHT is #1 important so taking a picture of the brownies you made for dessert at 9 p.m. isn’t going to cut it because you will not have good light. This is also not a job for your mom, if she doesn’t want to make your favorite mashed potatoes then YOU get to make the mashed potatoes for photos (with her permission). Don’t tell her that Marcie said she had to make mashed potatoes so you could take a picture of it!
PHOTO THREE: This photo will represent a thing or things that you are super grateful for. You could create a flat lay of a bunch of small things that represent what you are grateful for OR you can take a photo of a person, place or object that represents something you are grateful for. The journal prompt for this is to write about at least 35 things you are grateful for right now in your life so if you’re feeling wild and crazy find up to 35 small things that represent your gratitude and put them together like a collage/”I Spy” picture and do it that way!
JOURNAL ONE: You will be journaling about your favorite color. What memories or feelings do you associate with your favorite color? Is there a specific moment or memory that makes you think of this color? Does your favorite color have any symbolism or emotions commonly associated with it? Do you agree with those symbols/meanings? Where do you come across this color in your home or community? How long has it been your favorite color? Why did you choose this color?
JOURNAL TWO: What is your favorite food? Has it always been your favorite? Do you remember the first time you tasted it? Is there any cultural or family history significance to your favorite food? Does your favorite food play into any family traditions? When do you eat this food? Do you eat it often? Does it remind you of any happy memories? What other foods do you love? What is your favorite comfort food? Celebration food? Favorite thing to cook? Favorite meal your mom makes all the time?
JOURNAL THREE: It’s gratitude month and I love, love counting my thankfuls. Sit down and brainstorm at least 35 SPECIFIC things that you are grateful for. In other words writing “My mom” isn’t going to cut it. I know you’re grateful for your mom, I need you to tell me WHY. So if you say “My mom is patient when math is stupid” then that’s perfect! Enjoy your list! I hope writing it fills you with joy.
BONUS:
This is our last class until January. For every photo AND corresponding bonus entry you create between now and our next class I will give you $10 vanbucks. That is a LOT of money, but I really believe this is a valuable project and I recognize the time it takes to craft an intentional photo AND write a quality journal entry, especially over the busy holiday season.
Your canva book can have up to 90+ pages (and still cost the same amount as our 20ish page book we’ll be printing) so you can make MANY more entries in your book if you would like!
Just so you don’t duplicate a future class assignment, here are the journaling topics we will be covering in the new year: Hobbies, dream job, a product you love, what makes you laugh, how you like to exercise/move your body and favorite thing to do with your family.
Here are some ideas for your photo journaling extra credit assignments over the holidays (you are not limited to these ideas):
Your favorite ornament on the christmas tree — what is the story behind it
Your favorite book — create a flat lay for it (here is a blog post about book flat lay ideas)
Your grandparents — take their photo and write all about them
Do a page for each of your siblings, take a beautiful photo of them
Favorite holiday traditions
Favorite season (this one can be tricky to get a photo of, how can you use your creativity here?)
What is a goal you are working on? How can you take a picture to represent it
What is a big challenge you have overcome?
What makes you proud of yourself?
What is one of your daily habits?
What was your favorite childhood toy?
Who is your hero?
What is your favorite song or style of music?
And anything else you can come up with! Remember, in order to get the $10 vanbucks you need to send me the photo + the journaling. As always, the journaling should be at least 275 words. Photo needs to demonstrate effort to create good light and composition 🙂
