Is 32 GB of RAM overkill for this laptop?

For web browsing and Office it is more than needed, but it helps with many tabs, virtual machines and large spreadsheets. It also means you will not need to upgrade later.

Only lightly. Iris Xe graphics handle older and casual titles at low settings, but not modern games at high frame rates.

Is the screen good enough for photo editing?

The 1080p resolution is fine for casual editing, but the panel is not marketed for wide color coverage. Serious color work needs a better display.

Expect the laptop and its power adapter. LG does not typically bundle a mouse or sleeve with Gram Book models.

How does it compare with the LG Gram 16?

The Gram 16 is lighter and offers a higher-resolution screen, while this Gram Book pairs 32 GB of RAM with a 1 TB SSD and a standard 15.6-inch 1080p panel.