How to Use General Descriptors

When you don’t know a person’s name, a general descriptor helps you keep track of who they are, and improves your chances of finding a match later.

Descriptors are searchable, appear in your People view, and help prevent confusion between multiple unnamed profiles.

What Makes a Good Descriptor?

Think specific and memorable. Try to include:

• Clothing or hairstyle

• The context or occasion

• Location or possible connection

Examples:

• Unknown woman with curls – wedding photo

• Boy in sailor suit – maybe Mom’s side?

• Man in bowler hat – 1910s

How to Add a General Descriptor

When assigning a face:

1. Click the face to open the profile assignment form

2. Select + General Descriptor

3. Enter your description

4. Click Save

🔄 You can always edit descriptors later from the person’s profile

Descriptors vs. Names

You can’t assign both a name and a descriptor, each profile uses one or the other.

If you learn someone’s real name later, just open the profile, click Edit, and switch from descriptor to name. The system will keep all their assigned faces and data.

Tips for Staying Organized

• Add clues when you’re guessing (maybe, possible, thinking it's...)

• Use punctuation or casing consistently

• Use descriptors to track theories across albums (e.g., “Unknown woman (shows up in wedding album and farm photo)”)

🖼️ Screenshot Suggestion

Show:

• Descriptor field in the profile assignment form

• My People page with descriptors visible

• Editing a descriptor from the profile view