---
title: "Flat lay: meaning and marketplace rules | Herofab"
description: "A product photographed lying flat on a surface, from above. Some marketplaces require it for specific categories."
url: https://herofab.app/glossary/flat-lay
language: en
updated: 2026-09-24
---

# Flat lay

A product photographed lying flat on a surface, from above. Some marketplaces require it for specific categories.

Flat lays are quick to shoot: the garment is laid on a table, a bed or the floor and photographed from directly above. They show the full outline and print of a product, but not how it fits on a body.

For children's swimwear and underwear, a flat presentation is not a style choice but a rule on Amazon and TikTok Shop.

## What marketplaces say about it.

Updated 25 September 2026

- **Amazon:** Children's and baby undergarments, leotards, swimwear and similar form-fitting items are photographed lying flat and without models [Official page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/G1881)
- **Amazon:** Clothing accessories and multipacks are shown flat, without a model [Official page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/G1881)
- **TikTok Shop:** Children's swimwear and undergarments are displayed flat [Official page](https://seller-us.tiktok.com/university/essay?knowledge_id=3196690250417921)
- **Amazon:** Folded products are not allowed in clothing main images [Official page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/G200498950)

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