Hope-inspiring Healthcare and Medical Imagery

People help tell the story of the image. Studies have shown that people respond more positively to images that feature other people than to those without. It is easier for viewers to place themselves in the image when that image includes a person. The face in the image can thus function as a point of focus for the viewer. A photo of an empty doctor’s office may inform the viewer of the fact that this is a medical space, but it is unlikely to evoke emotion. A photo of the same doctor’s office with a medical professional tending to a patient is far more likely to stir some feeling in the viewer, and feeling can quickly lead to action.

Medical symbols work well as background images for healthcare-related websites. The caduceus, a winged staff entwined by two serpents, is well-known in the United States as a symbol of medicine. There is also the Rod of Asclepius, which is a staff entwined by a single serpent. The Rod can be seen inside the Star of Life, the six-pointed star seen on the uniforms of EMS practitioners and on the side of ambulances as a symbol of medical services. Any of the above symbols can work well as medical backgrounds. Try adding a transparency effect to the image so that the text of your site can be clearly read atop the symbol. If looking for something more abstract, try going with a blue background. According to color psychology, blue is the color of calm and serenity. Many associate the hue with trust and knowledge, which is exactly the sort of association one hopes to have with the medical field. Studies have actually found that looking at the color blue lowers one’s pulse rate and body temperature, the ideal effect on those viewing your medical site.

With Shutterstock’s vast library of health professional images, it is easy to find just the image to meet your needs. Type “healthcare professional” into the search bar and you will be presented with images and illustrations of people wearing white doctor coats, stethoscopes around their necks, arms folded across their chests in a confident, “we’ve got this,” pose. To narrow your search, type in “nurses” and you will see photos of kind-faced nurses engaged in patient care, administering vaccines, applying band-aids to children, and more. Search “dentist” and you will see a number of photos of masked dentists using medical equipment to clean up patients’ smiles.

Shutterstock is the best place to find images, illustrations, and vectors related to healthcare and nutrition. With hundreds of thousands of images to choose from, you are sure to find exactly the sort of image you have in mind. Simply type “nutrition” into the search bar and millions of appropriate images will show up. You will see a graphic of colorful vegetables flowing into a vitamin, a doctor giving the thumbs up as she holds a bowl of fruit, and many more. To narrow your search, apply Shutterstock’s various filter options. Want an image that will match the sky blue of your company’s logo? Select that hue in the “Color” section to be presented with photos of bright blueberries and vegetables arranged on blue picnic tables.

The state of one’s health is a deeply personal and often vulnerable matter. When looking for answers to healthcare-related questions, the average person may find medical terminology confusing and overwhelming. Healthcare images help clue people into the fact that they have come to the right place. A photo of a smiling nurse tending to an elderly patient can help set an anxious patient-to-be at ease. An image of a serene-looking doctor’s office with sunlight shining through the window can inspire a sense of hope and send the message that healing is sure to occur in such a space.