Random apps keep installing on my LG Xcharge

I have an LG xcharge, for no apparent reason it keeps on installing random apps. I recognize this is a virus/malware type of thing, but I haven’t downloaded anything suspicious and I have made absolute sure to change my google passwords. I’ve also scanned my phone with a few different reputable malware scanners. I’ve looked at the other questions like this and people say you need to reset your phone entirely, but I really don’t want to lose all my photos (I take a lot of pictures with my phone). Is there anyway around this, that a moderately technologically educated person could do? It’s really stressing me out…. it may be time to get a new phone, but I really like this one and would prefer to try and save it.