Are you treating photos like real research tools?

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share practical family history advice - whether you're solving genealogy mysteries or capturing the stories that make your family unique. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue.

Hi Reader,

I was working with a couple of my older photographs recently. I had not seen these photos in a quite a while and realized just how much they were fading. It hit me that I was about to lose primary source documents, not just sentimental keepsakes.

Here's what I mean: we genealogists and family history enthusiasts will spend hours analyzing every detail on a census record or death certificate, but we'll glance at a family photo and think "that's nice" without giving it the same analytical attention. Yet that photo might contain more genealogical evidence than the official documents we're studying.

Those photos document relationships, locations, time periods, and social connections that bureaucratic records completely missed. They're legitimate historical evidence that deserves the same systematic analysis we give to vital records and government documents.

September is Save Your Photos Month, which makes this the perfect time to start treating your photo collection like the research archive it actually is—before it's too late.

🔨 LISA'S PICKS

Photo Preservation Essentials

After years of diligently working to preserve generations of my own family photos, I've learned what works and what doesn't. Here are my tested recommendations:

🛡️ Archival Protection Supplies: My Amazon Photo Preservation collection includes the acid-free boxes, sleeves, and storage solutions I actually use. No guesswork - just the supplies that keep photos safe for generations.

🔍 MyHeritage Photo Tools: Their photo enhancement suite is quite remarkable. The colorization and sharpening tools help you see clothing details, facial features, and background elements you might miss otherwise. Try their photo tools here - perfect timing with Save Your Photos Month.

📱 Quick Start Option: For immediate photo rescue, Photomyne's scanning app lets you digitize photos safely from your phone. Great for those "found a box in the attic" moments.

These aren't just random recommendations - they're tools I use in my own family history work.

🎬 NEW VIDEO & BLOG POST

Why Old Family Photos Are Your Best Genealogy Tool (& What You're Missing)

September is Save Your Photos Month, and this week I'm explaining why your old family photos might be the most underused research tools in your collection.

📺 New Video: "Save Your Photos Month: Why Old Family Photos Are Your Best Genealogy Tool" - Most genealogists spend hours analyzing census records while completely overlooking boxes of family photos that contain equally valuable evidence. I'll show you how to read photos like the primary source documents they actually are.

📝 Blog Post: Your guide to extracting research clues and family stories from every photo you own. You'll learn specific techniques for dating photos, identifying locations, and understanding relationships—whether you're trying to break through a brick wall or piece together stories for your family.

🎬 Watch: Why Old Family Photos Are Your Best Genealogy Tool

📝 Read: Why Old Family Photos Are Your Best Genealogy Tool

📅 Upcoming & Noteworthy

🎥 YouTube Live - September 11th @ 4:00 PM Eastern: Join me and The Photo Managers for "What Is That Family Photo REALLY Telling You?" Youtube Live.

Celebrate Save Your Photos Month as we look at real family photos and analyze what clothing, backgrounds, and poses reveal about your ancestors' lives. If you've ever wondered who those people in old photos really were, this session will change how you look at your collection.

Because here's the thing: photos capture the relationships and life details that official records never documented.

💡 GENEALOGY TIP OF THE WEEK

The 3 Details Every Family Photo Should Have Documented

When you're analyzing photos for genealogy clues (like we're doing this week), document these essential details:

Date Range: Even approximate decades help ("1920s based on clothing style")
Location Clues: Background buildings, landscapes, or written information
Relationship Context: Who's standing next to whom, body language, similar facial features

Create a simple photo log as you go through your collection. A basic spreadsheet with these three categories will make your photos infinitely more valuable for research.

This becomes crucial when you're ready to turn those photos into family stories...

🎁FREE RESOURCE

From Dusty Photos to Family Stories Bundle

Speaking of turning photos into stories - if this week's content has you excited about the storytelling potential in your photo collection, I've created something special for you.

My "From Dusty Photos to Family Stories: A Family's Guide" includes:

Photo story templates that work with any family picture
Conversation starters to get family members engaged with old photos
Simple preservation steps that don't require expensive equipment
Story prompts that turn mysterious photos into family favorites

This free bundle bridges the gap between photo preservation and family storytelling - perfect for busy families who want their kids to connect with their heritage.

Get your free bundle here

Because preserved photos are wonderful, but photos with stories? Those become family heirlooms.

September is the perfect time to give your photo collection the attention it deserves. Those mystery photos in your collection might hold the answers you've been searching for.

Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Lisa

P.S. Want to learn more about the people and places in your old photos? Newspapers.com just expanded their collection with 400+ new papers. I'm so excited since newspapers are perfect for researching the context behind your family pictures. Browse the new additions here.