Reason(s) why a Graphic Designer have to learn Photography

Graphic design is the art of combining pictures and words to convey ideas. It's used in fields like advertising and marketing. In graphic design, images are often the best way to get ideas across. People respond to images and process them regardless of what language they speak. Photographs are very effective images that can convey stories very quickly. Think how less effective advertisements would be if they used only words. And while graphic designers can use many computer art and design software programs to create images, if they know how to do photography, they have more skills in their arsenal. 

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 Even if you're already a working graphic designer, it's a good idea to develop photography skills. And today, that probably means using a digital camera that takes photos with a digital sensor rather than film.
 Learning photography can help you develop a better eye for composition. Composition is the combination of formal underlying elements like line, balance, and shape in an image. When these elements are used well together, the result is a cohesive and effective image. When photographing subjects, you're forced to understand how they relate to each other in space, and you're constantly honing your skills in composition.
Photography can strengthen your eye in understanding the impact of light and color. Graphic design includes a formal understanding of elements like warm and cool colors and contrasts of dark and light. But photography makes you apply these ideas in real-world settings. Think about trying to take an image of a stark winter landscape, and adding a person with a red scarf to make the image pop. Now use that same idea in a design where you want to create a focal point that reinforces the main idea with a splash of bright color. The mediums are different, but the skill set is the same. 

 5 WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR GRAPHICS DESIGN SKILLS USING PHOTOGRAPHY

 

1.Better Composition and Visual Balance

The rule of thirds applies as much (if not more so) to photography as graphic design. Shooting photography will give you a better eye for how composition impacts overall storytelling. As designers, we are used to just living with the images supplied to us. Producing your own photos will give you a sense of the intentions behind an image. This will help you utilize photos more effectively in your own work.

2.Work With Original Stock Photography

By taking your own photographs you can produce unique stock images that only you have. This can make you stand out and be less generic. It also means that your photos were shot with your design in mind, rather than it being an afterthought. You can also use macro photography to capture unique textures and patterns to utilize in your design work.
 

3.Better Understanding of Color and Contrast

Photography is about capturing the world around us, which is usually vibrant and lively. An image doesn’t look  as attractive when it is is dull and flat. Practicing photography can help creatives develop a better appreciation for how color and contrast impact the tone of a visual story. Since both design and photography rely on color theory, this is another way to explore and build on that.

4.Creative Inspiration

Running into creative blocks can be one of the most frustrating things for a designer. Photography can provide a creative outlet where designers can stretch their muscles beyond choosing which variation of Helvetica to use in a project. A change in your routine or scenery can help stimulate your creativity and provide much-needed inspiration when you feel a creative block setting in.

5.Better Visual Communication

Visual storytelling in design often relies on a number of elements. Photography is a very simplistic form of visual storytelling, which is where the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” comes from. If you can convey a story that is compelling and easy to understand in a single snapshot, it will open up your creative ability when it comes time to execute as a designer as well. You won’t feel compelled to simply “fill the space.”