What is the purpose of rules in photography?

The purpose of having rules while doing photography is simply to make your whole project look unique and aesthetically pleasing to the audience.

What are (some of) the most important rules in photography

Clear structure

-balancing out the empty spaces

-having a clear focus/main object you want to present

Composition

-trying to focus on your main subjects and making them stand out by narrowing in on the contrast between the subject and the background of the photo.

-using the rule of thirds while taking the photo or cropping it

Lighting and Color

-balancing out the brightness and darkness

-balancing the number of colors; make sure it makes your whole photo look nice

Lines and shapes

-help filling in empty spaces

-leading lines