i use nextcloud with my start9 server, photos are automatically downloaded from my phone onto the server when i plug my phone in to charge... and as a backup i take the photo album once a year and upload it to proton drive, which storage can be bought using bitcoin without kyc. for sharing photos i have a group chat in signal with invited friends and family which restricts adding messages / photos to the admins ( me and my wife), and all other members of group can just view the photos.