Separate what you see from what you imagine
Begin with a simple description of the image: people, objects, surroundings and any visible inscription. Distinguish it from the hypotheses the photograph suggests. Seeing a group outside a building does not automatically identify a school or a family. Two columns, observation and hypothesis, help maintain that difference. A photograph can be a valuable source without answering questions about who, when and why on its own.
Look at the reverse and the provenance
If you have the original, carefully check for writing on the reverse or in a margin. Record information without damaging the material or sticking labels over the image. Note how the photograph reached you too. A digital copy may lose inscriptions, dimensions and preservation context. If you only received a file, ask whether the entire item has been scanned. Provenance helps evaluate hypotheses even when it offers no immediate answer.
Compare details with identified documents
A street name, façade or registration plate can guide research, but suitable sources and attention to differences between places and periods are essential. Look for documents with known origins and dates. Avoid assigning an exact date merely because clothing seems typical of a particular decade. Objects can remain in use for a long time. Careful comparison asks what matches, what differs and which other explanations remain possible.
Ask questions without suggesting the answer
When showing someone the image, ask what they recognise before suggesting names. Record who made an identification and how confident they were. Two people may remember different versions; preserve attribution rather than silently choosing the most convenient account. A caption can say identified by a particular person, approximate date or probable location. These expressions keep information useful without turning a memory into documentary certainty.
Keep a caption that can improve
Create a record containing the description, provenance, hypotheses and references consulted. If new evidence appears, update the caption and note the change. Preserve a copy of the original scan before making working versions. If you share the photograph, consider people’s privacy and the applicable rights. Researching an image is an open process: a well-documented question may help the next person more than a complete story constructed without evidence.
