Flat Lay Photography Manchester
A stylish, editorial alternative to ghost mannequin — garments steamed, styled and shot from directly above on a clean background. Perfect for tees, knitwear, kidswear and full styled outfits.
Flat lay work.
A selection of real flat lay photography shot at our Manchester studio. Click any image to view it full size.
What is flat lay photography?
Flat lay photography styles a garment flat — folded, arranged or laid out as a complete look — and photographs it from directly overhead. It's a clean, modern, editorial style that's quick to produce at volume and works beautifully for social, lookbooks and product pages alike.
It's a popular, cost-effective alternative to ghost mannequin, especially for softer items, kidswear and styled outfit sets. Every piece is steamed and styled by hand, shot to a consistent standard, and retouched in-house so your store stays visually cohesive.
Why brands choose flat lay
Flat lay is fast, flexible and endlessly stylable — ideal for high-volume catalogues and brands that want a crisp, contemporary feel across every product.
- Hand steaming & styling of every garment
- Shot from directly overhead, perfectly square
- Clean, consistent background
- Crease removal, colour balancing & retouching
- High-resolution or web-ready files, sized to your spec
- Single items or full styled outfit sets
- Volume discounts for large catalogues
- Worldwide customers welcome — drop off or post samples
Simple per-product pricing.
All editing, retouching and resizing is included — no usage fees, no hidden costs. Discounts available on large quantity orders.
Pricing for orders over 20 items. Under 20 items there's a £3 surcharge per item.
- 1 image per product
- Professionally prepared
- High-quality image editing
- 2 images per product
- Front & back
- All editing included
- 3 images per product
- Best value · save per image
- All editing included
- Per additional image
- Same retail-grade editing
For comparison, a full live model shoot typically runs £800–1,500 per day for 20–30 garments — before model, studio and usage fees.
Priority slot for tight launch deadlines — just tell us your date.
If an image doesn't match the brief you approved, we'll reshoot it free.
"I was looking for a studio to take flat lay shots of my clothing brand and GQ Studios delivered with impeccable standards. High quality results at a very reasonable rate. Couldn't have asked for any better!"
Sample to store
in four steps.
Send us your products. We do the rest — steam, shoot, retouch and deliver. All to your brief, no hidden fees.
Send your samples
Book in your shoot date. Post them in or drop off at the Manchester studio. We confirm receipt and get started.
We shoot
Every garment professionally steamed and shot to your requirements. To a consistent, retail-grade standard.
We retouch
Creases removed, colour balanced and sized to your spec — all included in the per-product price.
Delivered
High-res or web-ready files in 2–3 days (24-hour service available). Invoice sent, products returned.
Flat lay questions.
The things brands usually ask before booking. Still curious? Get in touch.
What is flat lay photography?
It styles a garment flat — folded or laid out as a full look — and shoots it from directly overhead for a clean, editorial result that's quick to produce at volume.
How is it different from ghost mannequin?
Ghost mannequin shows a garment with 3D shape as if worn; flat lay shows it styled flat from above. Many brands use both — flat lay for a contemporary, editorial feel and ghost mannequin to show fit.
How much does it cost?
From £14+VAT per product for a single image, or £20+VAT for three. All steaming, styling and editing is included, with volume discounts on large orders.
How quickly will I get my images?
Standard turnaround is 2-3 days from the shoot date, with a guaranteed 24-hour fast-track option available.
Can you shoot full outfits, not just single items?
Yes — we style complete looks and outfit sets as well as individual pieces, ideal for lookbooks and social content.
Your next drop could be
your best!
Send a quick brief with your typical volume and we'll come back with a quote and timings — usually within the working day.
Or call the Manchester studio: 0161 564 8533