Flat Lay Photography: See, Arrange, Create

Flat lay is a unique practice in photography, where the creator is invited to work with a perspective unusual to the human eye, more akin to that of a bird in flight. In this form of still life photography, gravity plays an essential role in holding each object in place. Similar to painting, the photographer is in full control of every aspect of the frame. In flat lay photography, there is no decisive moment to capture. The mission is to organize objects in space to create a dynamic composition, bringing life to the inanimate. 

This fun and accessible online workshop is led by Charles Sammann, a photographer and set designer based in Brooklyn, NY. Charles approaches his still life work with a designer’s eye and a storyteller’s sensibility, finding graphic beauty in the overlooked and ordinary. Whether arranging tools, fruit, or fragments of daily life, he treats each object as both subject and character, building images that feel fresh, balanced, and full of energy. His practice extends beyond photography into set design and prop styling, but at its core is always the same pursuit: uncovering unexpected connections between objects and transforming them into striking visual compositions.

Over four sessions, you are guided through a series of lectures, live demonstrations, and assignments that help you develop the ability to look at everyday objects for their graphic qualities, shapes, colors, and textures. You explore and experiment with the fundamentals of light, composition, and form. Objects become props, surfaces become backgrounds, coming together to create dynamic, graphic imagery. By the end of the workshop, you gain confidence in arranging and photographing objects from your own perspective, creating images that reflect your unique vision and creative voice.