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Seasonal background stock photos and royalty free images
Seasonal background images are staples in the marketing, design, and branding worlds. Aligning your creative projects with the different seasons and their holidays is a good way to keep your messaging timely and interesting. We've curated a collection of our favorite seasonal background images from our global network of contributors. Simply scroll down to explore your favorite seasons as creative backgrounds.
About seasonal backgrounds stock photos and royalty free images
There are two ways to think about seasonal backgrounds: the seasons themselves and the holidays within those seasons. The two are often intertwined: we think of snow when we think of the winter holiday season, and we think of fiery fall colors when we think of Halloween and Thanksgiving. Spring textures, summer patterns, winter backgrounds, and seasonal symbols are all common image searches in the Shutterstock library, so we've gathered our favorites for you here in the curated collection below. Scroll down to have a look!
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Questions about seasonal background images
There are two types of seasonal background images. First, there are things like spring patterns, summer textures, and autumn backgrounds. These images capture a particular time of year and the weather associated with it, like snow in winter, blue skies in summer, and green fields in the spring. Then there are things like holiday images. We associate holidays with the seasons during which they occur, so holiday backgrounds often appear alongside images of the seasons when we celebrate. Seasonal background images might be photos of landscapes or still-lifes, or they may be brightly illustrated vector images. You might also see icons like jack o' lanterns, snowmen, or flowers arranged in playful patterns as backgrounds. Seasonal background images also vary according to location, as holidays often occur at the same time around the world, where weather can be very different.
Seasonal background images are very popular in creative projects because most people can relate — there is no complex subtext or background messaging in a seasonal background image. The most popular seasonal background images are the main seasons (spring backgrounds, winter textures, autumn patterns, etc.), followed by holidays (both religious and cultural). Timely content is a great way to relate to any audience — seasons and holidays are usually top of mind, so it's easy to find sympathetic viewers. Different cultures celebrate different national holidays, so you'll see a great variety of photos, vectors, icons, and logos to illustrate these. Religious holidays can resonate with viewers all over the world, so they're very popular as background images when creating cards, announcements, invitations, or any other project that wants to intone the unique nature of a particular time of year.
Finding high-quality seasonal background images is a breeze. First, you can simply scroll down to explore our curated collection of seasonal background images from all over the world. If you're looking for something more specific, type your search terms into the white box labeled "Search for images" at the top of this page. When you get your results, you can use the filters on the left side of the page to narrow down your options. You can choose the orientation, the image type, the color scheme, and more. If you have a specific image on hand already, and you want something similar, simply click on "Search by image," and upload your file. The A.I. that powers the Shutterstock library will scour the collection and return compositions that are similar to your upload.
Seasonal background images come in a number of different varieties. First, you have your seasonally specific backgrounds like summer backgrounds, winter patterns, and autumn textures. It's also common to see landscape photos that capture the climate of a specific season, like snowy hills, autumnal forests, sparkling lakes, or fields of flowers. Seasonal backgrounds also capture the spirit of the holidays. These can be different based on where you are in the world because different cultures hold different national celebrations, and religious holidays have unique aspects in every culture. Vectors and illustrations can also make great seasonal backgrounds, as they bring a spirit of animation and fun to the seasons and their holidays.
Seasonal background images have an important job. They have to capture the spirit of a season or a holiday, engage the viewer, and support primary content rather than overpowering it. For this reason, engaging seasonal background images are those images that quickly intone the season in question with an image that is undoubtedly relevant without being too visually busy or complicated. Seasonal backgrounds are visual representations of traditions and icons that we're very familiar with — they're not trying to reinvent the wheel. So look for backgrounds with familiar weather features or well-known religious or cultural icons that summon the season in question and then support your creative copy or other design elements.
Popular searches for seasonal backgrounds
Tips and tricks to make the most of your seasonal background images
How to use seasonal background images creatively
Seasonal backgrounds for websites When you're using seasonal background images for websites, the first thing to keep in mind is to stay timely. If you use a seasonal background image like a winter snowscape, and then forget to update it when you're later promoting a Hot Summer Days special, then you will lose your audience. Seasonality is a great way to show that your website is a living project that stays current for your visitors. Choose seasonal background images that quickly bring a particular season to mind (snowy hills, sapphire skies, fiery leaves, colorful flowers) without overwhelming the viewer. You want your background to be visually pleasing, but it's there to support your primary content, not overpower it. Illustrations, patterns, and vectors will have a slightly different effect than photos. These will create a lighter, more playful feel, which can be a great way to set the mood for your website. Seasonal backgrounds for marketing campaigns Seasonal background images are perfect for marketing campaigns. Seasons and holidays are usually on everyone's mind all the time. We're acutely aware when we're in the thick of a hot summer or the depths of a bitter winter. We also know when we can look forward to a barbecue on a cultural holiday or a big meal during a religious festival. Create a marketing message that aligns with a season or a holiday, like a promotion or a discount tied to the season, and then you can use seasonal background photos or illustrations to support this message. It's a good way to visually represent your connection to your audience. Seasonal background visuals for graphic designs Graphic designs are constantly taking advantage of seasonal backgrounds. A lot of graphic design work supports marketing and social media campaigns — as well as UX and website design. Because these platforms want to stay relevant, they look to the seasons and their holidays to create fresh content that will resonate with audiences. Icons, symbols, vectors, and illustrations lend themselves very well to graphic design, as you can isolate them and combine them to create composite designs, rather than simply using a photo of a landscape or some holiday decorations. The key to effective graphic designs when it comes to seasonality is simplicity. Your designs should make the audience think of the season or holiday quickly and easily, so avoid designs that are overly complicated or visually busy.
