Private photo vault or self-hosted library?
“Private photo vault” can mean different things to different people. One person wants a separate place to browse a few photographs. Another wants a large photo and video collection on a server they operate. Those are different starting points, even if both people use the same search phrase.
Before comparing products, finish this sentence: “I want my library to…” Be specific. A useful answer might be “live on storage I manage” or “keep one collection separate in the interface.” Neither answer, on its own, tells you how the files are protected or recovered.
Ask about access
Who should be able to open the collection? Is access controlled on a device, by an account, by the server or by more than one of those? What happens when you sign out or replace a device?
Treat these as questions for the product's documentation and a harmless test. A label such as “private” does not answer all of them. Nor does the appearance of a lock icon prove how every part of a system behaves.
You can test the ordinary workflow with pictures of objects or abstract drawings. There is no need to upload personal material to discover whether the interface and account model make sense to you.
Ask where the library lives
A self-hosted library runs on a server you choose and operate. That choice should be visible in your evaluation: what hardware is supported, how you maintain it and how the intended devices connect.
Ask separately about any optional services. Find out what each one does, what information it handles and whether you need it for your intended use. Do not infer the answers from a product category or a marketing phrase.
These are practical questions, not a ranking of other companies' security. The useful result is an explanation you can understand and verify for the particular setup.
Ask how you leave or recover
Can you take the original files out? What happens to albums, descriptions and other library information? Which parts would you need to restore after a failure?
Try those questions with the small practice collection before committing your main library. Keep a copy of the original test files and compare what comes back. The photo-storage guide offers a way to turn this into a short recovery plan.
Choose the job before the label
A separate view inside an app, a collection on your own server and a recovery copy can all be useful. Decide which jobs you need, then check the actual behaviour of the tools you are considering.
Inner Pocket Media is being built as a photo and video library for your own server. Nightstand is in development as a separate area of the library. It cannot be opened in the current development build.
Read Features for the direction and FAQ for the open availability questions. If operating the server is new to you, start with the self-hosted library guide.