shawzymoto yes, im aware that the point of graphene is to get rid of google but i am trying to do this slowly as its a big shift for me being so dependent for so long.
Despite what people will tell you, including on this very forum, that's not the "point" of GrapheneOS.
GraheneOS does come without any Google services or connections, so if that's someone's end goal, then GrapheneOS is great at that and you don't have to lift a finger to get to that point, but it's not really the point.
The point is providing a secure and private operating system. The security and privacy features are all the more relevant when dealing with apps that may be more invasive than others.
You can use Google Photos and it'll work just fine for backing up your photos.
My suggestion is starting out with one profile, sandboxed Google Play installed, and using your device the same way you were previously.
Become familiar with GrapheneOS' privacy and security features and what they provide, and if you decide you want to move away from using Google Play Services, or start using different apps in the future, that's completely fine, but don't feel bad for wanting to use the services you already are.