Source: https://restorebunny.com/guides/sidecar-notes-for-family-photos/ # Use Sidecar Notes for Photo Names, Dates and Stories Store descriptive notes alongside photos when embedded metadata is missing or unreliable. Digital organization2 min readUpdated 16 October 2026 ## Try it on your own photo Repair a copy of your photo, then compare faces and details with the original. [Restore my photo]()1 credit per successful photo ยท Account required[See credit packs]() Quick answer ## The short version Sidecar notes keep descriptions separate from image encoding. They are helpful when a file type or sharing platform does not preserve metadata consistently. Pair each note with a stable source ID and preserve attribution for family stories. A sidecar is useful only when it travels with the relevant photo. ## Define the job before editing Sidecar notes keep descriptions separate from image encoding. They are helpful when a file type or sharing platform does not preserve metadata consistently. Pair each note with a stable source ID and preserve attribution for family stories. A sidecar is useful only when it travels with the relevant photo. ## Choose a simple portable note structure Use fields such as ID, people, place, date, date confidence, contributor and restrictions. A plain text file or inventory row is often sufficient. If you use a metadata-specific sidecar format, keep an explanation and a portable descriptive export so relatives are not dependent on a single application. ## Make the decision from evidence Avoid putting competing stories into one authoritative caption. Record who supplied each account and what evidence supports it. When exporting a public image, select the description appropriate for that audience rather than automatically attaching every private research note. ## A worked planning example Example: FAM-0037-notes.txt records two possible locations and identifies the relatives who proposed them. The sharing caption says location uncertain. The note links both the front scan and the reverse scan using the same source ID. ## A practical checklist 1. Pair notes and images using one ID. 2. Record contributors and confidence. 3. Keep private research separate from public captions. 4. Include sidecars in backup and delivery checks. ## Keep a traceable result Keep the source file, the working copy and the delivery copy as separate items. Record the input and the changes you actually made so another person can understand the result later. These workflow examples are planning examples, not documented customer outcomes or proof of a successful restoration. ## FAQs Will a messaging app preserve my sidecar? It may not send or associate separate note files automatically. Package the intended files together and check what the recipient can open. Should I replace my original with the edited copy? Keep the source unchanged and save a separate working or sharing copy. An export, edit or AI interpretation can omit information that remains useful in the source. ## Sources Preservation and technical guidance reviewed for this article. - Library of Congress: [Personal archiving: digital photographs]() ## Related - [Open the related free tool]() - [Divide a Shared Family Photo Archive Without Losing Context]() - [Audit a Photo Library Export Before Closing an Account]() - [Browse photo guides]() - [Free image tools]() ## Ready to restore your photos? Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider. [Restore my photo]()[View Pricing]() RestoreBunny Source-backed photo workflows Guides follow our [editorial policy]() for sourcing, product claims, AI limitations, updates, and corrections.