Stacklay Tutorial #1

HI EVERYONE!
I have been asked a lot over the last several months
"how do you make those amazing stacks"?
"What's your secret to stacklays"??

So I really want to give you all a quick tutorial. I will be doing my best to make several tutorials about stacklays and also one for flatlays.
They both really excentuate small shop items and it is a great way to advertise products.
It has also been a lovely artistic outlet for myself.
As a mother with two young children, let's face it, I can't paint or draw these days. Usually, I have a baby crawling around me while I make these and I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Alright, if you're still with me, scroll on down...
The photos will be in order of how I put the stack together!

Feel free to contact me on Instagram (@mamaholzhauer + @che.bella.bows)

Okay, so first things first, pick the items you want to use for your STACK!
I usually think, okay what do I want River and/or Elijah to wear for their rep photos and then I go from there.
This particular set up is quite simple, because I really want to focus on the gorgeous sparkle bow as the focal point of the photos. 

After taking the first flat lay photo I realized I needed a teether or an accessory to tie it all together.
This donut teether I made last week has the right colors and it doesn't take over and overshadow the bow I need to photograph.

Sometimes, I use cardboard or blocks to prop of the clothing otherwise the clothes lay too flat and don't create the photo that I want.

This time it worked to just use one block to stabilize the stack. 

The block is in place. And it is almost ready to tuck the sides under...

Here is the little dress all folded and tucked in nicely.
One of the secrets of making the perfect stack: what's going on in the back doesn't matter

Now we add the bow.

(((((This bow is from @ellebellebaby on Instagram and Etsy!
Use code
FRIENDOFEBB
at checkout on Etsy for a discount and mention River sent you)))))

Now we add the shoes and make sure they are balanced and also holding the bow in place so it doesn't slide down unless I want it to. 

Next, I carefully balance the teether on the shoes.

The most important thing to remember is the base of the stack makes the stack!

If the base is crooked or lumpy and unstable, the stack will fall down. 

Now for the fun part!! 

I would not be able to do this if I didn't rest my elbow on my knee.
It's far too difficult to keep still to get the clear shot. 

My husband took these fun shots!  

Trying to snap the perfect photo!  

The angle of this photo ^ Makes it look like I am not holding the book level, but I am..

I usually take 16-20 photos and pick the best one.
Can you guess which one that is from this photo?

I pay close attention to the tiniest of details

LEFT PHOTO:
 The edges of the bow are overlapping over the shoes. I don't like that. I like the edges to be clear and free. Especially when it is the focal point of the stack.
Also the shoes needed to move over just a tiny bit to the right.
And I shifted the camera over a little to give a slightly better angle.

RIGHT PHOTO:

If you compare it to the photo on the left, it is just slightly different. But for me, it's the tiny details that drastically improve my stacks!
I moved the bow down just a tiny bit and adjusted the shoes and the teether.

I also like there to be as few gaps or spaces as possible between items, like the shoes and teether. I try to squish them as close together as I can. Sometimes, light/the wall shining through cannot be helped. But I try to minimize the spaces.
 I also edited the right photo.
I use the UNUM app
I can plan out my Instagram posts but also edit each photo within the app.

For this photo--

I upped the exposure by 6
Lessened the warmth by 13
upped the highlights by 14
brightened the photo by 15
and upped the saturation by 12

Most of my stacklay editing is similar. Lowering the warmth helps the photo appear whiter and more crisp in color vs a warmer tone, which turns whites to appear a cream/tan color.

I hope these explanations help you out.

Feel free to email me
Che.bella.bows@gmail.com
anytime with questions

Or find me on Instagram and send me a message! I love to help others perfect their photography skills!

HERE IT IS!
The finished stack!!! I love it! It's a very simple little stack, But sometimes, those are the best kinds!


Here's River in the outfit that goes with this stack!! MY amazing photographer took this

HMD - Photos Mankato

HMD PHOTOS

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@MAMAHOLZHAUER
+
@CHE.BELLA.BOWS

FOR MORE STACKS AND FUN PHOTOS!