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Step 1
Determine the age of the photos by the type of photography. For example, daguerreotypes were invented in 1839 and were popular through the 1860s.
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Step 2
Pay attention to hairstyles as well as men's facial hair for men. A bobbed haircut on a woman is a pretty clear indication that the woman may be from the flapper era of the '20s.
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Step 3
Check out the accessories in the photo. If a woman is pictured wearing high top lace-up boots and a dress that reaches to the calf, the picture was probably taken during the era of 1914-1920.
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Step 4
Realize that little boys were often dressed as girls until they began school, so factor in gender confusion in your photo analysis. Check out the hairstyles for clues. A side part generally points to a boy, while a center part indicates a girl.
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Step 5
Ask grandparents and other relatives for photos of relatives you haven't met. If they seem reluctant to part with them, explain that you can easily make copies of their old photos and return their originals to them.
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Step 6
Preserve your current photos for future generations by marking the date and who is pictured, as well as the location, on the back of the photo. Even if you're going to place the photos in an album, it's helpful to have the information marked on the photo in case it ever is removed from the album.
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Step 7
Handle old photos with care. They may be very fragile.
