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I tried doing a NAS backup (not moving away for Google Photos) using Photostructure (great software, very dedicated developer) but I got stuck on how to take my

I tried doing a NAS backup (not moving away for Google Photos) using Photostructure (great software, very dedicated developer) but I got stuck on how to take my 1.5TB of photos out of Google Photos. I want to download takeout files (120+ files) directly to my Synology 220+ but Google takeout is very cumbersome and I can't get a way to queue them and automate the task. They really could make an effort to make Google Photos NAS sync easier....

mceachen 3y ago
Heya! I'm the author of PhotoStructure, and my Google Photos account (before I started working on PhotoStructure) is about that size, too. I wrote up some tips here: https://photostructure.com/faq/takeout/ https://photostructure.com/faq/takeout/ This is what I did: 1. First try to fetch all your Google Photos via Takeout in one archive. If it fails (like it did for me), try different-sized .tgz archives. I had to use the 10 Gb option (using 50gb caused an internal-to-google error). If that fails to work, the last resort is to manually create by-year albums, shove all photos from that year into that album, and do a takeout of just that album. Repeat as necessary for every year. Yes, this is a huge PITA--which is why I recommend the following: 2. Install an app on your phone to *directly* upload the original photos and videos from your phone to your NAS/home server. I have several recommended apps here: https://photostructure.com/faq/how-do-i-safely-store-files/#how-do-i-back-up-files-on-my-phone https://photostructure.com/faq/how-do-i-safely-store-files/#... At this point, you can still use Google Photos (for viewing and as a last-ditch backup), but your originals are safe (without all the Google Photo downsampling and metadata shenanigans), and you're free to use whatever self-hosted software you want (like PhotoStructure, but there are a ton of alternatives, as well). FWIW, I also tried this software: https://github.com/mholt/timeliner https://github.com/mholt/timeliner -- it does what it can, but the files you get via the API has a bunch of metadata stripped from it. I even had captured-at times get mangled with older photos.
- mholt 3y ago
  Re: Timeliner (I'm the author), I'm currently building the successor to it, Timelinize. It's in private alpha preview currently, and still under active development. In Timelinize, I'm focusing on importing Takeout archives first (though I'll reinstate API downloads later) because of this exact problem. Timelinize has a vastly improved schema and can handle data from any data source, not just Google Photos. For example it also imports iPhone backups. I think PhotoStructure is a great project and I've taken some inspiration from it
  - dakial1 3y ago
    It seems that a Timelinize and Photostructure combo would greatly benefit those trying to escape Google Photos claws. Where can I sign-up for the Beta?
    - mholt 3y ago
      Timelinize is still in alpha (under heavy development) so you can follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/timelinize https://twitter.com/timelinize -- I'm still working on a landing page, been too busy with the actual app. If you want to try the development previews in alpha, though, just let me know how to contact you and I'll send you an invite.

mceachen 3y ago

Heya! I'm the author of PhotoStructure, and my Google Photos account (before I started working on PhotoStructure) is about that size, too. I wrote up some tips here: https://photostructure.com/faq/takeout/ https://photostructure.com/faq/takeout/ This is what I did: 1. First try to fetch all your Google Photos via Takeout in one archive. If it fails (like it did for me), try different-sized .tgz archives. I had to use the 10 Gb option (using 50gb caused an internal-to-google error). If that fails to work, the last resort is to manually create by-year albums, shove all photos from that year into that album, and do a takeout of just that album. Repeat as necessary for every year. Yes, this is a huge PITA--which is why I recommend the following: 2. Install an app on your phone to *directly* upload the original photos and videos from your phone to your NAS/home server. I have several recommended apps here: https://photostructure.com/faq/how-do-i-safely-store-files/#how-do-i-back-up-files-on-my-phone https://photostructure.com/faq/how-do-i-safely-store-files/#... At this point, you can still use Google Photos (for viewing and as a last-ditch backup), but your originals are safe (without all the Google Photo downsampling and metadata shenanigans), and you're free to use whatever self-hosted software you want (like PhotoStructure, but there are a ton of alternatives, as well). FWIW, I also tried this software: https://github.com/mholt/timeliner https://github.com/mholt/timeliner -- it does what it can, but the files you get via the API has a bunch of metadata stripped from it. I even had captured-at times get mangled with older photos.

mholt 3y ago
Re: Timeliner (I'm the author), I'm currently building the successor to it, Timelinize. It's in private alpha preview currently, and still under active development. In Timelinize, I'm focusing on importing Takeout archives first (though I'll reinstate API downloads later) because of this exact problem. Timelinize has a vastly improved schema and can handle data from any data source, not just Google Photos. For example it also imports iPhone backups. I think PhotoStructure is a great project and I've taken some inspiration from it
- dakial1 3y ago
  It seems that a Timelinize and Photostructure combo would greatly benefit those trying to escape Google Photos claws. Where can I sign-up for the Beta?
  - mholt 3y ago
    Timelinize is still in alpha (under heavy development) so you can follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/timelinize https://twitter.com/timelinize -- I'm still working on a landing page, been too busy with the actual app. If you want to try the development previews in alpha, though, just let me know how to contact you and I'll send you an invite.