Help Contacts photos do I need to save on phone?

[mm43]

I have added a photo to each of my contacts, by going to a photo already on my phone and clicking "set as - contact icon"
My question is do I still need to keep the original photos on my phone?
Does google save them somehow?

 

[bradshly]

I'm pretty sure they need to be on your phone and not sure if google saves them. Doubt they do