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Google Photos Integration

Connect Google Photos to automatically display your family's photo albums on FamilyCast displays. Turn any screen into a beautiful, constantly-updating digital photo frame.

Overview​

Google Photos integration is the primary way to get family photos onto your FamilyCast displays. Select which albums to sync, configure slideshow settings, and enjoy your memories throughout your home.

Key Features:

  • Automatic album sync from Google Photos
  • Smart album support (People, Places, Things)
  • Shared album support (collaborative family albums)
  • Live Photos and video support
  • Automatic new photo detection
  • Facial recognition albums
  • Safe filtering for kids' displays

Update Frequency: New photos appear within 2-6 hours

Setup Instructions​

Step 1: Connect Google Photos Account​

  1. Go to Integrations → Google Photos
  2. Click Connect Google Photos
  3. Sign in with your Google account
  4. Grant FamilyCast permissions:
    • ✅ View your Google Photos library
    • ✅ Access albums
    • ✅ View shared albums
  5. Click Allow

Privacy: FamilyCast only accesses selected albums, not your entire photo library.

Step 2: Select Albums​

After Connecting:

FamilyCast shows all your Google Photos albums:

Select Albums to Sync:

  • ✅ Family Favorites
  • ✅ 2024 Highlights
  • ✅ Kids Growing Up
  • ✅ Vacation Memories
  • ⬜ My Personal Photos (maybe not for family displays)
  • ⬜ Work Events (probably not)

Album Types Available:

  • User-Created Albums: Albums you manually created
  • Shared Albums: Albums shared with you by others
  • Smart Albums: Auto-created by Google (People, Places, Things)
  • Live Albums: Auto-updating (like "Recent Highlights")

Configure Each Album:

  • Display Name: How it appears in FamilyCast
  • Assign to Displays: Which displays show this album
  • Shuffle: Random order or chronological
  • Timeframe: Only recent photos, or all photos

Click Save to sync selected albums.

Step 3: Initial Sync​

First Sync:

  • FamilyCast downloads album metadata and photo links
  • 50-100 photos: 5-10 minutes
  • 500+ photos: 20-30 minutes
  • Photos available on displays once sync completes

Check Progress:

  • Integrations → Google Photos → Sync Status
  • Shows: "Syncing... 150/350 photos"
  • Notification when complete

Album Management​

Creating Albums in Google Photos​

Best Practice: Create FamilyCast-Specific Albums

In Google Photos App:

  1. Open Google Photos
  2. Go to Albums
  3. Click Create Album
  4. Name it: "FamilyCast - Living Room" (or similar)
  5. Add 50-100 photos
  6. Save album

Why Dedicated Albums:

  • Control exactly what displays show
  • Easy content curation
  • Different albums for different displays
  • Keep private photos separate

Album Naming Strategy​

Effective Names:

  • "FamilyCast - Kitchen" (location-specific)
  • "FamilyCast - Kids Safe" (appropriate for kids' displays)
  • "FamilyCast - Recent 3 Months" (time-based)
  • "FamilyCast - Favorites" (quality-curated)
  • "FamilyCast - Travel" (theme-based)

Avoid:

  • Generic names ("Photos", "Album 1")
  • No indication of content
  • Duplicate names

Curating Photo Content​

Photo Selection Tips:

Include:

  • ✅ Mix of people and places
  • ✅ Variety of events and everyday moments
  • ✅ Extended family members
  • ✅ Pets and family activities
  • ✅ Landscapes from vacations
  • ✅ Happy, positive memories

Exclude:

  • ❌ Blurry or poorly lit photos
  • ❌ Duplicate similar shots
  • ❌ Embarrassing photos (especially for kids)
  • ❌ Work-related photos
  • ❌ Private moments
  • ❌ Photos with non-family members (privacy)

How Many Photos:

  • Minimum: 20-30 (avoid repetition)
  • Recommended: 50-100 (good variety)
  • Large Album: 200-500 (extensive rotation)
  • Max: 1000+ (very slow sync, consider splitting)

Update Frequency:

  • Monthly: Add new favorites from recent events
  • Quarterly: Remove outdated or seasonal photos
  • Annually: Major album refresh
  • After Events: Add vacation/event photos immediately

Smart Albums​

Google Photos Auto-Created Albums​

People Albums:

  • Google automatically creates albums for each person
  • Based on facial recognition
  • "Emma", "Dad", "Grandma", etc.

Use Cases:

  • Individual bedroom displays (their photos only)
  • Grandparents' display (grandkids' photos)
  • Family display (everyone together)

Setup:

  1. Tag faces in Google Photos first
  2. Google creates person albums automatically
  3. Select person albums in FamilyCast
  4. Assign to appropriate displays

Places Albums:

  • Auto-created by location
  • "San Francisco", "Grandma's House", "Disney World"

Use Cases:

  • Travel-themed displays
  • Vacation home displays
  • Memory lane displays

Things Albums:

  • Auto-created by content
  • "Dogs", "Beaches", "Sunsets", "Food"

Use Cases:

  • Themed displays (pets only)
  • Nature displays (landscapes)

Live Albums​

Auto-Updating Albums:

Google Photos creates albums that automatically add new photos:

  • "Recent Highlights" (best recent photos)
  • "This Month" (all this month's photos)
  • "Last 30 Days"

Advantages:

  • Always up-to-date
  • No manual curation needed
  • Fresh content automatically

Disadvantages:

  • Less control over content
  • May include unwanted photos
  • Need good photo habits in Google Photos

Best For:

  • Always-fresh displays
  • Low-maintenance setup
  • Trust Google's algorithms

Shared Albums​

Collaborative Family Albums​

Invite Family to Contribute:

In Google Photos:

  1. Create album: "Family Memories"
  2. Click Share
  3. Invite family members (by email)
  4. Enable Collaborate (they can add photos)
  5. Family members add their favorite photos

In FamilyCast:

  1. Shared album appears in album list
  2. Select it for sync
  3. All contributed photos show on displays
  4. Updates automatically as family adds photos

Use Cases:

  • Everyone contributes to family album
  • Grandparents add photos from their perspective
  • Teens share their activities (supervised)
  • Collaborative memory collection

Remote Grandparents​

Grandparents Share Photos:

Setup:

  1. Grandparents create shared album in Google Photos
  2. Share with your account
  3. Add FamilyCast shared album to sync
  4. Grandparents' photos appear on your displays

Reverse:

  1. You create shared album
  2. Add grandparents
  3. Your displays + their displays show same album
  4. Everyone stays connected

Display Configuration​

Photo Display Settings​

Per Display Configuration:

  1. Go to Displays → Select display
  2. Layout Settings → Photos
  3. Configure:

Albums:

  • Select which albums to display
  • Multiple albums (rotates between them)
  • Album rotation interval (2 min, 5 min, etc.)

Slideshow Settings:

  • Transition: Fade, slide, zoom, instant
  • Duration: 5s, 10s, 15s, 30s per photo
  • Shuffle: Random or chronological order
  • Orientation: All, landscape only, portrait only

Filters:

  • Timeframe: Last week, month, 3 months, year, all time
  • People: Show only photos with specific people
  • Quality: High, medium, low resolution

Slideshow Transitions​

Transition Styles:

Fade (Recommended):

  • Smooth cross-fade between photos
  • Professional appearance
  • Works with all photos

Slide:

  • Photo slides in from edge
  • Dynamic feel
  • Direction: Left, right, up, down, random

Zoom (Ken Burns Effect):

  • Slow zoom and pan on photos
  • Cinematic feel
  • Best for high-resolution photos

Instant:

  • No transition, immediate change
  • Fastest, simplest
  • Good for fast rotations

Photo Duration​

How Long Each Photo Shows:

Quick Rotation (5-10 seconds):

  • High energy
  • More photos shown
  • Good for large albums
  • Entryway displays

Standard (15-20 seconds):

  • Balanced viewing time
  • Recommended for most displays
  • Time to appreciate each photo
  • Kitchen displays

Leisurely (30+ seconds):

  • Slow, meditative pace
  • Fewer photos shown
  • Better for small curated albums
  • Living room displays

Shuffle vs. Chronological​

Random Shuffle:

  • Every view is different
  • Keeps display fresh
  • Good for large albums
  • Less predictable

Chronological:

  • Oldest to newest, or reverse
  • Tell a story over time
  • Good for event albums
  • Predictable pattern

Album Order:

  • As organized in Google Photos
  • You control order manually
  • Curated sequence
  • Most control

Kid-Safe Photo Filtering​

Creating Safe Albums for Kids​

Content Guidelines:

Include:

  • ✅ G-rated, age-appropriate content
  • ✅ The child themselves (builds self-esteem)
  • ✅ Immediate family
  • ✅ Happy, positive memories
  • ✅ Pets and family activities

Exclude:

  • ❌ Embarrassing photos (bath time, tantrums, etc.)
  • ❌ Adult-only events
  • ❌ Private family moments
  • ❌ Anything they wouldn't want friends to see

Album Examples:

  • "Emma's Highlights" - Her activities, friends, achievements
  • "Family Fun - All Ages" - Appropriate for everyone
  • "Nature & Animals" - Pets, zoo, outdoor adventures

Safe Mode Photo Filtering​

Automatic Filtering:

  1. Enable Safe Mode on kids' displays
  2. FamilyCast filters questionable content automatically
  3. Based on:
    • Album assignment (only kid-safe albums)
    • Facial recognition (only their photos, or family photos)
    • Content detection (family-friendly only)

Manual Curation (Recommended):

  • Parents preview all photos
  • Curate dedicated kid-safe albums
  • More reliable than automatic filtering
  • Peace of mind

Sync Behavior​

How Often Photos Update​

Automatic Sync:

  • Every 6 hours
  • Checks for new photos in selected albums
  • Downloads new photo metadata
  • Updates displays automatically

Manual Sync:

  1. Go to Integrations → Google Photos
  2. Click Sync Now
  3. Immediate sync triggered
  4. New photos appear within 2-5 minutes

What Triggers Sync:

  • Adding photos to synced album in Google Photos
  • Creating new album (if auto-sync enabled)
  • Removing photos from album (removed from displays)
  • Changing album settings in Google Photos

What Happens When...​

You Add Photos to Album in Google Photos:

  1. Add photos to synced album
  2. FamilyCast syncs within 6 hours (or force sync)
  3. New photos appear on displays
  4. Slideshow includes new photos

You Remove Photos from Album:

  1. Remove from Google Photos album
  2. FamilyCast syncs and removes metadata
  3. Photos no longer show on displays
  4. Not deleted from Google Photos, just not synced

You Delete Album in Google Photos:

  1. Album deleted in Google Photos
  2. FamilyCast detects deletion at next sync
  3. Album removed from FamilyCast
  4. Displays using that album show no photos (warning displayed)
  5. Reassign displays to different album

You Edit Photo in Google Photos:

  • Edits sync to FamilyCast
  • Updated version shows on displays
  • Filters, crops, adjustments all sync

Advanced Features​

Live Photos & Videos​

Motion Photos (Live Photos):

  • Short 2-3 second clips
  • Auto-play on displays (if enabled)
  • Adds movement to slideshow

Video Clips:

  • Short videos (5-15 seconds)
  • Can be included in slideshow
  • Sound optional (usually muted for displays)

Settings:

  1. Displays → Select display → Photo Settings
  2. Include Videos: On/Off
  3. Max Video Length: 5s, 10s, 15s
  4. Sound: Muted, Low volume, Normal

Recommendations:

  • Kitchen display: Videos with sound (family enjoys)
  • Bedroom display: Videos muted (less intrusive)
  • Living room: Videos on loop (engaging)

Facial Recognition Filtering​

Show Only Specific People:

Use Case: Kids' bedroom displays show only photos they're in

Setup:

  1. Tag faces in Google Photos
  2. In FamilyCast: Displays → Select display
  3. Photo Filters → People
  4. Select: "Emma" (show only her photos)
  5. Save

Result:

  • Emma's display shows only photos with Emma
  • Automatically filters entire library
  • No manual album curation needed

Multiple People:

  • Select multiple: "Emma AND Mom" (both in photo)
  • Or "Emma OR Dad" (either in photo)

Timeframe Filtering​

Show Only Recent Photos:

Why:

  • Keep displays current
  • Seasonal relevance (summer photos in summer)
  • Avoid outdated photos

Setup:

  1. Displays → Select display → Photo Settings
  2. Timeframe Filter
  3. Options:
    • Last 7 days
    • Last 30 days
    • Last 3 months
    • Last 6 months
    • Last year
    • All time
    • Custom date range

Use Cases:

  • Kitchen: Last 3 months (what's happening now)
  • Living room: Last year (seasonal memories)
  • Hallway: All time (lifetime memories)

Troubleshooting​

Photos Not Showing​

Check:

  1. Integration Connected?

    • Integrations → Google Photos
    • Status: "Connected" (green)
    • If red "Disconnected", reconnect

  2. Albums Selected?

    • Verify at least one album selected
    • Check album has photos (not empty)

  3. Display Configured?

    • Go to display settings
    • Verify album assigned
    • Check layout includes photo component

Solutions:

  • Reconnect Google Photos integration
  • Force sync: Sync Now
  • Verify album selection
  • Refresh display browser

Photos Not Updating​

New photos not appearing:

Check:

  1. Last Sync Time:

    • Integrations → Google Photos
    • "Last Synced" should be recent (within 6 hours)

  2. Photos in Synced Album?:

    • Verify new photos added to album FamilyCast is syncing
    • Not just in library, must be in album

Solutions:

  • Click Sync Now to force update
  • Wait up to 6 hours for automatic sync
  • Verify photos in correct album

Wrong Photos Showing​

Issue: Photos from wrong album or unwanted photos

Check:

  1. Display Settings:

    • Verify correct album assigned
    • Check for "All Albums" setting (shows everything)

  2. Album Contents:

    • Review album in Google Photos
    • Remove unwanted photos from album

Solutions:

  • Assign specific album to display
  • Curate album in Google Photos
  • Use photo filters (people, timeframe)

Photos Loading Slowly​

Slideshow stutters or loads slowly:

Causes:

  • Slow internet connection
  • High-resolution photos (4K, RAW)
  • Too many photos synced

Solutions:

  1. Lower Quality Setting:

    • Displays → Photo Settings → Quality: Medium or Low
    • Faster loading, less bandwidth

  2. Smaller Albums:

    • Use 50-100 photos instead of 500+
    • Faster sync and loading

  3. Check Internet Speed:

    • Run speed test
    • Displays need 5+ Mbps for smooth photos

Duplicate Photos​

Same photo appears multiple times in slideshow:

Cause: Photo in multiple synced albums

Fix:

  1. Check which albums are synced
  2. Remove photo from duplicate albums
  3. Or: Assign only one album per display

Best Practices​

Photo Quality​

Resolution:

  • 1920x1080 (Full HD) ideal for most displays
  • 4K photos work but load slower
  • Don't use tiny low-res screenshots

Orientation:

  • Landscape (horizontal) for most displays
  • Portrait (vertical) if display mounted vertically
  • Mix both if display can rotate

Lighting & Quality:

  • Bright, clear photos work best
  • Avoid very dark or underexposed
  • Good color and contrast
  • Professional or high-quality phone photos

Album Strategy​

Start Simple:

  • One album with 50 best photos
  • Use on all displays initially
  • Get comfortable with system
  • Expand to multiple albums later

Location-Specific Albums:

  • Kitchen: Recent family photos (last 3 months)
  • Living room: All-time favorites (curated best)
  • Kids' rooms: Individual child's photos
  • Entryway: Mix of old and new (memory lane)

Seasonal Rotation:

  • Spring: Outdoor activities, flowers, Easter
  • Summer: Vacations, pool, beach, BBQs
  • Fall: Back to school, autumn colors, Halloween
  • Winter: Holidays, snow, cozy indoor moments

Memory Themes:

  • "This Month Last Year" (time machine)
  • "Throwback Decades" (90s, 2000s, 2010s)
  • "New Memories" (last month)
  • "All-Time Favorites" (best ever)

Privacy & Safety​

Review Before Sharing:

  • Preview album before assigning to display
  • Check for embarrassing content
  • Verify appropriate for audience (kids, guests)

Guest Mode:

  • Switch to curated "guest-safe" album when visitors arrive
  • No private family moments
  • Keep personal photos private

Respect Kids' Privacy:

  • No bath time, potty training, tantrums
  • Ask teens if photo is OK to display
  • Remove photos kids find embarrassing
  • Balance sharing with privacy

Next Steps​

Enhance Photo Displays:

Setup:

Family Management:

Questions? Contact [email protected] or check Common Issues