Do you use Google Photos? Are you aware that Google is ending free storage for photos on June 1st? Your free ride has come to and end.

But fret not! I have a solution. Its a process change that will reduce your photo storage sizes drastically. And it will make you a better photographer.

The idea is to add a step that lets you select which all photos should be uploaded to Google Photos - instead of sending everything.

• This will reduce storage - lesser photos, lesser MBs.
• This review process will add intentionality to your photography. It will make you see patterns - which types of photos you think are good - and which are getting skipped. After a while, your photos will becoming better - you’ll take more photos that will get selected in the final cut.

Step 1: Turn off Automatic Backup

Turn off Automatic Backup in Google photos - if this is On, it sends all the photos you took to Google - increasing storage space - increasing cost.

• Open Google Photos
• Open Account Settings(top right profile photo)
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• Go to Account Storage
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• Turn off ‘Back up & Sync’
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Step 2: Setup a Review Time

You’ll have to set apart 10 minutes once a week to review your photos and decide which ones should be uploaded to Google Photos. Add a recurring calender event at a time when you are generally free. Mine is at Sunday 10 PM.

Do NOT Skip this step. If you forget to do this review and manually backup photos, you will loose your photos if anything happens to your phone. One of Google Photo’s main advantage is to make sure this wouldn’t happen. You are forgoing that advantage by using this process.

Step 3: Review Photos

Every time you get the calender reminder, review and select photos to backup.

• Open Google Photos
• Open Account Settings(top right profile photo)
• Tap on the ‘Backup is Off’ Menu item - this will show you all the photos on your phone that’s not backed up.
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• Select all photos you want to backup - select only the best.
• Click on the upload button at the top.
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There is a hidden advantage to this process - I enjoy the process of going through the photos of the last one week - it gives me a chance to reflect on the past week as well. I hope this happens for you too.