Five facts to record with every photograph
A simple record of people, place, date, source and uncertainty keeps a photograph useful.
Original Pinkas illustrations · Synthetic narration · September 28, 2026
Transcript
1. People 2. Place
A photograph becomes more useful when its context stays beside it. First, name the people by their position in the picture. Second, record the place, even if you only know the town.
3. Date or date range
Third, record a date or a date range. An estimate is useful when it stays labeled as an estimate. Write down what supports it, such as a wedding, a studio mark or a relative's recollection.
4. Source 5. Uncertainty
Fourth, record who supplied the information and when. Fifth, keep uncertainty visible. If two relatives disagree, preserve both accounts instead of silently choosing one.
The reverse belongs with the front
Capture the back of the photograph too. Handwriting and studio marks may explain the image. Keep the original scan unchanged and use a separate working copy for cropping or restoration.