> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kombify.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Photos

> Keep family photos and videos on a host you control, with Immich and backup from your phone

<Info>
  Evidence state (2026-09-17, v0.35.0): Photos with Immich is `unverified` on
  v0.35.0, because the newest lifecycle run on this release failed in the
  apply phase. Photos was last verified on the public v0.33.3 archive, where a
  run on Ubuntu 24.04 amd64 (Basement Kit, standalone) passed install, init,
  generate, apply, owner setup, verify, backup, isolated restore, and restore
  activation. The application-level readback of the restored Photos data is
  pending. Cloud Kit is a preview with no automated lifecycle run yet.
</Info>

Photos gives your household one library for photos and videos on a host you operate. Immich runs the library, and its mobile apps upload pictures from your phones. The release catalog calls this use case Photos and Memories and delivers it as the optional `photos` workload.

## Applications

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Immich" icon="images" href="/stackkits/apps/immich">
    The photo and video library behind Photos: released contract, selection and first use.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Back up photos from your phone" icon="mobile-screen-button" href="/guides/stackkits/use-cases/photos/phone-backup">
    Connect the Immich app, choose albums and check your first upload.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Choose the host

* Use [Basement Kit](/stackkits/kits/basement-kit) for local hardware and LAN-first access.
* Use [Cloud Kit](/stackkits/kits/cloud-kit) for an existing VPS or cloud host with a domain you control.

## Plan storage and recovery

Photos and videos often become the largest data set in a homelab. Plan storage and backups before you import a family library.

* Size primary and backup storage for photo and video growth.
* Recovery needs both the original photos and videos and the Immich database. Either part alone is not a complete restore.
* Practice a staged restore before the library is the only copy of your photos. See [Back up and restore](/guides/stackkits/back-up-and-restore).

## Set it up

Select the workload and complete first use on the [Immich](/stackkits/apps/immich) page. Then connect each phone with [Back up photos from your phone](/guides/stackkits/use-cases/photos/phone-backup) and check that a test photo arrives.