[Feature] save searches as albums

[cunicode]

The feature

As we have the semantic search, it could be useful to save (some) searches as albums (smart albums?)

use case:

• I search for "beach"
• I decide to save that search as album
• that album will contain existing and future assets that match "beach"

implementation:
since searches already create urls, an easy way to implement this could be to storing the links only (without album features of adding)

(similar to this feature #1673 but on demand after search is performed)

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[cunicode]

On the mobile app, the categories albums "screenshots" and "selfies" seem to work like that, as the results are the same as searching for "screenshot" or "selfie"

[m3brown]

I 👍 this feature request!

A driving factor is I'd really love to give my (authenticated) parents access to all photos of my kids, auto-updating over time.

Some thoughts:

1. It's worth emphasizing rather than assuming folks understand: I think the primary benefit of saved searches is the dynamic nature of the content. Maintaining albums takes time and energy if new photos are to be added over time.

2. I'm not familiar with the Immich codebase, but it could be that the implementation logistics for an Album are not compatible with search results. I'm thinking access control logic. In my mind, this feature does not need to be an "Album" -- it could be something like "Saved Searches" and still provide value alongside the existing Album functionality.

3. For saved searches to be truly valuable for me, I'd want to share them with others.

   • For example, I'd like to save the date ranges for all my family vacations so my spouse can easily view them.
   • Anonymous links could be nice, but I'm thinking "Shared Searches" (or Albums) in the UI for authenticated users is just as good.

[cunicode]

Saving urls as buttons could do the trick....
http://127.0.0.1:2283/search?query=%7B%22query%22%3A%22forest%22%7D

[m3brown]

Yes! This reminds me of Jira's feature called Quick Filters

https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/configure-quick-filters/

Their search filters could also be a useful influence, it has the concept of sharing with others.

https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirasoftwareserver0818/saving-your-search-as-a-filter-1082527265.html

[ThreeAurora]

Very creative feature, I thought about it, and if it did come to fruition, I wouldn't be able to live without it

[cunicode]

my current workaround is to save bookmarks on the browser:
http://localhost:2283/search?query=%7B"query"%3A"red"%7D

but since I mostly use immich on the phone app, it is not very useful :(

[slanglade]

I totally second this feature request !

For me, it's really the last thing that keep me from ditching Synology Photo. To be able to define an album using a search would be really useful.
You can create an album dynamically compiling all photos with specific people in it (read: family or friends album) and/or base on geolocalisation and/or with contextual searches (if activated on your instance) etc. and then share it. It will automagically be updated with all new photos according to filter.

That's a hell of a usefull feature, and even if the current structuration of what is technically an album in Immich can be a tricky problem (I don't know), it will really be worth the effort.

[slanglade]

And don't forget the fact that by giving a user a link to this shared album, it also save you the hassle of defining precise access rights on each and every corresponding photos. Which is also a big winning point.