Why designers should spend more of their free time behind a camera

As a graphic designer, there’s no denying the thrill of working with outdoor brands. The blend of nature, adventure, and creativity creates a unique challenge, demanding a delicate balance between aesthetics and authenticity. But here’s a little secret: spending time in the mountains armed with nothing more than your GoPro, drone (or phone camera!) can have a profound impact on how you approach design. It’s not just about capturing epic landscapes, it’s about intensifying your creative thinking, helping you understand the challenges of the people you’ll collaborate with, and translating that knowledge into print and digital campaigns that genuinely resonate.

Creativity begins outside the studio

There’s something about being on a mountain or navigating a trail that fires up a designer’s mind. You’re forced to think on your feet, literally. The light changes every minute, the weather can be unpredictable, and the landscape constantly shifts as you move through it. Using a GoPro or drone in these environments gives you a completely fresh perspective on what it takes to capture the essence of the outdoors.

Being out there with these tools gives you insight into the complex process behind the content we often take for granted in our designs. You realise just how much effort goes into getting the right shot, the right angle, the right lighting. And it’s this experience that makes you better at your job.

Take drones, for example. They offer vantage points that were once only accessible to the most hardcore mountaineers or professional photographers with hefty equipment. Drones allow us to capture angles that would be impossible otherwise, giving you a newfound appreciation for different perspectives, quite literally. I can’t remember where I read it but a study found that 74% of drone users believe their use of drones has significantly improved their ability to think creatively about camera angles and compositions. This can directly feed into your ability to think outside the box when designing layouts for brands.

Seeing beyond the frame

One of the key insights you’ll gain from being out there, camera in hand, is how much logistics influence a shoot. You’ll start asking yourself important questions. Is it worth travelling to a remote location to capture that perfect shot, or would a staged studio image do the job just as well? Understanding these trade-offs helps you work more collaboratively with photographers and marketing teams. It builds a mutual respect for the time and effort it takes to bring ideas to life.

Often, we sit behind our computers and craft visually stunning mockups for a brochure or a digital ad campaign without fully appreciating the production process behind those images. For example, a designer who has been out on location understands the reality of natural lighting, it’s fleeting and tricky, but it’s also real. This knowledge makes you better at briefing photographers because you now appreciate how much planning and patience it takes to capture those moments. You’re also more likely to make intelligent suggestions about when and where to shoot.

Costs and feasibility: Weighing it up

Spending time on the mountain also opens your eyes to the practical side of things. The cost of travelling, equipment, time, and effort, it all adds up. A 2022 study found that brands can spend anywhere from £5,000 to £100,000 on location shoots, depending on factors like distance, complexity, and crew size.

There are times when a dramatic, real-life shot of someone standing on a snow-capped peak is necessary to tell the story. Other times, it may be enough to bring a product to life with a staged setup in a controlled environment. Your job as a designer isn’t just to make things look good, it’s to ensure that every decision is made with the overall brand strategy in mind.

Appreciating the team effort

Getting out there also fosters an appreciation for the different members of the team who contribute to a successful campaign. From the marketing crew who plan the shoot to the visual merchandisers who make sure products look perfect, it’s a team effort. When you’ve been in the thick of it, hiking with gear, dealing with unpredictable weather, you start to understand the nuances of what everyone else is bringing to the table.

It’s about seeing things from their perspective. You start thinking about the context in which products will be used, how they’ll be featured, and the focus that needs to be placed on key elements. For example, if you’ve been on the mountain capturing images of outdoor gear, you’re more likely to design layouts that naturally showcase those products in the right context, focusing on the key features that matter most to the end consumer.

A broader vision

At the end of the day, it’s not about becoming a professional photographer or videographer. It’s about broadening your creative horizons, gaining practical knowledge, and using that insight to inform your designs. Whether it’s for a brochure, a website, or a social media campaign, your time spent on the mountain can make all the difference. It gives you a deeper appreciation for the visual storytelling process, helps you make more informed decisions, and ultimately, leads to stronger campaigns for the outdoor brands you work with.

So next time you’re looking for some design inspiration, grab your camera and head outdoors. You’ll come back with far more than just great footage, you’ll return with a deeper understanding of the creative process and a sharper eye for what truly matters in your designs!