Photography: How to work with a graphic designer
A lot of business owners, corporate, freelancers, and just your everyday person use or need a graphic designer to create a vision they have in their head. I dabble in graphic design and have discovered that there are things that make my job easier that the client can provide me.
1. A general description: As the client, you know what you’re after and have a semi decent idea in your mind what it looks like. You need to articulate that so I understand. I am not a mind reader, my mind works differently and may go in a different direction, add to that you know your needs or business, I do not.
2. Accurate and correct copy: If it’s an ad for specific events with dates and locations, it is your job to make sure I have that information and it is correct. I am not privy to your calendar nor aware of everything going on. Typography (copy- the typed words) are every bit as important to my designs as images, changing them can change the design.
3. Know how you are going to use the designs: I can save files in many formats, or have it printed. My general packages are designed for the digital business person. File types affect how you can use them so please research what files you’ll need for what you want to do.
4. Use re-designs correctly: Re-designs should be used to fix something that doesn’t meet what you are after. Be aware that even a minor thing like changing font can alter the design and take an hour or more to fix. Designers may only give one free re-design then charge added fees.
5. Do not try and use the designer as your personal secretary: It is not the designer’s job to get the designs to multiple people who weren’t involved with the contract and may not be affiliated with your actual business. Do not ask us to email an ad to a venue because you don’t want to. It is insulting to us, we generally run our own business, we don’t have time to do general clerical work for yours too.
6. Never say ‘Oh I thought you just hit buttons’: Graphic design, like photography, is more than hitting a button. It is hours of work, education, trying and failing before succeeding. It is making something out of nothing that is visually compelling, and sells items or services. It takes many hours for one design with many different elements.
Every one of those above items has happened to me. At the end of the day, respect the person creating for you, we love what we do and want to do the best we can but we will turn away business if disrespected.
