diff --git a/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.test.ts b/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.test.ts
index 52aa53475..ff6c3cf86 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.test.ts
+++ b/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// FE-ADMIN-STOR-RECLAIM-001 to -007: the reclaim report as both storage panels show it.
+// FE-ADMIN-STOR-RECLAIM-001 to -009: the reclaim report as both storage panels show it.
 import { STORAGE_RECLAIM_CATEGORIES, type StorageReclaimCategoryReport, type StorageReclaimReport } from '@trek/shared';
 
 import { reclaimView } from './reclaimModel';
@@ -137,4 +137,84 @@ describe('reclaimView', () => {
   it('FE-ADMIN-STOR-RECLAIM-007: a running check reads as running', () => {
     expect(reclaimView({ deleteEnabled: false, running: true, lastRun: null, lastDeleteRun: null }).running).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it('FE-ADMIN-STOR-RECLAIM-008: a category held back by a backup or a failed delete still counts what was judged and not deleted', () => {
+    const view = reclaimView({
+      deleteEnabled: true,
+      running: false,
+      lastDeleteRun: null,
+      lastRun: report(
+        {
+          covers: category({
+            skipped: 'backup_running',
+            unreferenced: { objects: 3_000, bytes: 3_000 },
+            eligible: { objects: 3_000, bytes: 3_000 },
+          }),
+          places: category({
+            skipped: 'backup_running',
+            unreferenced: { objects: 1_500, bytes: 150 },
+            eligible: { objects: 1_200, bytes: 120 },
+            deleted: { objects: 1_000, bytes: 100 },
+          }),
+          files: category({
+            skipped: 'delete_failed',
+            unreferenced: { objects: 5, bytes: 50 },
+            eligible: { objects: 4, bytes: 40 },
+            deleted: { objects: 1, bytes: 10 },
+          }),
+        },
+        'delete'
+      ),
+    });
+    const byCategory = Object.fromEntries(view.lines.map((line) => [line.category, line]));
+    expect(byCategory.covers).toMatchObject({
+      freeable: { objects: 3_000, bytes: 3_000 },
+      waiting: none,
+      skipped: 'backup_running',
+    });
+    expect(byCategory.places).toMatchObject({
+      freeable: { objects: 200, bytes: 20 },
+      waiting: { objects: 300, bytes: 30 },
+      skipped: 'backup_running',
+    });
+    expect(byCategory.files).toMatchObject({
+      freeable: { objects: 3, bytes: 30 },
+      waiting: { objects: 1, bytes: 10 },
+      skipped: 'delete_failed',
+    });
+    expect(view.freeable).toEqual({ objects: 3_203, bytes: 3_050 });
+    expect(view.waiting).toEqual({ objects: 301, bytes: 40 });
+  });
+
+  it('FE-ADMIN-STOR-RECLAIM-009: a category whose sources or listing failed shows its reason and counts nothing', () => {
+    const view = reclaimView({
+      deleteEnabled: true,
+      running: false,
+      lastDeleteRun: null,
+      lastRun: report({
+        covers: category({ skipped: 'source_failed', objects: 12 }),
+        files: category({ skipped: 'list_failed' }),
+      }),
+    });
+    expect(view.lines).toEqual([
+      {
+        category: 'files',
+        freeable: none,
+        waiting: none,
+        confirmationRequired: false,
+        unreferenced: 0,
+        skipped: 'list_failed',
+      },
+      {
+        category: 'covers',
+        freeable: none,
+        waiting: none,
+        confirmationRequired: false,
+        unreferenced: 0,
+        skipped: 'source_failed',
+      },
+    ]);
+    expect(view.freeable).toEqual(none);
+    expect(view.waiting).toEqual(none);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.ts b/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.ts
index 19a9fb1d8..4dc5b2063 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.ts
+++ b/client/src/components/Admin/storage/reclaimModel.ts
@@ -67,11 +67,23 @@ function freedBy(run: StorageReclaimReport | null): ReclaimCount {
   );
 }
 
+type SkipReason = StorageReclaimCategoryReport['skipped'];
+
 /**
- * The reclaim state as the storage panels show it, desktop and phone alike.
- * `null` (a server from before the reclaim pass, or a state not loaded) reads
- * as deletion off, not running and never checked.
+ * The reasons the pass gives when it left a category before judging it, so its
+ * counts mean nothing. Every other reason (a backup running, a failed delete,
+ * an interrupted pass) comes after the judgement and keeps its figures; a new
+ * reason counts by default rather than hiding what the pass found.
  */
+const NEVER_JUDGED: ReadonlySet<SkipReason> = new Set<SkipReason>([
+  'sources_missing',
+  'shared_location',
+  'foreign_install',
+  'owner_unknown',
+  'list_failed',
+  'source_failed',
+]);
+
 /**
  * One category of the last check as a line, or null when it has nothing to
  * say. A category the pass stopped in still counts what it found; one it
@@ -82,7 +94,7 @@ function lineOf(
   report: StorageReclaimCategoryReport | undefined
 ): ReclaimCategoryLine | null {
   if (!report || report.skipped === 'not_reclaimed') return null;
-  const judged = report.skipped === null || report.skipped === 'interrupted' || report.skipped === 'delete_failed';
+  const judged = !NEVER_JUDGED.has(report.skipped);
   // What was deleted on this run no longer waits to be freed.
   const freeable = judged ? minus(report.eligible, report.deleted) : NONE;
   const waiting = judged ? minus(report.unreferenced, report.eligible) : NONE;
diff --git a/server/src/db/repositories/CollectionPlaces.repository.ts b/server/src/db/repositories/CollectionPlaces.repository.ts
index 73685b7fd..22d0c802e 100644
--- a/server/src/db/repositories/CollectionPlaces.repository.ts
+++ b/server/src/db/repositories/CollectionPlaces.repository.ts
@@ -145,6 +145,17 @@ export class CollectionPlacesRepository extends TrekRepository<CollectionPlaces>
     return row?.image_url;
   }
 
+  /** `deleteCollection`'s pre-delete read: every saved place's image, released once the list and its places are gone. */
+  async imageUrlsOf(collectionId: number): Promise<Array<string | null>> {
+    const rows = await this.db_()
+      .selectFrom('collection_places')
+      .select('image_url')
+      .where('collection_id', '=', collectionId)
+      .where('image_url', 'is not', null)
+      .execute();
+    return rows.map((row) => row.image_url);
+  }
+
   /**
    * CL48 (`updatePlace`, TX) — the allow-listed dynamic `UPDATE
    * collection_places SET ... WHERE id=?`, including the cross-list move
diff --git a/server/src/db/repositories/Journeys.repository.ts b/server/src/db/repositories/Journeys.repository.ts
index db1d7ebba..b4f696440 100644
--- a/server/src/db/repositories/Journeys.repository.ts
+++ b/server/src/db/repositories/Journeys.repository.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,19 @@ type JourneyListKyselyDB = Pick<
 /** The `journeys`/`journey_contributors` tables {@link JourneysRepository.listRecipientUserIds} reads. */
 type JourneyRecipientsKyselyDB = Pick<DB, 'journeys' | 'journey_contributors'>;
 
+/** The tables {@link JourneysRepository.listGalleryPhotos} and {@link JourneysRepository.deleteUnlinkedPhotos} touch. */
+type JourneyPhotoFilesKyselyDB = Pick<DB, 'journeys' | 'journey_photos' | 'trek_photos' | 'trip_photos'>;
+
+/** A photo behind a journey's gallery, with the stored paths its row names. */
+export interface JourneyGalleryPhotoFiles {
+  photo_id: number;
+  file_path: string | null;
+  thumbnail_path: string | null;
+}
+
+/** Ids per DELETE, well under SQLite's bound-parameter limit. */
+const PHOTO_DELETE_BATCH = 500;
+
 /**
  * `journeys` — the root of the journey cluster (Plan 3g Task 1, R9's Part A).
  * Every method here is a Part-A-owned statement (JG1-JG29 group) or a shared
@@ -261,4 +274,49 @@ export class JourneysRepository extends TrekRepository<Journeys> {
   async deleteOwnedByUser(userId: number): Promise<void> {
     await this.nativeDelete({ user: userId });
   }
+
+  /**
+   * The photos in the gallery of one journey, or of every journey a user owns,
+   * with the paths their `trek_photos` rows store. Read before the journey is
+   * deleted: the cascade takes the gallery rows, and with them the only way
+   * back to the photos.
+   */
+  async listGalleryPhotos(scope: { journeyId: number } | { ownerId: number }): Promise<JourneyGalleryPhotoFiles[]> {
+    const [column, value] =
+      'journeyId' in scope ? (['j.id', scope.journeyId] as const) : (['j.user_id', scope.ownerId] as const);
+    return await this.kysely<JourneyPhotoFilesKyselyDB>()
+      .selectFrom('journey_photos as jp')
+      .innerJoin('journeys as j', 'j.id', 'jp.journey_id')
+      .innerJoin('trek_photos as tp', 'tp.id', 'jp.photo_id')
+      .select(['jp.photo_id', 'tp.file_path', 'tp.thumbnail_path'])
+      .distinct()
+      .where(column, '=', value)
+      .execute();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Deletes the `trek_photos` rows among `photoIds` that no trip and no journey
+   * links any more, after their journeys went: the same rule as
+   * `TrekPhotoRegistrationService.deleteIfOrphan` with `local`, for a whole
+   * gallery at once. A row left behind would keep naming its file, and the
+   * storage reclaim counts every row with a path as live (#2924). A photo still
+   * in another journey's gallery, or in a trip's, keeps its row. Answers how
+   * many rows went.
+   */
+  async deleteUnlinkedPhotos(photoIds: readonly number[]): Promise<number> {
+    const pages = Array.from({ length: Math.ceil(photoIds.length / PHOTO_DELETE_BATCH) }, (_unused, i) =>
+      photoIds.slice(i * PHOTO_DELETE_BATCH, (i + 1) * PHOTO_DELETE_BATCH),
+    );
+    // One page after the other: they share the caller's transaction.
+    return await pages.reduce<Promise<number>>(async (previous, page) => {
+      const deleted = await previous;
+      const result = await this.kysely<JourneyPhotoFilesKyselyDB>()
+        .deleteFrom('trek_photos')
+        .where('id', 'in', page)
+        .where('id', 'not in', (eb) => eb.selectFrom('trip_photos').select('photo_id'))
+        .where('id', 'not in', (eb) => eb.selectFrom('journey_photos').select('photo_id'))
+        .executeTakeFirst();
+      return deleted + Number(result.numDeletedRows);
+    }, Promise.resolve(0));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/auth/user-cleanup.service.ts b/server/src/nest/auth/user-cleanup.service.ts
index 5b64e5076..4159c55b1 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/auth/user-cleanup.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/auth/user-cleanup.service.ts
@@ -191,14 +191,23 @@ export class UserCleanupService {
    */
   async deleteUserCompletely(userId: number): Promise<void> {
     const avatar = await this.usersRepo.getAvatar(userId);
-    await this.uow.transactional(async () => {
+    const photos = await this.uow.transactional(async () => {
+      // The galleries of the journeys the user owns go with the cascade below, so
+      // their photos are read first. A photo row none of the remaining trips and
+      // journeys links goes too, as when one journey is deleted: left behind, it
+      // would keep naming its file for the storage reclaim forever (#2924).
+      const gallery = await this.journeysRepo.listGalleryPhotos({ ownerId: userId });
       await this.cleanupUserReferences(userId);
+      await this.journeysRepo.deleteUnlinkedPhotos(gallery.map((photo) => photo.photo_id));
       await this.erasePluginUserData(userId);
       await this.usersRepo.deleteById(userId);
+      return gallery;
     });
-    // After the commit, the uploaded avatar goes unless another row names it.
-    // What the user's trips and journeys named is the nightly reclaim pass's:
-    // those rows are other domains' and went with the cascade.
+    // After the commit, the uploaded avatar and those photos' files go unless
+    // another row names them. What the user's trips named is the nightly
+    // reclaim pass's: those rows are other domains' and went with the cascade.
     await this.release.releaseValues([avatar], { bare: 'avatars' });
+    const photoFiles = photos.flatMap((photo) => [photo.file_path, photo.thumbnail_path]);
+    await this.release.releaseValues(photoFiles, { bare: 'journey' });
   }
 }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/collections/collections.service.ts b/server/src/nest/collections/collections.service.ts
index c6133411f..3e29da937 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/collections/collections.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/collections/collections.service.ts
@@ -614,8 +614,13 @@ export class CollectionsService {
     // Snapshot recipients BEFORE the cascade wipes collection_members.
     const accepted = await this.members.acceptedUserIds(id);
     const pending = await this.members.pendingUserIds(id);
+    // The cover and the saved places' images, read before the cascade takes their rows:
+    // they go like a single place's do, unless a trip place or a copy still names them (#2924).
+    const cover = (await this.collectionsRepo.coverImage(id)) ?? null;
+    const images = await this.collectionPlaces.imageUrlsOf(id);
 
     await this.collectionsRepo.deleteById(id); // CASCADE drops members + places + tags
+    await this.release.releaseValues([cover, ...images]);
 
     [...new Set([userId, ...accepted, ...pending])] // the owner's tabs too, all but the one that asked
       .forEach(uid => this.realtime.broadcastToUser(uid, { type: 'collections:deleted', collectionId: id }, socketId));
diff --git a/server/src/nest/journey/journey-domain.service.ts b/server/src/nest/journey/journey-domain.service.ts
index b2dfa4faf..8f37aea82 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/journey/journey-domain.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/journey/journey-domain.service.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { RealtimeService } from '../realtime/realtime.service';
 import type { JourneyStats, JourneyTrack, TrekWsUserEventName } from '@trek/shared';
 import { todayUtc } from '@trek/shared';
 import { TrekPhotoRegistrationService } from '../photos/trek-photo-registration.service';
+import { StorageReleaseService } from '../storage/storage-release.service';
 import { getCountryFromCoords } from '../atlas/atlas-geo';
 import { computeJourneyStats, countryNamesFor, type StatsInputPoint } from './journey-stats';
 import { newEntrySortOrder, placeMovedEntry } from './journey-entry-order';
@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ export class JourneyDomainService {
     // finished via `PlacesRepository.findRaw` (this task's ONE append to
     // `Places.repository.ts`, per the task brief — nobody else holds it).
     @InjectRepository(Places) private readonly placesRepo: PlacesRepository,
+    // Deleting a journey releases the files of the photos only it held.
+    private readonly release: StorageReleaseService,
   ) {}
 
   private ts(): number {
@@ -368,7 +371,19 @@ export class JourneyDomainService {
     if (!(await this.isOwner(journeyId, userId))) return false;
     // Read first: the delete takes the contributor rows with it.
     const audience = await this.journeysRepo.listRecipientUserIds(journeyId);
-    await this.journeysRepo.deleteById(journeyId);
+    // The gallery goes with the cascade, so its photos are read first. A photo
+    // row only this journey linked goes too: left behind, it would keep naming
+    // its file and the storage reclaim would never free it (#2924). One still
+    // in a trip or another journey keeps its row, and with it its file.
+    const photos = await this.uow.transactional(async () => {
+      const gallery = await this.journeysRepo.listGalleryPhotos({ journeyId });
+      await this.journeysRepo.deleteById(journeyId);
+      await this.journeysRepo.deleteUnlinkedPhotos(gallery.map((photo) => photo.photo_id));
+      return gallery;
+    });
+    // After the commit; the release asks every source again, so a file another row names stays.
+    const photoFiles = photos.flatMap((photo) => [photo.file_path, photo.thumbnail_path]);
+    await this.release.releaseValues(photoFiles, { bare: 'journey' });
     await this.broadcastJourneyEvent(journeyId, 'journey:deleted', {}, sid, audience);
     return true;
   }
diff --git a/server/src/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.ts b/server/src/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.ts
index 53a96e0e0..62efbc95d 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { DatabaseLifecycle } from '../database/database-lifecycle.service';
 import { withRequestContext } from '../database/request-context';
 import { StorageInstallService } from './storage-install.service';
 import { StorageJobsService } from './storage-jobs.service';
+import { isValidKey } from './storage-keys';
 import { StorageReclaimGuardService } from './storage-reclaim-guard.service';
 import { StorageReclaimRegistryService } from './storage-reclaim-registry.service';
 import { inReclaimScope, RECLAIM_LEDGER, reclaimableCategories, sharedLocationsOf } from './storage-reclaim.ledger';
@@ -435,7 +436,10 @@ export class StorageReclaimService implements OnModuleInit {
     for await (const stat of this.storage.list(category, '', { shallow: true })) {
       seen += 1;
       if (seen % LIST_CHECK_EVERY === 0) this.assertSameDatabase(ctx);
-      if (!inReclaimScope(stat.key)) continue;
+      // A name the storage layer refuses (a backslash or a control character in a
+      // local file put there by hand) can never be stat'ed or deleted: judging it
+      // would fail its whole delete batch every night, so it is left alone.
+      if (!inReclaimScope(stat.key) || !isValidKey(stat.key)) continue;
       const owner = storageOwnerMarkerInstall(stat.key);
       if (owner !== null) {
         owners.add(owner);
diff --git a/server/src/nest/storage/storage-release.service.ts b/server/src/nest/storage/storage-release.service.ts
index 2424fafc2..12aaa0aae 100644
--- a/server/src/nest/storage/storage-release.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/nest/storage/storage-release.service.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,9 @@ class ReleaseStopped extends Error {}
 
 /**
  * What a user's change left unnamed: a replaced or removed cover, place image
- * or avatar, a deleted journey photo or trip file. The owner hands the values
+ * or avatar, a deleted journey photo or trip file, and what a deleted list
+ * (its cover and saved places' images) or journey (its gallery's photos) held;
+ * a deleted trip hands on only its cover. The owner hands the values
  * its rows held to `releaseValues` once its transaction committed, and every
  * object they name is queued, which is all the request pays. Nothing goes
  * before RELEASE_DELAY_MS, so an undo or a late write that brings the value
diff --git a/server/tests/helpers/accommodations-service.ts b/server/tests/helpers/accommodations-service.ts
index 0c6928069..2aa6aec61 100644
--- a/server/tests/helpers/accommodations-service.ts
+++ b/server/tests/helpers/accommodations-service.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ export async function accommodationsOver(
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(conn),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(conn),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(conn),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     await createTestUnitOfWork(conn),
     await createTestDayAssignmentsRepo(conn),
diff --git a/server/tests/helpers/plugin-host.ts b/server/tests/helpers/plugin-host.ts
index 751e81132..e22926b82 100644
--- a/server/tests/helpers/plugin-host.ts
+++ b/server/tests/helpers/plugin-host.ts
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ export async function createPluginRpcHostParts(
     await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(db),
     await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(db),
     await createTestPlacesRepo(db),
+    { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
   );
   const atlas = new AtlasService(
     await createTestBucketListRepo(db),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/assignments.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/assignments.service.test.ts
index 40fd88ae7..8b83d1aec 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/assignments.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/assignments.service.test.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     await createTestUnitOfWork(testDb),
     await createTestDayAssignmentsRepo(testDb),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/collections.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/collections.service.test.ts
index 27d1f9010..ef5035172 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/collections.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/collections.service.test.ts
@@ -700,6 +700,24 @@ describe('deleteCollection', () => {
     expect(await placesIn(col.id)).toEqual({ n: 0 });
     expect(await membersOf(col.id)).toEqual({ n: 0 });
   });
+
+  it('COLLECTIONS-SVC-040b: deleting a list releases its cover and the images of its saved places (#2924)', async () => {
+    const owner = createUser(testDb).user;
+    const col = await svc.createCollection(owner.id, { name: 'Doomed' });
+    const files = ['list-cover.jpg', 'list-place-a.jpg', 'list-place-b.jpg'].map((name) => {
+      const filePath = path.join(storageFx.root, name);
+      fs.writeFileSync(filePath, 'jpeg-bytes');
+      return filePath;
+    });
+    await svc.setCollectionCover(owner.id, col.id, '/uploads/covers/list-cover.jpg');
+    await svc.savePlace(owner.id, { collection_id: col.id, name: 'A', image_url: '/uploads/places/list-place-a.jpg' });
+    await svc.savePlace(owner.id, { collection_id: col.id, name: 'B', image_url: '/uploads/places/list-place-b.jpg' });
+    await svc.savePlace(owner.id, { collection_id: col.id, name: 'No image' });
+
+    await svc.deleteCollection(owner.id, col.id);
+
+    expect(files.map((file) => fs.existsSync(file))).toEqual([false, false, false]);
+  });
 });
 
 // ── owner_id semantics: member account deletion keeps shared content ─────────
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/common/conflictUpdate.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/common/conflictUpdate.test.ts
index 2e34b797c..8838629b2 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/common/conflictUpdate.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/common/conflictUpdate.test.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     makeStorageFixture('').storage,
     await accommodationsOver(testDb),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-book.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-book.service.test.ts
index a501d1f92..acaf65fe5 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-book.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-book.service.test.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
     await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
     await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
     await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+    { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
   );
   // Plan 3g Task 3: JourneyBooksRepository (JB1-JB7), not `dbs` any more.
   // task-5-fix-brief constructor-ripple (M1): `UnitOfWork`, so `saveBook`'s
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-domain.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-domain.service.test.ts
index 59bd82867..ff6d52300 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-domain.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-domain.service.test.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import {
 // ported from the reviewer's probe (scratchpad r3g/probe/zz-r3g-parity-probe.test.ts).
 import { todayUtc } from '@trek/shared';
 import { GALLERY_CHRONOLOGICAL_ORDER } from '../../helpers/legacy-gallery-order';
+import { releaseNothing } from '../../helpers/storage-release';
 import type { EntityClass, EntityDTO, FilterQuery, FindOptions, RequiredEntityData } from '@mikro-orm/core';
 import { countRows, deleteRows, findRows, insertRow, updateRows } from '../../helpers/factories/rows';
 import { DayAssignments } from '../../../src/db/entities/DayAssignments.entity';
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ async function pickAll<T extends object, K extends keyof EntityDTO<T>>(
 }
 
 let svc: JourneyDomainService;
+const release = releaseNothing();
 // Plan 3g Task 1's own additions (below, "repositories (R9's parity + mutation
 // proofs)" describe block) reach the repositories directly — held here so
 // that block doesn't need its own second construction.
@@ -145,6 +147,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
     // R9, Task 2 only appends to what Task 1's construction already
     // established, never re-touches the wrapping mechanism itself.
     photosRepoDirect, entryPhotosRepoDirect, placesRepoDirect,
+    release,
   );
 });
 
@@ -540,6 +543,49 @@ describe('deleteJourney', () => {
     const row = await one(Journeys, { id: journey.id });
     expect(row).toBeDefined();
   });
+
+  it('JOURNEY-SVC-022b: deleting a journey drops the photo rows only it held and releases their files', async () => {
+    const { user } = createUser(testDb);
+    const journey = await svc.createJourney(user.id, { title: 'J' });
+    const [photo, video] = await svc.uploadGalleryPhotos(journey.id, user.id, [
+      { path: 'journey/a.jpg' },
+      { path: 'journey/b.mp4', thumbnail: 'journey/b-poster.jpg', mediaType: 'video' },
+    ]);
+    release.releaseValues.mockClear();
+
+    expect(await svc.deleteJourney(journey.id, user.id)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(await one(TrekPhotos, { id: { $in: [photo.photo_id, video.photo_id] } })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(release.releaseValues).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const [values, options] = release.releaseValues.mock.calls[0] as unknown as [Array<string | null>, unknown];
+    expect(values.filter(Boolean).sort()).toEqual(['journey/a.jpg', 'journey/b-poster.jpg', 'journey/b.mp4']);
+    expect(options).toEqual({ bare: 'journey' });
+  });
+
+  it('JOURNEY-SVC-022c: a photo another journey or a trip still links keeps its row through the delete', async () => {
+    const { user } = createUser(testDb);
+    const journey = await svc.createJourney(user.id, { title: 'J' });
+    const other = await svc.createJourney(user.id, { title: 'Other' });
+    const trip = createTrip(testDb, user.id);
+    const [shared, inTrip, alone] = await svc.uploadGalleryPhotos(journey.id, user.id, [
+      { path: 'journey/shared.jpg' },
+      { path: 'journey/trip.jpg' },
+      { path: 'journey/alone.jpg' },
+    ]);
+    // The same file uploaded to a second journey reuses its photo row.
+    const [again] = await svc.uploadGalleryPhotos(other.id, user.id, [{ path: 'journey/shared.jpg' }]);
+    expect(again.photo_id).toBe(shared.photo_id);
+    testDb
+      .prepare('INSERT INTO trip_photos (trip_id, user_id, photo_id) VALUES (?, ?, ?)')
+      .run(trip.id, user.id, inTrip.photo_id);
+
+    expect(await svc.deleteJourney(journey.id, user.id)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(await one(TrekPhotos, { id: shared.photo_id })).toBeDefined();
+    expect(await one(TrekPhotos, { id: inTrip.photo_id })).toBeDefined();
+    expect(await one(TrekPhotos, { id: alone.photo_id })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(await one(JourneyPhotos, { journey: other.id, photo: shared.photo_id })).toBeDefined();
+  });
 });
 
 // -- Trip management ----------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-share.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-share.service.test.ts
index 7631d6a62..fb3ff7a1c 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-share.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-share.service.test.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     new SettingsService(
       uow,
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-stats.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-stats.service.test.ts
index 13bcf2914..ea4a59eff 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-stats.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/journey-stats.service.test.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
     await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
     await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
     await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+    { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
   );
 });
 
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/places.directions.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/places.directions.test.ts
index bde6f60c9..8dbfdaab1 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/places.directions.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/places.directions.test.ts
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ async function svc(searchNominatim: OsmClient['searchNominatim']): Promise<Place
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     storageFx.storage,
     await accommodationsOver(testDb),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/places.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/places.service.test.ts
index 34212e323..cb02192a4 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/places.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/places.service.test.ts
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ async function makePlacesService(
       await createTestJourneysRepo(testDb), await createTestJourneyContributorsRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyTripsRepo(testDb), await createTestJourneyEntriesRepo(testDb), await createTestTripsRepo(testDb),
       // Plan 3g Task 2 constructor-ripple: JourneyPhotosRepository/JourneyEntryPhotosRepository/PlacesRepository.
-      await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb), await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb), await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb), await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb), await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb), { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never,
     ),
     placesStorageFx.storage,
     await accommodationsOver(testDb), await createTestUnitOfWork(testDb),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.test.ts
index 04e34b522..f80216a94 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/storage/storage-reclaim.service.test.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  * an owner marker of another install keeps its hands off; a restore, or a
  * database naming another install, resets the switch, the marks, the queue
  * and the reports but keeps this install's id, and so does a restore's reset
- * file whatever id the database names. RCLS-001 to RCLS-046.
+ * file whatever id the database names. RCLS-001 to RCLS-047.
  */
 import { AppSettings } from '../../../../src/db/entities/AppSettings.entity';
 import { AuditLog } from '../../../../src/db/entities/AuditLog.entity';
@@ -342,6 +342,22 @@ describe('StorageReclaimService: mark, then sweep', () => {
     expect(again.categories.covers.objects).toBe(5);
     expect((await marksOf('covers')).map((mark) => mark.key)).toEqual(['orphan.jpg']);
   });
+
+  it('RCLS-047: a listed name the storage layer refuses is never judged, so it cannot fail the batch it would sit in', async () => {
+    // A file put into the folder by hand with a backslash in its name: a Linux
+    // local backend lists it, but stat and delete refuse the key.
+    const listOf = storage.list.bind(storage);
+    vi.spyOn(storage, 'list').mockImplementation(async function* (category, prefix, opts) {
+      yield* listOf(category, prefix, opts);
+      if (category === 'covers') yield { key: 'trip\\photo.jpg', size: 5, mtimeMs: 1 };
+    });
+    await markedWeekOld(['orphan.jpg']);
+    expect((await marksOf('covers')).map((mark) => mark.key)).toEqual(['orphan.jpg']);
+
+    const report = await reclaim.run({ now: WEEK_LATER });
+    expect(report.categories.covers).toMatchObject({ objects: 5, deleted: { objects: 1, bytes: 5 }, skipped: null });
+    expect(fs.existsSync(objectPath('covers', 'orphan.jpg'))).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('StorageReclaimService: a large unreferenced share waits for the admin', () => {
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/tours.gpx.atomic.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/tours.gpx.atomic.test.ts
index 48c37f351..bd146dd48 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/tours.gpx.atomic.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/tours.gpx.atomic.test.ts
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ async function makePlacesService(): Promise<PlacesService> {
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     storage,
     await accommodationsOver(testDb),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/trip-read-model.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/trip-read-model.service.test.ts
index cad6a0e1d..162ad42f3 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/trip-read-model.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/trip-read-model.service.test.ts
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
       await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb),
       await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+      { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
     ),
     makeStorageFixture('').storage,
     await accommodationsOver(testDb, realtime),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/trips.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/trips.service.test.ts
index bf0a8d66e..767dafa93 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/trips.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/trips.service.test.ts
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
     await createTestJourneyTripsRepo(testDb), await createTestJourneyEntriesRepo(testDb), await createTestTripsRepo(testDb),
     // Plan 3g Task 2 constructor-ripple: JourneyPhotosRepository/JourneyEntryPhotosRepository/PlacesRepository.
     await createTestJourneyPhotosRepo(testDb), await createTestJourneyEntryPhotosRepo(testDb), await createTestPlacesRepo(testDb),
+    { releaseValues: async () => 0 } as never, // StorageReleaseService
   ),
   makeStorageFixture('').storage,
   await accommodationsOver(testDb, realtime), await createTestUnitOfWork(testDb),
diff --git a/server/tests/unit/nest/user-cleanup.service.test.ts b/server/tests/unit/nest/user-cleanup.service.test.ts
index 07e756848..1f323b5d1 100644
--- a/server/tests/unit/nest/user-cleanup.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/tests/unit/nest/user-cleanup.service.test.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { Plugins } from '../../../src/db/entities/Plugins.entity';
 import { ShareTokens } from '../../../src/db/entities/ShareTokens.entity';
 import { TrekPhotos } from '../../../src/db/entities/TrekPhotos.entity';
 import { TripMembers } from '../../../src/db/entities/TripMembers.entity';
+import { TripPhotos } from '../../../src/db/entities/TripPhotos.entity';
 import { Users } from '../../../src/db/entities/Users.entity';
 import type { BudgetItemsRepository } from '../../../src/db/repositories/BudgetItems.repository';
 import type { BudgetSettlementsRepository } from '../../../src/db/repositories/BudgetSettlements.repository';
@@ -459,4 +460,39 @@ describe('deleteUserCompletely', () => {
     await svc.deleteUserCompletely(user.id);
     expect(cleanupRelease.releaseValues).toHaveBeenCalledWith(['face.png'], { bare: 'avatars' });
   });
+
+  it('USER-CLEANUP-012: drops the photo rows only their own journeys held and releases those files', async () => {
+    const { user: victim } = createUser(testDb, { username: 'photo-victim' });
+    const { user: other } = createUser(testDb, { username: 'photo-other' });
+    const ownJourney = await createJourney(victim.id, 'Mine');
+    const otherJourney = await createJourney(other.id, 'Theirs');
+    const trip = createTrip(testDb, other.id);
+    const photo = async (file: string, thumb: string | null = null) => {
+      const row = { provider: 'local', owner: victim.id, file_path: file, thumbnail_path: thumb };
+      const id = await insertRow(orm, TrekPhotos, row);
+      await insertRow(orm, JourneyPhotos, { journey: ownJourney, photo: id, created_at: 0 });
+      return id;
+    };
+    const alone = await photo('journey/alone.jpg', 'journey/alone-poster.jpg');
+    const inOtherJourney = await photo('journey/shared.jpg');
+    const inTrip = await photo('journey/trip.jpg');
+    await insertRow(orm, JourneyPhotos, { journey: otherJourney, photo: inOtherJourney, created_at: 0 });
+    await insertRow(orm, TripPhotos, { trip: trip.id, user: other.id, photo: inTrip });
+
+    await svc.deleteUserCompletely(victim.id);
+
+    expect(await findRow(orm, TrekPhotos, { id: alone })).toBeNull();
+    expect(await findRow(orm, TrekPhotos, { id: inOtherJourney })).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(await findRow(orm, TrekPhotos, { id: inTrip })).not.toBeNull();
+    // Every file the gallery named is handed on: the release keeps what another row still names.
+    type Released = [Array<string | null>, { bare?: string }];
+    const calls = cleanupRelease.releaseValues.mock.calls as unknown as Released[];
+    const handed = calls.find(([, options]) => options.bare === 'journey')?.[0] ?? [];
+    expect(handed.filter(Boolean).sort()).toEqual([
+      'journey/alone-poster.jpg',
+      'journey/alone.jpg',
+      'journey/shared.jpg',
+      'journey/trip.jpg',
+    ]);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/wiki/Admin-Storage.md b/wiki/Admin-Storage.md
index 1649b37df..7be2233b3 100644
--- a/wiki/Admin-Storage.md
+++ b/wiki/Admin-Storage.md
@@ -141,9 +141,19 @@ already wait, is no longer waited for: the log says so with the number of
 files, and such files are then only removed by the nightly cleanup, once
 deletion is switched on.
 
-Whatever is left over after that (files of deleted trips and users, files from
-before this check existed) is found by a check every night at 04:05 server
-time. It looks at the covers, place images, avatars, trip files and journal
+Deleting a whole list or journey works the same way for what it held: a list
+releases its cover and the images of its saved places, a journey the photos
+of its gallery that no trip or other journey shows, and deleting a user does
+this for every journey they own. Deleting a whole trip releases only its
+cover: the trip's files and its places' images are left to the nightly
+cleanup below. Journal photos of a journey deleted before your instance ran a
+version with this behaviour are the exception: their photo entries were kept,
+so TREK still counts those files as used and neither the release nor the
+nightly check removes them.
+
+Whatever is left over after that (files of deleted trips and users, files
+from before this check existed) is found by a check every night at 04:05
+server time. It looks at the covers, place images, avatars, trip files and journal
 photos for files that nothing in TREK names any more, and the **Unreferenced
 files** section shows what it found: