Play Detective

Let's get back to your organizing project. You may be finding stray photos and you have to decide where they fit in your chronological order. Some things to consider:

Count candles on birthday cake
Study Faces in background with magnifying glass
Guess at holiday by color and theme of decorations
In old black and white photos, people never smiled. Somber expressions were not a sign
of hard times, just a way to keep photos from blurring. Before film was invented,
the image set on photographic plates and the subject had to be very still so the image
would be very clear. Smiling for minutes was difficult so people chose the most
relaxed pose with the least expression.
The time frame that the family occupied a house
License plates on a car
Makes and models of cars change – appearance of cars can narrow down the year
Look for year on license tabs
Inscriptions of Wedding Rings
Styles of hair, clothing, glasses, and facial features (teeth, facial hair)
Fashions change frequently providing strong clues for dating photos. Pick up a book
On fashion trends and hemlines at the library
Hairstyles change often. Ask local hairdresser
Childrens’ looks – Height, weight, number of teeth
Room colors and furniture arrangement
Photos displayed in background
Nonfamily guest in photo
Compare undated photos with dated photos
Designs of telephones
Business and street signs
Signs and billboards may offer clues as to when and where the photos were taken
Size of trees, shrubs of other landscape features
International Flags
Landmarks
Identify youngest person – what is birth date
Ask extended family members if they have similar photo
Photographers mark or signature
Family pets

These suggestions can help you find where a photo belongs.