Uploading photos from Google Photos to SmugMug is a great way to get your
images off of Google’s servers and onto SmugMug’s highly customizable
platform. SmugMug offers unlimited storage for photos and videos and has
robust privacy controls, so you can easily share galleries with friends and
family or make your photos public.

This guide will walk through the entire process of getting your photos from
Google Photos over to SmugMug using Google Takeout. We’ll cover:

• Downloading your photos from Google Takeout
• Uploading and organizing your photos on SmugMug
• Customizing and sharing your SmugMug galleries

Follow along below and we’ll have your Google Photos collection safely stored
on SmugMug in no time!

Step 1: Download Your Photos from Google Takeout

The first step is to download all of your photos from Google Photos using
Google Takeout. Here’s how:

• Go to takeout.google.com and sign in to your
  Google account if
  prompted.

• Deselect all services except for Google Photos.

• Choose your export file type. SmugMug recommends original quality JPG.

• Select “All photo albums included” to download your entire Google Photos
  library.

• Choose your export frequency and delivery method. Opt for the one-time
  download to your drive.

• Click on “Create Export” and Google will prepare your archive. This may
  take a while depending on how many photos you have stored in Google
  Photos.

Once the export is ready, Google will email you a link to download your photo
archive. The files will be in a zipped folder that you can extract to access
your photos.

Step 2: Create a SmugMug Account

If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to create a SmugMug account before
uploading your photos. Here’s how to sign up:

• Go to SmugMug.com and
  click “Sign Up”

  

• Choose the “Basic” plan if you just want a place to store your photos.
  Paid plans offer more customization and sales options.

• Enter your name, email, and password to create your account.

• Pick a URL for your SmugMug portfolio (like yourname.smugmug.com).

And that’s it! Your new SmugMug account is ready to hold all of your photos.

Step 3: Upload Photos to SmugMug

With your Google Photos downloaded and your SmugMug account created, it’s time
to get your images uploaded. Here’s how to do it:

• Sign in to your new SmugMug account and click “Upload”.

• Click “Select from computer” and navigate to the folder holding your
  Google Takeout zip file.

• Select the folder and click open. SmugMug will upload all the photos from
  your Google archive.

• The upload speed depends on your file sizes and internet connection. This
  can take a while for large collections so be patient!

Once the upload finishes, all of your photos from Google will be safely stored
on your SmugMug account, automatically organized into albums by date.

Step 4: Organize Your Uploaded Photos

With the photos uploaded, you can now organize them into galleries on SmugMug:

• From your account, click “Galleries” and then “New Gallery” to create a
  custom photo album.

• Give the gallery a title and description. Select photos from your uploaded
  collection to add.

• Create as many galleries as you’d like to organize your photos on SmugMug.

• Use folders and subfolders to further categorize your galleries by topic,
  date, people, or other criteria.

• Customize thumbnail sizes and arrangement in your gallery settings.

• Delete any blurry photos or duplicates you don’t need.

Take the time to thoughtfully organize your SmugMug gallery so your photos are
easy to find and enjoy!

Step 5: Customize Your SmugMug Gallery

Now for the fun part – making your SmugMug gallery your own with
customization:

Pick a Theme

• Click “Customize” and browse SmugMug’s collection of gallery themes to
  find one you like.

• See your photos displayed with the theme applied as you preview.

• Choose a theme that fits your style – modern, simple, bold, or fun.

Set Gallery Options

• Adjust options like title/caption display and thumbnail spacing.

• Enable autoplay slideshows, password-protection, print sales, and more.

• Make your gallery experience perfect for you and your viewers.

Showcase Your Best Photos

• Spotlight favorites using SmugMug’s “Emphasize” option to make photos pop.

• Feature your 10-15 absolute best shots up top.

• Draw eyes to your standout images.

With the right theme and options, you can create a SmugMug gallery you’re
proud to share with the world.

Step 6: Share Your SmugMug Gallery

The final step is sharing your new custom SmugMug gallery with friends,
family, or the public:

Send Gallery Links

• Click “Share” and choose who can view your gallery.

• Email gallery links directly to selected contacts.

• Post links on social media for wider sharing.

Adjust Privacy Settings

• Make your gallery public and open to anyone.

• Require a password for accessing the gallery link.

• Limit access to only people you list as contacts.

• Tailor your privacy levels for each gallery you create.

Allow Downloads/Prints

• Enable downloads and printing so viewers can save copies of your photos
  themselves.

• Set prices if you want to sell prints through SmugMug.

• Disable downloading if you only want to provide gallery viewing access.

Now enjoy your Google Photo collection on SmugMug! Customize and experiment
with galleries, themes, and sharing options to make your SmugMug portfolio
your new photo home.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to ever lose them to
hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest
way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts.
Simply Download PicBackMan (it’s free!), register
your account, connect to your online store and
tell PicBackMan where your videos are – PicBackMan does the rest,
automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and
uploads those too. You don’t have to ever touch it.

FAQs about Uploading Google Photos to SmugMug

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making the switch
from Google Photos to SmugMug:

Will my uploaded photos count against my SmugMug storage limit?

SmugMug offers unlimited storage for all accounts, so you don’t have to worry
about the number of photos using up space. Upload away!

Can I upload photos from other sources besides Google Photos?

Yes! SmugMug has flexible upload options. You can bring in photos from your
computer, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Dropbox, and more.

What image formats does SmugMug support?

SmugMug allows uploads of JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, and RAW files. Videos can also
be uploaded in common formats like MOV and MP4.

What happens to my photos on Google Photos after I’ve downloaded and uploaded
them?

Your photos will remain safely stored on Google Photos even after you’ve
exported and uploaded them to SmugMug. Consider Google Photos your backup.

Does SmugMug modify or compress my uploaded images?

No. SmugMug never alters original image files. Your photos remain just as you
uploaded them. Edits only apply on a per-display basis.

Can I rearrange the order of photos within a SmugMug gallery?

Yes, you have full control over the sort order of photos in your SmugMug
galleries. Drag-and-drop images to customize their arrangement.

Conclusion

Moving your collection from Google Photos over to SmugMug takes a bit of
effort, but the end result is absolutely worth it. You’ll have unlimited
storage, robust organization and sharing options, and full creative control
over beautifully presented galleries of all your photos.

Use this guide to easily download your photos from Google Takeout and get
everything uploaded and organized on your new SmugMug account. Customize your
galleries to suit your taste and start sharing your amazing photos with the
world on SmugMug!