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Picture this image: A young woman sits on a velvet-padded bench; she's wearing a pearl necklace and a long, white, lacy dress; she holds a single rosebud in her hands; a stiff white card, with faint text on it, is propped next to her on the bench.

Her hair is either bobbed short or pulled behind her head. She doesn't wear a hat, and her feet, clad in white shoes, peek out from behind the lace hem of her dress. The studio backdrop sports a muted woodsy scene.

Who is she? I have no idea. What is she? A bride, of course. Who else would wear a long white dress for a formal portrait?

That's what I thought when I first spotted this old photograph in an Albuquerque antiques shop. But, when I flipped over the cardstock sleeve holding the photo I saw the word Tulane imprinted on the back.

Aha. This isn't a blushing bride. This is a pioneering college graduate. That printed card next to her isn't a wedding invitation; it's probably her diploma.

When we play Columbo with our old unidentified family photographs, we need to consider all kinds of clues and be careful about making assumptions.

First we scour the photo front and back looking for any kind of writing, including the name and location of the photographer.

Then we look at the people in the picture; guess their ages, look for family resemblances and, if there is a group of people, try to figure out their relationships.

Another clue to ponder: clothing. Clothes can often be dated to a certain time period. But be cautious when trying to date clothes. All of us who lived through bell-bottom pants in the '70s have seen them resurface again 30 years later. Our ancestors lived through similar clothing cycles and recycles.

Also, for nonstudio prints consider the setting. Look at everything in the background for clues. My ancestors, for example, apparently had a strong affection for their cars because cars were often either in the background or front-and-center in their snapshots.

In one photograph my great-grandfather proudly sits in his car. By studying the car's features, I've determined it's a Ford Model T Touring car manufactured between 1908 and 1913.

Knowing the year of the car doesn't necessarily tell me when the photo was taken, but it's an important clue, nevertheless.

In the genealogy world where we can routinely trace our ancestors back 300 or 400 years, photographs are a relatively recent phenomenon. So the type of photograph can provide additional clues about the who, where and when of the image.

You've got your daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, woodburytypes and your carte de visites, to name a few. Check out the American Museum of Photography for explanations of the different photographic techniques. For more help identifying those old photos, pick up the book "Uncovering Your Family Ancestry Through Family Photographs" by Maureen Taylor. Also surf over to Maureen's Web site for more helpful hints.

For tips on preserving your old photographs, see the National Archives site.