Allowing everyone to contribute their photos to a shared album without worrying about file size would be ideal. While there are several cloud solutions available, their effectiveness varies. This article explores these options and ultimately suggests the best approach: self-hosting your content on a dedicated server. # Cloud Services Have Limitations Cloud services offer convenience and easy accessibility, but they often lack customization and can become costly as your storage needs increase. Here's a breakdown of several cloud services to help you find the right fit for your requirements. ## Google Photos Many people know about Google Shared albums, which are popular because they allow collaboration. However, Google Photos has a 15 GB storage limit on their free tier, which can become costly as you add more photos and videos. You can keep upgrading to larger accounts This model may not be sustainable for users with extensive collections. ## iCloud Another option is to explore iCloud. It integrates seamlessly with iPhones and performs well, but it does have downsides like vendor lock-in. Additionally, users from Google may find it difficult to contribute photos, and you'll eventually run out of storage. This means you might need to pay more on a monthly or yearly basis as your storage requirements increase. ## Amazon Photos Amazon provides unlimited photo storage, which is great, but they don't offer the same for videos. This means you have to store your files in separate locations, which can be inconvenient. ## Flickr Flicky addresses the issue by providing unlimited photo and video storage for around $50 a year, but it doesn't support RAW format. This means your high-quality, uncompressed photos and videos will lose resolution when converted to JPG or other compressed formats. ## Shutterfly This solution is excellent because it offers unlimited photo and video storage, and it's essentially free if you make a purchase every 18 months. However, the drawback is that it doesn't allow you to upload the highest quality RAW files. # The Ideal Solution: Self Host! While the solutions mentioned rely on cloud-based services, a potentially better alternative is using something like Immich. This approach allows you to create and manage your own photo and video storage. Although it requires server configuration, the benefits are significant. You can expand your storage with a one-time cost per hard drive, avoiding subscription fees entirely. This scalable solution also ensures that you maintain ownership of your data. For more information, visit Immich's website. https://immich.app/