blue-twilight/app/Policies/PhotoPolicy.php

<?php

namespace App\Policies;

use App\Photo;
use App\User;
use Illuminate\Auth\Access\HandlesAuthorization;

class PhotoPolicy
{
    use HandlesAuthorization;

    /**
     * Create a new policy instance.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function __construct()
    {
        //
    }

    public function before($user, $ability)
    {
        if ($user->is_admin)
        {
            // Admins can do anything
            return true;
        }
    }

    public function changeMetadata(User $user, Photo $photo)
    {
        if ($user->id == $photo->user_id)
        {
            // The photo's owner can do everything
            return true;
        }

        return $user->can('change-photo-metadata', $photo->album);
    }

    public function delete(User $user, Photo $photo)
    {
        if ($user->id == $photo->user_id)
        {
            // The photo's owner can do everything
            return true;
        }

        return $user->can('delete-photos', $photo->album);
    }

    public function manipulate(User $user, Photo $photo)
    {
        if ($user->id == $photo->user_id)
        {
            // The photo's owner can do everything
            return true;
        }

        return $user->can('manipulate-photos', $photo->album);
    }
}