Why Every Graphic Designer Needs to Know Basic Photography
Graphic design has increased in demand in recent years, especially now that many businesses see the value of good design in websites, products, marketing materials, and more. A graphic designer typically creates artwork, illustrations, stylized titles and headers, artistic fonts and text, and much more. Functional and meaningful visuals are a must, which is why these professionals can benefit from other forms of visual communication. If you’re a graphic designer, delving into basic photography has many advantages. These two skills are deeply connected, complementing each other artistically while also supplementing each other in terms of logistics. This is because photography and graphic design are about visual communication at their core. Here are a few reasons why every graphic designer needs to know basic photography:
Learning the Fundamentals
Photography and graphic design may seem unrelated, but many schools consider photography as part of graphic design; both professions are often taught under the same visual communications umbrella. The simple reason for this is that both rely on visual composition, the skill of understanding how the different elements of an image can be used together to great effect. This means knowing how the lines, shapes, colors, lights, and other elements in an image impact how well that image conveys your intent.
This leads to knowing how to create a focal point, remove or utilize distractions, and play with contrasts – all of which are beneficial to both graphic design and photography. Applying the principles of one craft to another can also make for dynamic and unique visuals. Practicing basic photography can hone the core skills required to become an influential graphic designer – and vice versa.
Increasing your Professional Arsenal
Whether for promoting products, services, destinations, or messages, photography can come in handy to any graphic design team looking to take on various projects or clients. Rather than hiring an outside photographer or relying on stock images, a graphic designer who knows basic photography can take the pictures to suit the creative output. In relation to this, a camera is not the only equipment essential to advance in photography. Camera lenses are crucial tools that can drastically alter an image’s appearance and overall visual message. Different lenses can be used for different purposes and aesthetics. Lenses like the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens are great mirrorless lenses for capturing various subjects in different conditions, giving your photos impeccable quality.
Other unique lenses, like fisheye lenses, are used for shooting extremely wide angles that give your image a more dynamic and playful look. The Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Fisheye is an excellent example of a versatile lens that can capture circular and diagonal fisheye to suit your needs. Knowing basic photography not only expands your professional arsenal, it can make it easier to find and curate the shot you need with the right tools.
Improving Post-Production
By using literally only what’s in front of you to create coherent images, practicing photography forces your eyes to be familiar with the inherent balance of natural visual elements. In graphic design, having an eye for natural visual balance can help you in two distinct ways. When digitally manipulating images, this skill can help you stay within the bounds of what looks natural, even as you play with colors, contrasts, saturation, and other elements.
On the other hand, having a keen understanding of nature’s visual rules will also allow you to break those rules to great effect. This means being better at using image manipulation apps like Photoshop to either enhance an image’s natural features or twist them to create effectively unnatural imagery. This can also translate to creating vector images that either build on or tastefully defy those natural visual balances. The more you take pictures and better understand nature’s visual rules, the better you can bend those rules to your will during editing.
