Donna Peplinskie (a11n)

Chuck Grimmett

Kim Clow

Fernando Fernandes

Dave Whitley

Automattic Special Projects

oh_hello

Kathryn Presner

Vegard S.

racheleliza

luisasacchetto

<p>Album Importer for Google Photos lets you quickly import images from a public Google Photos album into your WordPress site and show them as a gallery. Add the block to any post or page, paste a Google Photos album URL, and start the import — the images are added to your Media Library and displayed automatically.</p>
<h4>Basic Usage</h4>
<ol>
<li>Create or edit a post/page where you want the gallery.</li>
<li>Add the “Google Photos Album” block.</li>
<li>From Google Photos, share your album and copy the public link.</li>
<li>Paste the album URL into the block.</li>
<li>Click Start Import.</li>
<li>Wait for completion — the gallery is created automatically.</li>
</ol>
<h4>Album URL Format</h4>
<p>Use a publicly shared Google Photos album URL, for example:</p>
<pre><code>https://photos.app.goo.gl/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
</code></pre>
<h3>External services</h3>
<p>This plugin relies on Google Photos (a third-party service operated by Google LLC) to read and import publicly shared album content. No data is sent to any external service unless an authorized user explicitly provides a Google Photos album URL to the plugin. There are two entry points that trigger requests to Google:</p>
<ol>
<li>The “Album Importer for Google Photos” block in the post/page editor — pasting an album URL and clicking “Start Import”.</li>
<li>The “Import from Google Photos” button that the plugin adds to the media-selection modal of core Image, Gallery, Cover, and Media & Text blocks — pasting an album URL into the modal and clicking “Load album”.</li>
</ol>
<h4>Google Photos</h4>
<p>What it is and what it is used for: Google Photos is Google’s photo hosting and sharing service. The plugin uses it to fetch the contents of a publicly shared album so the images can be saved into the WordPress media library and rendered as a gallery.</p>
<p>What data is sent and when:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Verify the album (server -> Google).</strong> When an authorized editor pastes an album URL and triggers verification (clicking “Start Import” in the block, or “Load album” in the media-library modal), the plugin makes a server-side HTTP GET request to the album URL on <code>photos.google.com</code> or <code>photos.app.goo.gl</code> to retrieve the album’s public HTML page and parse the list of image URLs.</li>
<li><strong>Render thumbnail previews (browser -> Google).</strong> After verification returns the list of images, the plugin renders thumbnails directly in the editor by setting each image URL as the <code>src</code> of an <code><img></code> tag. This causes the editor user’s browser to make HTTP GET requests to <code>lh3.googleusercontent.com</code> for each thumbnail.</li>
<li><strong>Filename inference (server -> Google).</strong> For each image to be imported, the plugin makes a server-side HTTP HEAD request to <code>lh3.googleusercontent.com</code> to read the <code>Content-Disposition</code> header (the import continues even if this request fails).</li>
<li><strong>Image download (server -> Google).</strong> For each image, the plugin issues a server-side HTTP GET request to <code>lh3.googleusercontent.com</code> to download the image bytes and store them as a WordPress media attachment.</li>
<li>No user credentials, account information, or telemetry are collected or transmitted by the plugin. The only data the plugin sends is the album URL the editor pastes (and the derived image URLs from that album).</li>
</ul>
<p>Use of Google’s services is subject to Google’s terms:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://policies.google.com/terms" rel="nofollow ugc">Google Terms of Service</a></li>
<li><a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="nofollow ugc">Google Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Source Code</h3>
<p>The full, unminified source code for this plugin — including the JavaScript and CSS sources used to generate the compiled files in <code>assets/js/build/</code> and <code>blocks/build/</code> — is publicly available on <a href="https://github.com/a8cteam51/importer-google-photos" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub</a>.</p>
<p>Build tools and instructions:</p>
<ul>
<li>JavaScript and CSS are built with <code>@wordpress/scripts</code> (webpack) via npm.</li>
<li>PHP dependencies are managed with Composer.</li>
<li>To build the plugin from source, clone the repository and run:
<ol>
<li><code>npm ci</code></li>
<li><code>npm run build</code></li>
<li><code>composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader</code></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>A <code>build.sh</code> script in the repository produces a distributable ZIP that mirrors the version published here.</li>
<li>JavaScript and SCSS sources are located in <code>assets/js/src/</code> (e.g. <code>style.scss</code>) and <code>blocks/src/album/</code> (e.g. <code>editor.scss</code>). They are compiled by <code>@wordpress/scripts</code> into the <code>assets/js/build/</code> and <code>blocks/build/</code> directories.</li>
</ul>


Album Importer for Google Photos

Import Google Photos albums into your WordPress media library and display them in a beautiful gallery block.

Sayontan Sinha

<p>Photonic takes the WordPress gallery and super-charges it with a lot of added functionality. It adds support for several new sources and parameters to enhance the content and look-and-feel of your galleries. It supports <a href="https://flickr.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Flickr</a> photos, Albums (Photosets), Galleries and Collections, along with <a href="https://smugmug.com" rel="nofollow ugc">SmugMug</a> folders, albums and images, and <a href="https://zenfolio.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Zenfolio</a> photos, Photosets and Groups. You can also set up authentication so that visitors can see private and protected photos from each provider.</p>
<p>When used without the Gutenberg editor Photonic by default overrides the <code>gallery</code> shortcode. In case you happen to be using a theme or plugin that already overrides the <code>gallery</code> shortcode, Photonic provides you with the option to use your own shortcode for Photonic galleries. This lets your plugins coexist. Bear in mind that if you deactivate Photonic you will have to remove all instances of this custom shortcode, something that is not required if you stick to the <code>gallery</code> shortcode.</p>
<p>When used with Gutenberg Photonic creates no shortcodes, rather it creates blocks. If some of your posts were written with Gutenberg and some without, Photonic supports both scenarios.</p>
<h3>Lightboxes</h3>
<p>Of all plugins free or paid, Photonic has support built in for the highest number of lightbox scripts. This includes scripts that run on pure JavaScript without relying on external libraries, or those that require jQuery.</p>
<h4>Pure JS Libraries</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://feimosi.github.io/baguetteBox.js/" rel="nofollow ugc">BaguetteBox</a></li>
<li><a href="https://henrygd.me/bigpicture/" rel="nofollow ugc">BigPicture</a></li>
<li><a href="https://biati-digital.github.io/glightbox/" rel="nofollow ugc">“Gie” Lightbox (GLightbox)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lightgalleryjs.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">LightGallery</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/dimsemenov/PhotoSwipe/tree/v4.1.3" rel="nofollow ugc">PhotoSwipe v4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://photoswipe.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">PhotoSwipe v5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nextapps-de.github.io/spotlight/" rel="nofollow ugc">Spotlight</a></li>
<li><a href="https://veno.es/venobox/" rel="nofollow ugc">VenoBox</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>jQuery Based Libraries</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jacklmoore.com/colorbox/" rel="nofollow ugc">Colorbox</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fancyapps.com/fancybox/" rel="nofollow ugc">Fancybox2</a> – not GPL, so the script is not included with the plugin. See the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/third-party-lightboxes/" rel="nofollow ugc">Lightboxes</a> page for details</li>
<li><a href="https://fancyapps.com/fancybox/3/" rel="nofollow ugc">Fancybox3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://noelboss.github.io/featherlight/" rel="nofollow ugc">Featherlight</a></li>
<li><a href="https://osvaldas.info/image-lightbox-responsive-touch-friendly" rel="nofollow ugc">Image Lightbox</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cornel.bopp-art.com/lightcase/" rel="nofollow ugc">Lightcase</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.stripjs.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Strip</a></li>
<li><a href="https://brutaldesign.github.io/swipebox/" rel="nofollow ugc">Swipebox</a></li>
<li>Thickbox</li>
</ul>
<h4>Obsolete Libraries</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://fancybox.net/" rel="nofollow ugc">Fancybox 1</a> – no update since November 2010</li>
<li><a href="http://dimsemenov.com/plugins/magnific-popup/" rel="nofollow ugc">Magnific Popup</a> – no update since February 2016</li>
<li><a href="http://www.no-margin-for-errors.com/projects/prettyphoto-jquery-lightbox-clone/" rel="nofollow ugc">PrettyPhoto</a> – no update since May 2015</li>
</ul>
<p>For the non-GPL alternatives like <a href="https://fancyapps.com/fancybox/" rel="nofollow ugc">Fancybox2</a> and the obsolete libraries, Photonic has code to work with them, but you have to install the scripts yourself or rely on them from your theme or another plugin.</p>
<p>With the exception of Thickbox the lightboxes have been adapted to become touch and gesture-friendly. See the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/third-party-lightboxes/" rel="nofollow ugc">Lightboxes</a> page for details.</p>
<h3>Support for Multiple Platforms</h3>
<h4>Flickr</h4>
<p>The following Flickr concepts are supported in Photonic:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/flickr-photos/" rel="nofollow ugc">Photos</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/flickr-photosets/" rel="nofollow ugc">PhotoSets (Albums)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/flickr-galleries/" rel="nofollow ugc">Galleries</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/flickr-collections/" rel="nofollow ugc">Collections</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/flickr-photo/" rel="nofollow ugc">Single Photo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/flickr-authentication/" rel="nofollow ugc">Authentication</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For demos of Flickr support visit the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/flickr/" rel="nofollow ugc">Flickr page</a>.</p>
<h4>Google Photos</h4>
<p>Google API Change:** With effect from 31st March 2025, Google’s Photos API is discontinued (see <a href="https://developers.google.com/photos/support/updates" rel="nofollow ugc">here for Google’s official announcement</a>). Consequently, Photonic will stop working for Google Photos**. For more details, see <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/topic/potential-shutdown-of-google-photos-support-from-march-2025/" rel="ugc">this thread</a>. Note that while Google’s official announcement says otherwise, as of 20th April 2025 the API is still working, so older versions of Photonic will seem to work. However, there is no guarantee about when Google will truly shut it off.</p>
<h4>SmugMug</h4>
<p>The following SmugMug concepts are supported in Photonic:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/smugmug/smugmug-tree/" rel="nofollow ugc">User Tree</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/smugmug/smugmug-photos/" rel="nofollow ugc">Photos</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/smugmug/smugmug-albums/" rel="nofollow ugc">Albums</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/smugmug/folders/" rel="nofollow ugc">Folders</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For demos of SmugMug support visit the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/smugmug/" rel="nofollow ugc">SmugMug page</a>.</p>
<h4>Zenfolio</h4>
<p>The following Zenfolio concepts are supported in Photonic:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/zenfolio/photos/" rel="nofollow ugc">Photos</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/zenfolio/photosets/" rel="nofollow ugc">PhotoSets (Galleries and Collections)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/zenfolio/groups/" rel="nofollow ugc">Groups</a></li>
<li><a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/zenfolio/group-hierarchy/" rel="nofollow ugc">Group Hierarchies</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For demos of Zenfolio support visit the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/zenfolio/" rel="nofollow ugc">Zenfolio page</a>.</p>
<h4>Instagram</h4>
<p>In mid-September 2022 Meta / Facebook / Instagram changed its rules to disallow individual developers (i.e. developers not operating as a business) from meaningfully using its API. As a result, Photonic no longer works for Instagram photos. The code is still in place though, and can be used by someone with a business wishing to adopt it.</p>
<h4>Native WordPress Galleries</h4>
<p>Your existing galleries are left intact. However you can add a <code>style</code> parameter to a native gallery to open it up to Photonic. The <code>style</code> parameter can take any of the values documented on the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/layouts/" rel="nofollow ugc">Layouts</a> page.</p>
<h3>Other Photonic Goodies</h3>
<h4>Gallery Wizard</h4>
<p>The WordPress Classic editor shows up with a button that says “Add / Edit Photonic Gallery”. Clicking on it launches a wizard that helps you interactively build out a gallery with just a few clicks.</p>
<h4>Gutenberg Support</h4>
<p>The Gallery Wizard can be accessed via Gutenberg / the Block Editor as well. While creating a block, just look for Photonic. Please refer to the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/gutenberg-support/" rel="nofollow ugc">documentation</a>.</p>
<h4>Video Support</h4>
<p>Photonic provides gallery and lightbox support for <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/videos/" rel="nofollow ugc">videos as well</a>. Videos of the following sorts are supported:</p>
<ul>
<li>External videos from YouTube or Vimeo can be opened in any of the lightboxes apart from Image Lightbox, Thickbox or BaguetteBox</li>
<li>Self-hosted or external videos in MP4 formats can be opened in any of the lightboxes apart from Image Lightbox, PrettyPhoto, Strip or Thickbox</li>
<li>Videos hosted by external service providers (Flickr, SmugMug etc.) can be opened as a part of a gallery in any of the lightboxes apart from Image Lightbox, PrettyPhoto, Strip or Thickbox. Some lightboxes have issues with specific features. Please refer to the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/third-party-lightboxes/" rel="nofollow ugc">Lightboxes</a> documentation for more.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Deep-Linking and Social Sharing</h4>
<p>Photonic provides deep-linking support for non-WP images, and by extension, supports social sharing to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.</p>
<h4>Beautiful Layouts</h4>
<p>Photonic displays your galleries in multiple forms:</p>
<ul>
<li>A grid of square thumbnails (the default)</li>
<li>A grid of circular thumbnails (like Jetpack)</li>
<li>A neat justified grid</li>
<li>A masonry layout</li>
<li>A “horizontal” masonry layout, for those who prefer having their masonry layouts sorted horizontally</li>
<li>A tiled, random mosaic (a much improved variant of the Jetpack Tiled Gallery layout)</li>
<li>A slideshow, using the <a href="https://splidejs.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Splide</a> script</li>
</ul>
<p>See the <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/layouts/" rel="nofollow ugc">Layouts</a> documentation page for details and examples.</p>
<h3>Obsessively Comprehensive Documentation (OCD)</h3>
<p>Photonic’s <a href="https://aquoid.com/plugins/photonic/photonic-documentation/" rel="nofollow ugc">documentation</a> is comprehensive to the point of obsession. And yet, if you find something missing, please feel free to get in touch via the support forum.</p>


Photonic Gallery & Lightbox for Flickr, SmugMug & Others

This free gallery plugin works very well with the Media Library Assistant. I prefer the dynamic MLA shortcode over the fixed pre-selection of images. The resulting carousels look great. Best of all, this plugin is free.

The support by the developer is very quick and friendly. He looked almost immediately at my support ticket and it was solved within an hour.

Great and free carousel slider

Galleries on steroids! A stylish lightbox & gallery plugin for WP, Flickr, SmugMug and Zenfolio photos and videos.

Album Importer for Google Photos vs Photonic Gallery & Lightbox for Flickr, SmugMug & Others