Memories also uses automatic tagging, so searching for tent and beach would probably get you the same result. But I guess they are not using the best recognition software, I get a few missinterpretations here and there. (My marzipan potatoe with googly eyes is not an ‘Instrument’. But I guess it’s a challange for any software)
No special process, I installed Memories as admin on my Nextcloud, pointed it to my Picture-folder and my Smartphone-Uploadfolder, and made sure I had the other Apps as recommended here installed (e.g. ‘Photos’ to use albums and ‘Recognize’ for automatic face tagging)
The Memories-App on the Smartphone is also neat. And it is available on F-Droid.
My picture folder contains 1,4 TB of data, with many RAW-files and some Videos. Memories is handling that without a problem. I especially like the way it handles RAW-files, by grouping them together with the fitting JPEG.
I don’t know about how ressource heavy it is, but my server is really nothing special.
Features I like and use:
If you already use Nextcloud, try the Memorie-Extension. It has all the features of Immich. The tagging-feature for faces has been there for at least the year I am using it now.
I love the additional freedom too.
For me there weren’t even problems with nasty banking apps, all apps from three german banks are working normal.
For all people reading this: there are zero privacy-based limitations with GrapheneOS.
I guess you only use the standard Nextcloud photo app, not Memories. It is very comparable to the features you describe + if you have already set up your Nextcloud, there is no need to work with yet another software on your server.