If you follow us on social media, you know we love a good pencil pic. We are ecstatic to have a whopping 112,000+ pencil enthusiasts following us on Instagram! 

Our social media has always been a joint effort amongst the whole team. Some days you just need a new perspective or a new idea! However, as of the last few months, I've had the pleasure of being the primary pencil lady behind the gram. And I totally have a blast doing it! If you've stopped into the shop since then, I'm sure you've seen me kneeling on the floor, arranging pencils like a mad woman, and taking handfuls of up close & personal shots of our products. Okay seriously, how did I get this job?! Anyway, I figured I might as well share some of my tips 'n' tricks on how to photograph your stash. Because let's face it -- your stationery collection is probably growing rapidly. Why not use them for photoshoots as well?

Step 1: Choose a color scheme.
One of the best ways to get an aesthetically pleasing pencil pic is to ensure you're purposeful with colors. You don't necessarily have to be monochromatic, but you should most definitely choose colors that compliment each other. If using colored sheets as backgrounds, make sure you're taking this into consideration with your scheme. Think of this as creating an art piece!

Step 2: Choose your products.
Once you have a killer color combo, it's time to choose your subject. Obviously our main focus is pencils, so we often try to utilize them in all of our shots. It's fun to throw in a notebook, an eraser, a pencil case, or a sharpener to add depth to the image. 

Step 3: Plan.
Do you want to use your items to create a pattern or do you want more of a "lifestyle" shot? Personally, I love a good pattern. Not only do these types of images look excellent in an Instagram feed, but they also work as a sort of optical illusion. On the other hand, lifestyle shots give your subjects a purpose. A great example of this would be pencils spilling out of a pencil case. An extra helpful tip: always be spatially aware by ensuring that your subjects have a balanced amount of space between them. 

Step 4: Ready, set, go!
Okay, you're ready! Begin laying your items onto your background. Repetition is your friend when trying to make patterns. I find it's easier to photograph when I use the entire (or most of the) background, allowing the products to flow over the paper. This helps when framing my photo as I can quickly shift between wide and shallow angles.  

Step 5: Take your photographs.
Okay pro, you're ready to roll! My big tip for photographing is to always use natural, even lighting unless you're splurging for some professional photography equipment. On our Instagram we only post square cropped photographs, so I always shoot my images with a square crop. (Yes, you heard right, I usually just use my iPhone when photographing for Instagram.) In short -- try different angles. Get closer, get farther away. Have fun! As you can see below, I take many many photos each time.....

Feel free to test out your very own flat lay photograph using CWPE purchases/other stationery goodies & tag us on Instagram. We always love to see you guys enjoying the pencil life!