Photo guides

Find a photo's location, one clue at a time

Practical guides for checking where a photo was taken, from travel memories and family photos to image search and visual clues.

Try the photo location finder

Start with a photo or memory

Family photos, a timeline, and a regional map help turn a research question into a small family-history itinerary.

How to Plan a Family History Trip from an Old AlbumPlan a family history trip with interviews, archival research, and a route ranked by evidence. Bring old album clues to places your family can explore together.Read guide

A three-stop walking loop combines a wide scene, a medium subject view, and a detail photograph.

Plan Your First Photo Walk Around a Theme and Three StopsPlan your first photo walk with a clear theme, three flexible stops, simple shot prompts, and a two-hour schedule you can adjust to local conditions.Read guide

A generated historic and contemporary pair shows the same fictional street from a matching viewpoint.

Then and Now Photography: Make a Neighborhood Photo PairPlan a small then and now photography exhibit: choose a historical image, find its viewpoint, retake the scene, and publish a sourced photo pair.Read guide

Search and verify the image

Illustrated comparison of image search, saved location information, and checking a candidate on a map.

Find Where a Photo Was Taken with GoogleFind where a photo was taken with Google using Lens and map checks. Compare image matches, understand GPS limits, and choose what to try next.Read guide

An original camera file and a screenshot of the same scene illustrate why saved GPS information may differ.

Find a Photo's Location for Free: Start With Evidence You Already HaveFind a photo's location for free using GPS checks, image search, and map clues. Follow a practical order, verify matches, and see when AI costs a credit.Read guide

A fictional family print, its reverse, album page, and envelope are kept together for historical research.

Where Was This Old Photo Taken? A Guide to Family Photo CluesWhere was this old photo taken? Follow clues on the print, compare historical streetscapes, and record what you can verify about a family picture.Read guide