Self-hosted Photo Library

January 11, 2026 - Reading time: 2 minutes

Why I use Piwigo for my photo storage.

Over time, I realised my photo collection is more than just files—it’s a record of my life, travels, and the people I care about. Trusting those memories to a commercial cloud service never sat right with me. I wanted something that gave me control, security, and freedom, without the constant worry of subscriptions or sudden policy changes. That’s why I chose Piwigo. Hosting it myself means my photos stay in my hands, on my own server, with no compromise on quality. I don’t have to accept compression or hidden limits; I can preserve every image exactly as I captured it.

 

What I love most is how Piwigo grows with me. It’s open-source, so I can customise it endlessly—through themes, plugins, or integrations. It doesn’t matter whether I’m managing a few hundred photos or tens of thousands; Piwigo scales gracefully. The organisational tools, such as albums, tags, and metadata support, make it easy to keep everything structured, even when my collection feels overwhelming.

 

There’s also a sense of pride in running my own gallery. Instead of being locked into someone else’s ecosystem, I’ve built a space that reflects me. I can share albums with family and friends, knowing I control the privacy settings. I can access my gallery from anywhere via the web or mobile app, without sacrificing ownership.

 

For me, Piwigo isn’t just a technical solution—it’s a philosophy. It represents independence, respect for my data, and the joy of shaping my own digital space. Choosing Piwigo as my preferred photo storage is about more than convenience; it’s about valuing my memories enough to keep them safe, private, and truly mine.

 

Have a look for yourself at Derek Jones Photography