My Journey as an Indie Developer: Creating Photos to Google Earth to Bridge Photography and Mapping

Published: 1 day ago (January 14, 2026 at 10:09 PM EST)

6 min read

Source: Dev.to

The Spark: Combining Photography and Geography

As a passionate photographer and geography enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of these two worlds. I love capturing moments through my lens, but I also wanted a way to visualize where those moments were taken—to create a geographical story of my travels.

A few years ago, I tried to manually add my photos to Google Earth. I would extract GPS coordinates from my photos, create placemarks in Google Earth, and attach the photos one by one. This process was incredibly time‑consuming, especially when dealing with hundreds of photos from a single trip.

I started looking for tools that could automate this process, but I found they all had limitations:

Some required uploading photos to cloud servers, raising privacy concerns.
Others were expensive desktop applications with steep learning curves.
Most lacked support for multiple platforms.
Many had limited export options.

That’s when I decided to create my own solution: Images to Google Earth / Ovi Maps.

From Idea to Prototype

Core Vision

My goal was to create a tool that would be:

Privacy‑First – All processing done locally to protect user data.
Easy to Use – Intuitive interface that anyone could master.
Cross‑Platform – Available on web, desktop, and mobile.
Feature‑Rich – Support for various export formats and customization options.
Affordable – Accessible to everyone, not just professionals.

Technical Challenges

Developing Photos to Google Earth presented several technical challenges:

Challenge 1: Extracting GPS Data from Photos

The first hurdle was figuring out how to reliably extract GPS information from various photo formats. Different cameras and smartphones store GPS data in slightly different ways within the EXIF metadata. I spent weeks researching EXIF standards and testing with thousands of photos to ensure accurate extraction.

Challenge 2: Generating KMZ Files

Creating valid KMZ files that could be seamlessly imported into Google Earth was another challenge. KMZ is a compressed format that combines KML (Keyhole Markup Language) with embedded files like photos. I had to learn the KML specification and implement a reliable compression algorithm.

Challenge 3: Cross‑Platform Development

I wanted to make the tool available on multiple platforms, which meant I had to choose a development approach that could work across web, desktop, and eventually mobile. I decided to use web technologies as the foundation, then wrap them for desktop platforms using Electron.

Challenge 4: Performance Optimization

Processing hundreds of photos at once, especially high‑resolution ones, can be resource‑intensive. I had to optimize the code to ensure smooth performance even on lower‑end devices.

The First Release

After six months of intense development and testing, I launched the first version of Photos to Google Earth. It was a simple web‑based tool that could:

Extract GPS data from photos.
Generate KMZ files for Google Earth.
Support batch processing of up to 6 photos (free version).
Export GPS data to CSV.

The initial response was encouraging. Users loved the simplicity and privacy‑focused approach. Many reached out to share how the tool was transforming their photo organization and sharing.

Evolving the Product

Based on user feedback, I continued to enhance Photos to Google Earth with new features:

Web and Desktop Versions

I expanded the tool to include both a web version for quick access and a desktop offline version for users who preferred a dedicated application or needed to work without internet.

Enhanced Export Options

Added support for GeoJSON export, allowing users to import their photo data into other GIS (Geographic Information System) applications.

Customization Features

Users requested the ability to customize how photos appeared in Google Earth, so I added:

Adjustable photo display size.
Multiple icon styles.
Support for different map types (Google Earth and Ovi Maps).

Professional Version

To support ongoing development, I introduced a professional version with:

Unlimited photo processing.
Advanced customization options.
Priority support.
Lifetime updates (for the desktop version).

Impact and User Stories

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an indie developer is hearing how your product impacts users. Here are a few stories that have touched me:

A Travel Blogger’s Experience

A travel blogger shared that Photos to Google Earth transformed how they shared their adventures. They now include interactive KMZ files with their blog posts, allowing readers to “follow along” on their journeys using Google Earth.

An Engineering Team’s Solution

An engineering firm started using the tool to document construction sites. They take photos of progress, process them with Photos to Google Earth, and share the KMZ files with clients, providing a clear visual record of work done.

A Teacher’s Educational Tool

A geography teacher now uses the tool to create interactive lessons. Students take photos of local landmarks, process them, and then use the resulting KMZ files to create presentations about their community.

The Future of Photos to Google Earth

As I look ahead, I have several exciting plans for Photos to Google Earth:

AI‑Powered Features – Automatic photo tagging and location‑based recommendations.
3D Integration – Support for importing photos into Google Earth’s 3D view.
Collaboration Tools – Allowing users to share and collaborate on photo collections.
Enhanced Mobile Experience – More mobile‑specific features like real‑time mapping.
Integration with Other Services – Connecting with cloud storage providers and social media platforms.

Lessons Learned as an Indie Developer

Developing Images to Google Earth / Ovi Maps taught me:

The importance of privacy‑first design.
How crucial clear, simple UI/UX is for adoption.
The value of listening to user feedback early and often.
That cross‑platform development is achievable with web technologies and Electron.
That performance optimization can make or break a tool that handles large media files.

# Lessons Learned

- **Solve a Problem You Care About** – Your passion will carry you through the tough times.  
- **Start Small and Iterate** – Launch with core features, then expand based on feedback.  
- **Prioritize User Experience** – A great user experience can set you apart from competitors.  
- **Communicate with Your Users** – Build a community around your product.  
- **Embrace Constraints** – Limited resources can force you to focus on what truly matters.

Conclusion

Creating Images to Google Earth/Ovi Maps has been an incredible journey—one that allowed me to combine my passions for photography and geography while helping others do the same. It’s taught me that, as an indie developer, you don’t need a big team or massive budget to create a product that makes a difference.

My mission remains the same: to bridge the gap between photography and mapping, making it easy for anyone to create meaningful geographical stories from their photos.

If you love taking photos and want to see them come to life on a map, I invite you to try Images to Google Earth/Ovi Maps. Visit the following link to get started:

https://s.wtsolutions.cn/gps.html

And if you have feedback or ideas, please reach out. As an indie developer, your input is invaluable—it’s what helps me make Images to Google Earth/Ovi Maps better every day.

Happy mapping!