diff --git a/src/database/mod.rs b/src/database/mod.rs
index b57302a..f8f678c 100644
--- a/src/database/mod.rs
+++ b/src/database/mod.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ use diesel::sqlite::SqliteConnection;
 use std::ops::DerefMut;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
-use crate::database::models::{Favorite, ImageExif, InsertFavorite, InsertImageExif, InsertUser, User};
+use crate::database::models::{
+    Favorite, ImageExif, InsertFavorite, InsertImageExif, InsertUser, User,
+};
 
 pub mod models;
 pub mod schema;
@@ -91,7 +93,8 @@ impl UserDao for SqliteUserDao {
         !users
             .filter(username.eq(user))
             .load::<User>(&mut self.connection)
-            .unwrap_or_default().is_empty()
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .is_empty()
     }
 }
 
@@ -187,6 +190,7 @@ pub trait ExifDao: Sync + Send {
     fn get_exif(&mut self, file_path: &str) -> Result<Option<ImageExif>, DbError>;
     fn update_exif(&mut self, exif_data: InsertImageExif) -> Result<ImageExif, DbError>;
     fn delete_exif(&mut self, file_path: &str) -> Result<(), DbError>;
+    fn get_all_with_date_taken(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<(String, i64)>, DbError>;
 }
 
 pub struct SqliteExifDao {
@@ -273,4 +277,22 @@ impl ExifDao for SqliteExifDao {
             .map(|_| ())
             .map_err(|_| DbError::new(DbErrorKind::QueryError))
     }
+
+    fn get_all_with_date_taken(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<(String, i64)>, DbError> {
+        use schema::image_exif::dsl::*;
+
+        let mut connection = self.connection.lock().expect("Unable to get ExifDao");
+
+        image_exif
+            .select((file_path, date_taken))
+            .filter(date_taken.is_not_null())
+            .load::<(String, Option<i64>)>(connection.deref_mut())
+            .map(|records| {
+                records
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .filter_map(|(path, dt)| dt.map(|ts| (path, ts)))
+                    .collect()
+            })
+            .map_err(|_| DbError::new(DbErrorKind::QueryError))
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/memories.rs b/src/memories.rs
index 8e00382..e3acfd0 100644
--- a/src/memories.rs
+++ b/src/memories.rs
@@ -7,11 +7,14 @@ use opentelemetry::KeyValue;
 use opentelemetry::trace::{Span, Status, Tracer};
 use rayon::prelude::*;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
 use walkdir::WalkDir;
 
 use crate::data::Claims;
+use crate::database::ExifDao;
 use crate::files::is_image_or_video;
 use crate::otel::{extract_context_from_request, global_tracer};
 use crate::state::AppState;
@@ -76,13 +79,14 @@ impl PathExcluder {
         if !self.excluded_patterns.is_empty() {
             for component in path.components() {
                 if let Some(comp_str) = component.as_os_str().to_str()
-                    && self.excluded_patterns.iter().any(|pat| pat == comp_str) {
-                        debug!(
-                            "PathExcluder: excluded by component pattern: {:?} (component: {:?}, patterns: {:?})",
-                            path, comp_str, self.excluded_patterns
-                        );
-                        return true;
-                    }
+                    && self.excluded_patterns.iter().any(|pat| pat == comp_str)
+                {
+                    debug!(
+                        "PathExcluder: excluded by component pattern: {:?} (component: {:?}, patterns: {:?})",
+                        path, comp_str, self.excluded_patterns
+                    );
+                    return true;
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -186,6 +190,48 @@ fn get_file_date_info(
     Some((date_in_timezone, metadata_created, metadata_modified))
 }
 
+/// Convert Unix timestamp to NaiveDate in client timezone
+fn timestamp_to_naive_date(
+    timestamp: i64,
+    client_timezone: &Option<FixedOffset>,
+) -> Option<NaiveDate> {
+    let dt_utc = DateTime::<Utc>::from_timestamp(timestamp, 0)?;
+
+    let date = if let Some(tz) = client_timezone {
+        dt_utc.with_timezone(tz).date_naive()
+    } else {
+        dt_utc.with_timezone(&Local).date_naive()
+    };
+
+    Some(date)
+}
+
+/// Extract created/modified timestamps from file metadata
+fn extract_metadata_timestamps(
+    metadata: &std::fs::Metadata,
+    client_timezone: &Option<FixedOffset>,
+) -> (Option<i64>, Option<i64>) {
+    let created = metadata.created().ok().map(|t| {
+        let utc: DateTime<Utc> = t.into();
+        if let Some(tz) = client_timezone {
+            utc.with_timezone(tz).timestamp()
+        } else {
+            utc.timestamp()
+        }
+    });
+
+    let modified = metadata.modified().ok().map(|t| {
+        let utc: DateTime<Utc> = t.into();
+        if let Some(tz) = client_timezone {
+            utc.with_timezone(tz).timestamp()
+        } else {
+            utc.timestamp()
+        }
+    });
+
+    (created, modified)
+}
+
 fn extract_date_from_filename(filename: &str) -> Option<DateTime<FixedOffset>> {
     let build_date_from_ymd_capture =
         |captures: &regex::Captures| -> Option<DateTime<FixedOffset>> {
@@ -267,9 +313,9 @@ fn extract_date_from_filename(filename: &str) -> Option<DateTime<FixedOffset>> {
                 .ok()
                 .and_then(DateTime::from_timestamp_millis)
                 .map(|naive_dt| naive_dt.fixed_offset())
-            {
-                return Some(date_time);
-            }
+        {
+            return Some(date_time);
+        }
 
         // Second timestamp (10 digits)
         if timestamp_str.len() >= 10
@@ -278,20 +324,145 @@ fn extract_date_from_filename(filename: &str) -> Option<DateTime<FixedOffset>> {
                 .ok()
                 .and_then(|timestamp_secs| DateTime::from_timestamp(timestamp_secs, 0))
                 .map(|naive_dt| naive_dt.fixed_offset())
-            {
-                return Some(date_time);
-            }
+        {
+            return Some(date_time);
+        }
     }
 
     None
 }
 
+/// Collect memories from EXIF database
+fn collect_exif_memories(
+    exif_dao: &Data<Mutex<Box<dyn ExifDao>>>,
+    base_path: &str,
+    now: NaiveDate,
+    span_mode: MemoriesSpan,
+    years_back: u32,
+    client_timezone: &Option<FixedOffset>,
+    path_excluder: &PathExcluder,
+) -> Vec<(MemoryItem, NaiveDate)> {
+    // Query database for all files with date_taken
+    let exif_records = match exif_dao.lock() {
+        Ok(mut dao) => match dao.get_all_with_date_taken() {
+            Ok(records) => records,
+            Err(e) => {
+                warn!("Failed to query EXIF database: {:?}", e);
+                return Vec::new(); // Graceful fallback
+            }
+        },
+        Err(e) => {
+            warn!("Failed to lock EXIF DAO: {:?}", e);
+            return Vec::new();
+        }
+    };
+
+    // Parallel processing with Rayon
+    exif_records
+        .par_iter()
+        .filter_map(|(file_path, date_taken_ts)| {
+            // Build full path
+            let full_path = Path::new(base_path).join(file_path);
+
+            // Check exclusions
+            if path_excluder.is_excluded(&full_path) {
+                return None;
+            }
+
+            // Verify file exists
+            if !full_path.exists() || !full_path.is_file() {
+                warn!("EXIF record exists but file not found: {:?}", full_path);
+                return None;
+            }
+
+            // Convert timestamp to NaiveDate in client timezone
+            let file_date = timestamp_to_naive_date(*date_taken_ts, client_timezone)?;
+
+            // Check if matches memory criteria
+            if !is_memories_match(file_date, now, span_mode, years_back) {
+                return None;
+            }
+
+            // Get file metadata for created/modified timestamps
+            let metadata = std::fs::metadata(&full_path).ok()?;
+            let (created, modified) = extract_metadata_timestamps(&metadata, client_timezone);
+
+            Some((
+                MemoryItem {
+                    path: file_path.clone(),
+                    created,
+                    modified,
+                },
+                file_date,
+            ))
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+/// Collect memories from file system scan (for files not in EXIF DB)
+fn collect_filesystem_memories(
+    base_path: &str,
+    path_excluder: &PathExcluder,
+    skip_paths: &HashSet<PathBuf>,
+    now: NaiveDate,
+    span_mode: MemoriesSpan,
+    years_back: u32,
+    client_timezone: &Option<FixedOffset>,
+) -> Vec<(MemoryItem, NaiveDate)> {
+    let base = Path::new(base_path);
+
+    let entries: Vec<_> = WalkDir::new(base)
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|e| e.ok())
+        .filter(|e| {
+            let path = e.path();
+
+            // Skip if already processed by EXIF query
+            if skip_paths.contains(path) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            // Check exclusions
+            if path_excluder.is_excluded(path) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            // Only process image/video files
+            e.file_type().is_file() && is_image_or_video(path)
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    entries
+        .par_iter()
+        .filter_map(|entry| {
+            // Use existing get_file_date_info() for filename/metadata fallback
+            let (file_date, created, modified) = get_file_date_info(entry.path(), client_timezone)?;
+
+            if is_memories_match(file_date, now, span_mode, years_back) {
+                let path_relative = entry.path().strip_prefix(base).ok()?.to_str()?.to_string();
+
+                Some((
+                    MemoryItem {
+                        path: path_relative,
+                        created,
+                        modified,
+                    },
+                    file_date,
+                ))
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
 #[get("/memories")]
 pub async fn list_memories(
     _claims: Claims,
     request: HttpRequest,
     q: web::Query<MemoriesRequest>,
     app_state: Data<AppState>,
+    exif_dao: Data<Mutex<Box<dyn ExifDao>>>,
 ) -> impl Responder {
     let tracer = global_tracer();
     let context = extract_context_from_request(&request);
@@ -326,55 +497,37 @@ pub async fn list_memories(
     // Build the path excluder from base and env-configured exclusions
     let path_excluder = PathExcluder::new(base, &app_state.excluded_dirs);
 
-    let entries: Vec<_> = WalkDir::new(base)
-        .into_iter()
-        .filter_map(|e| e.ok())
-        .filter(|e| {
-            let path = e.path();
+    // Phase 1: Query EXIF database
+    let exif_memories = collect_exif_memories(
+        &exif_dao,
+        &app_state.base_path,
+        now,
+        span_mode,
+        years_back,
+        &client_timezone,
+        &path_excluder,
+    );
 
-            // Skip paths that should be excluded
-            if path_excluder.is_excluded(path) {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            true
-        })
-        .filter(|e| e.file_type().is_file() && is_image_or_video(e.path()))
+    // Build HashSet for deduplication
+    let exif_paths: HashSet<PathBuf> = exif_memories
+        .iter()
+        .map(|(item, _)| PathBuf::from(&app_state.base_path).join(&item.path))
         .collect();
 
-    let mut memories_with_dates: Vec<(MemoryItem, NaiveDate)> = entries
-        .par_iter()
-        .filter_map(|entry| {
-            let path = entry.path();
+    // Phase 2: File system scan (skip EXIF files)
+    let fs_memories = collect_filesystem_memories(
+        &app_state.base_path,
+        &path_excluder,
+        &exif_paths,
+        now,
+        span_mode,
+        years_back,
+        &client_timezone,
+    );
 
-            // Get file date and timestamps in one operation
-            let (file_date, created, modified) = match get_file_date_info(path, &client_timezone) {
-                Some(info) => info,
-                None => {
-                    warn!("No date info found for file: {:?}", path);
-                    return None;
-                }
-            };
-
-            if is_memories_match(file_date, now, span_mode, years_back) {
-                return if let Ok(rel) = path.strip_prefix(base) {
-                    Some((
-                        MemoryItem {
-                            path: rel.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
-                            created,
-                            modified,
-                        },
-                        file_date,
-                    ))
-                } else {
-                    warn!("Failed to strip prefix from path: {:?}", path);
-                    None
-                };
-            }
-
-            None
-        })
-        .collect();
+    // Phase 3: Merge and sort
+    let mut memories_with_dates = exif_memories;
+    memories_with_dates.extend(fs_memories);
 
     match span_mode {
         // Sort by absolute time for a more 'overview'