diff --git a/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue b/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue
index 25c8db93..cef2dfeb 100644
--- a/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue
+++ b/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue
@@ -1,79 +1,176 @@
 <template>
   <div v-if="visible" class="dialog-overlay z-[60]">
     <div class="dialog relative">
-      <div class="text-lg text-center font-light relative z-50">
-        <div
+      <div class="text-lg text-center font-bold relative">
+        <h1
           id="ViewHeading"
-          class="text-center font-bold absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 px-4 py-0.5 bg-black/50 text-white leading-none"
+          class="text-center font-bold"
         >
-          Add Photo
-        </div>
+          <span v-if="uploading">Uploading Image&hellip;</span>
+          <span v-else-if="blob">Crop Image</span>
+          <span v-else-if="showCameraPreview">Upload Image</span>
+          <span v-else>Add Photo</span>
+        </h1>
         <div
-          class="text-lg text-center px-2 py-0.5 leading-none absolute right-0 top-0 text-white"
+          class="text-2xl text-center px-1 py-0.5 leading-none absolute -right-1 top-0"
           @click="close()"
         >
           <font-awesome icon="xmark" class="w-[1em]"></font-awesome>
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div>
-        <div class="text-center mt-8">
-          <template v-if="isRegistered">
-            <div>
-              <font-awesome
-                icon="camera"
-                class="bg-gradient-to-b from-blue-400 to-blue-700 shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] text-white px-2 py-2 rounded-md"
-                @click="openPhotoDialog()"
-              />
+      <div class="mt-4">
+        <template v-if="isRegistered">
+          <div v-if="!blob">
+            <div
+              class="border-b border-dashed border-slate-300 text-orange-400 mb-4 font-bold text-sm"
+            >
+              <span class="block w-fit mx-auto -mb-2.5 bg-white px-2">
+                Take a photo with your camera
+              </span>
             </div>
-            <div class="mt-4">
-              <input type="file" @change="uploadImageFile" />
+            <div v-if="showCameraPreview" class="camera-preview relative flex bg-black overflow-hidden mb-4">
+              <div class="camera-container w-full h-full relative">
+                <video
+                  ref="videoElement"
+                  class="camera-video w-full h-full object-cover"
+                  autoplay
+                  playsinline
+                  muted
+                ></video>
+                <button
+                  class="absolute bottom-4 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 bg-white text-slate-800 p-3 rounded-full text-2xl leading-none"
+                  @click="capturePhoto"
+                >
+                  <font-awesome icon="camera" class="w-[1em]" />
+                </button>
+              </div>
             </div>
-            <div class="mt-4">
-              <span class="mt-2">
-                ... or paste a URL:
-                <input v-model="imageUrl" type="text" class="border-2" />
+            <div
+              class="border-b border-dashed border-slate-300 text-orange-400 mt-4 mb-4 font-bold text-sm"
+            >
+              <span class="block w-fit mx-auto -mb-2.5 bg-white px-2">
+                OR choose a file from your device
               </span>
-              <span class="ml-2">
-                <font-awesome
-                  v-if="imageUrl"
-                  icon="check"
-                  class="bg-gradient-to-b from-blue-400 to-blue-700 shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] text-white px-2 py-2 rounded-md cursor-pointer"
-                  @click="acceptUrl"
-                />
-                <!-- so that there's no shifting when it becomes visible -->
-                <font-awesome
-                  v-else
-                  icon="check"
-                  class="text-white bg-white px-2 py-2"
-                />
+            </div>
+            <div class="mt-4">
+              <input
+                type="file"
+                @change="uploadImageFile"
+                class="w-full file:text-center file:bg-gradient-to-b file:from-slate-400 file:to-slate-700 file:shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] file:text-white file:px-3 file:py-2 file:rounded-md file:border-none file:cursor-pointer file:me-2"
+              />
+            </div>
+            <div
+              class="border-b border-dashed border-slate-300 text-orange-400 mt-4 mb-4 font-bold text-sm"
+            >
+              <span class="block w-fit mx-auto -mb-2.5 bg-white px-2">
+                OR paste an image URL
               </span>
             </div>
-          </template>
-          <template v-else>
-            <div class="text-center text-lg text-slate-500 py-12">
-              Register to Upload a Photo
+            <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mt-4">
+              <input
+                v-model="imageUrl"
+                type="text"
+                class="block w-full rounded border border-slate-400 px-4 py-2"
+                placeholder="https://example.com/image.jpg"
+              />
+              <button
+                v-if="imageUrl"
+                class="bg-gradient-to-b from-blue-400 to-blue-700 shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] text-white px-3 py-2 rounded-md cursor-pointer"
+                @click="acceptUrl"
+              >
+                <font-awesome icon="check" class="fa-fw" />
+              </button>
             </div>
-          </template>
-        </div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div v-else>
+            <div v-if="uploading" class="flex justify-center">
+              <font-awesome
+                icon="spinner"
+                class="fa-spin fa-3x text-center block px-12 py-12"
+              />
+            </div>
+            <div v-else>
+              <div v-if="crop">
+                <VuePictureCropper
+                  :box-style="{
+                    backgroundColor: '#f8f8f8',
+                    margin: 'auto',
+                  }"
+                  :img="createBlobURL(blob)"
+                  :options="{
+                    viewMode: 1,
+                    dragMode: 'crop',
+                    aspectRatio: 1 / 1,
+                  }"
+                  class="max-h-[90vh] max-w-[90vw] object-contain"
+                />
+              </div>
+              <div v-else>
+                <div class="flex justify-center">
+                  <img
+                    :src="createBlobURL(blob)"
+                    class="mt-2 rounded max-h-[90vh] max-w-[90vw] object-contain"
+                  />
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              <div :class="['grid gap-2 mt-2', showRetry ? 'grid-cols-2' : 'grid-cols-1']">
+                <button
+                  class="bg-gradient-to-b from-blue-400 to-blue-700 shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] text-white py-2 px-3 rounded-md"
+                  @click="uploadImage"
+                >
+                  <span>Upload</span>
+                </button>
+                <button
+                  v-if="showRetry"
+                  class="bg-gradient-to-b from-slate-400 to-slate-700 shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] text-white py-2 px-3 rounded-md"
+                  @click="retryImage"
+                >
+                  <span>Retry</span>
+                </button>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </template>
+        <template v-else>
+          <div
+            id="noticeBeforeUpload"
+            class="bg-amber-200 text-amber-900 border-amber-500 border-dashed border text-center rounded-md overflow-hidden px-4 py-3"
+            role="alert"
+            aria-live="polite"
+          >
+            <p class="mb-2">
+              Before you can upload a photo, a friend needs to register you.
+            </p>
+            <router-link
+              :to="{ name: 'contact-qr' }"
+              class="inline-block text-md uppercase bg-gradient-to-b from-blue-400 to-blue-700 shadow-[inset_0_-1px_0_0_rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] text-white px-4 py-2 rounded-md"
+            >
+              Share Your Info
+            </router-link>
+          </div>
+        </template>
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
-  <PhotoDialog ref="photoDialog" />
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts">
 import axios from "axios";
 import { ref } from "vue";
 import { Component, Vue } from "vue-facing-decorator";
-
-import PhotoDialog from "../components/PhotoDialog.vue";
-import { NotificationIface } from "../constants/app";
+import VuePictureCropper, { cropper } from "vue-picture-cropper";
+import { DEFAULT_IMAGE_API_SERVER, NotificationIface } from "../constants/app";
+import { retrieveSettingsForActiveAccount } from "../db/index";
+import { accessToken } from "../libs/crypto";
+import { logger } from "../utils/logger";
+import { PlatformServiceFactory } from "../services/PlatformServiceFactory";
 
 const inputImageFileNameRef = ref<Blob>();
 
 @Component({
-  components: { PhotoDialog },
+  components: { VuePictureCropper },
   props: {
     isRegistered: {
       type: Boolean,
@@ -84,38 +181,97 @@ const inputImageFileNameRef = ref<Blob>();
 export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
   $notify!: (notification: NotificationIface, timeout?: number) => void;
 
-  claimType: string;
+  /** Active DID for user authentication */
+  activeDid = "";
+
+  /** Current image blob being processed */
+  blob?: Blob;
+
+  /** Type of claim for the image */
+  claimType: string = "";
+
+  /** Whether to show cropping interface */
   crop: boolean = false;
+
+  /** Name of the selected file */
+  fileName?: string;
+
+  /** Callback function to set image URL after upload */
   imageCallback: (imageUrl?: string) => void = () => {};
+
+  /** URL for image input */
   imageUrl?: string;
+
+  /** Whether to show retry button */
+  showRetry = true;
+
+  /** Upload progress state */
+  uploading = false;
+
+  /** Dialog visibility state */
   visible = false;
 
+  /** Whether to show camera preview */
+  showCameraPreview = false;
+
+  /** Camera stream reference */
+  private cameraStream: MediaStream | null = null;
+
+  private platformService = PlatformServiceFactory.getInstance();
+  URL = window.URL || window.webkitURL;
+
+  private platformCapabilities = this.platformService.getCapabilities();
+
+  /**
+   * Lifecycle hook: Initializes component and retrieves user settings
+   * @throws {Error} When settings retrieval fails
+   */
+  async mounted() {
+    console.log('ImageMethodDialog mounted');
+    try {
+      const settings = await retrieveSettingsForActiveAccount();
+      this.activeDid = settings.activeDid || "";
+    } catch (error: unknown) {
+      logger.error("Error retrieving settings from database:", error);
+      this.$notify(
+        {
+          group: "alert",
+          type: "danger",
+          title: "Error",
+          text:
+            error instanceof Error
+              ? error.message
+              : "There was an error retrieving your settings.",
+        },
+        -1,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Lifecycle hook: Cleans up camera stream when component is destroyed
+   */
+  beforeDestroy() {
+    this.stopCameraPreview();
+  }
+
   open(setImageFn: (arg: string) => void, claimType: string, crop?: boolean) {
     this.claimType = claimType;
     this.crop = !!crop;
     this.imageCallback = setImageFn;
-
     this.visible = true;
-  }
-
-  openPhotoDialog(blob?: Blob, fileName?: string) {
-    this.visible = false;
-
-    (this.$refs.photoDialog as PhotoDialog).open(
-      this.imageCallback,
-      this.claimType,
-      this.crop,
-      blob,
-      fileName,
-    );
+    
+    // Start camera preview immediately if not on mobile
+    if (!this.platformCapabilities.isMobile) {
+      this.startCameraPreview();
+    }
   }
 
   async uploadImageFile(event: Event) {
-    this.visible = false;
+    const target = event.target as HTMLInputElement;
+    if (!target.files) return;
 
-    inputImageFileNameRef.value = event.target.files[0];
-    // https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/File
-    // ... plus it has a `type` property from my testing
+    inputImageFileNameRef.value = target.files[0];
     const file = inputImageFileNameRef.value;
     if (file != null) {
       const reader = new FileReader();
@@ -125,7 +281,9 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
           const blob = new Blob([new Uint8Array(data)], {
             type: file.type,
           });
-          this.openPhotoDialog(blob, file.name as string);
+          this.blob = blob;
+          this.fileName = file.name;
+          this.showRetry = false;
         }
       };
       reader.readAsArrayBuffer(file as Blob);
@@ -133,21 +291,16 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
   }
 
   async acceptUrl() {
-    this.visible = false;
     if (this.crop) {
       try {
-        const urlBlobResponse: Blob = await axios.get(this.imageUrl as string, {
-          responseType: "blob", // This ensures the data is returned as a Blob
+        const urlBlobResponse = await axios.get(this.imageUrl as string, {
+          responseType: "blob",
         });
         const fullUrl = new URL(this.imageUrl as string);
         const fileName = fullUrl.pathname.split("/").pop() as string;
-        (this.$refs.photoDialog as PhotoDialog).open(
-          this.imageCallback,
-          this.claimType,
-          this.crop,
-          urlBlobResponse.data as Blob,
-          fileName,
-        );
+        this.blob = urlBlobResponse.data as Blob;
+        this.fileName = fileName;
+        this.showRetry = false;
       } catch (error) {
         this.$notify(
           {
@@ -161,11 +314,215 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
       }
     } else {
       this.imageCallback(this.imageUrl);
+      this.close();
     }
   }
 
   close() {
     this.visible = false;
+    this.stopCameraPreview();
+    const bottomNav = document.querySelector("#QuickNav") as HTMLElement;
+    if (bottomNav) {
+      bottomNav.style.display = "";
+    }
+    this.blob = undefined;
+    this.showCameraPreview = false;
+  }
+
+  async startCameraPreview() {
+    logger.debug("startCameraPreview called");
+    logger.debug("Current showCameraPreview state:", this.showCameraPreview);
+    logger.debug("Platform capabilities:", this.platformCapabilities);
+
+    if (this.platformCapabilities.isMobile) {
+      logger.debug("Using platform service for mobile device");
+      try {
+        const result = await this.platformService.takePicture();
+        this.blob = result.blob;
+        this.fileName = result.fileName;
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.error("Error taking picture:", error);
+        this.$notify(
+          {
+            group: "alert",
+            type: "danger",
+            title: "Error",
+            text: "Failed to take picture. Please try again.",
+          },
+          5000,
+        );
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    logger.debug("Starting camera preview for desktop browser");
+    try {
+      this.showCameraPreview = true;
+      await this.$nextTick();
+      
+      const stream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({
+        video: { facingMode: "environment" },
+      });
+      this.cameraStream = stream;
+      
+      await this.$nextTick();
+
+      const videoElement = this.$refs.videoElement as HTMLVideoElement;
+      if (videoElement) {
+        videoElement.srcObject = stream;
+        await new Promise((resolve) => {
+          videoElement.onloadedmetadata = () => {
+            videoElement.play().then(() => {
+              resolve(true);
+            });
+          };
+        });
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error("Error starting camera preview:", error);
+      this.$notify(
+        {
+          group: "alert",
+          type: "danger",
+          title: "Error",
+          text: "Failed to access camera. Please try again.",
+        },
+        5000,
+      );
+      this.showCameraPreview = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  stopCameraPreview() {
+    if (this.cameraStream) {
+      this.cameraStream.getTracks().forEach((track) => track.stop());
+      this.cameraStream = null;
+    }
+    this.showCameraPreview = false;
+  }
+
+  async capturePhoto() {
+    if (!this.cameraStream) return;
+
+    try {
+      const videoElement = this.$refs.videoElement as HTMLVideoElement;
+      const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
+      canvas.width = videoElement.videoWidth;
+      canvas.height = videoElement.videoHeight;
+      const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
+      ctx?.drawImage(videoElement, 0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
+
+      canvas.toBlob((blob) => {
+        if (blob) {
+          this.blob = blob;
+          this.fileName = `photo_${Date.now()}.jpg`;
+          this.showRetry = true;
+          this.stopCameraPreview();
+        }
+      }, "image/jpeg", 0.95);
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error("Error capturing photo:", error);
+      this.$notify(
+        {
+          group: "alert",
+          type: "danger",
+          title: "Error",
+          text: "Failed to capture photo. Please try again.",
+        },
+        5000,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  private createBlobURL(blob: Blob): string {
+    return URL.createObjectURL(blob);
+  }
+
+  async retryImage() {
+    this.blob = undefined;
+    if (!this.platformCapabilities.isMobile) {
+      await this.startCameraPreview();
+    }
+  }
+
+  async uploadImage() {
+    this.uploading = true;
+
+    if (this.crop) {
+      this.blob = (await cropper?.getBlob()) || undefined;
+    }
+
+    const token = await accessToken(this.activeDid);
+    const headers = {
+      Authorization: "Bearer " + token,
+    };
+    const formData = new FormData();
+    if (!this.blob) {
+      this.$notify(
+        {
+          group: "alert",
+          type: "danger",
+          title: "Error",
+          text: "There was an error finding the picture. Please try again.",
+        },
+        5000,
+      );
+      this.uploading = false;
+      return;
+    }
+    formData.append("image", this.blob, this.fileName || "photo.jpg");
+    formData.append("claimType", this.claimType);
+    try {
+      if (
+        window.location.hostname === "localhost" &&
+        !DEFAULT_IMAGE_API_SERVER.includes("localhost")
+      ) {
+        logger.log(
+          "Using shared image API server, so only users on that server can play with images.",
+        );
+      }
+      const response = await axios.post(
+        DEFAULT_IMAGE_API_SERVER + "/image",
+        formData,
+        { headers },
+      );
+      this.uploading = false;
+
+      this.close();
+      this.imageCallback(response.data.url as string);
+    } catch (error: unknown) {
+      let errorMessage = "There was an error saving the picture.";
+
+      if (axios.isAxiosError(error)) {
+        const status = error.response?.status;
+        const data = error.response?.data;
+
+        if (status === 401) {
+          errorMessage = "Authentication failed. Please try logging in again.";
+        } else if (status === 413) {
+          errorMessage = "Image file is too large. Please try a smaller image.";
+        } else if (status === 415) {
+          errorMessage =
+            "Unsupported image format. Please try a different image.";
+        } else if (status && status >= 500) {
+          errorMessage = "Server error. Please try again later.";
+        } else if (data?.message) {
+          errorMessage = data.message;
+        }
+      }
+
+      this.$notify(
+        {
+          group: "alert",
+          type: "danger",
+          title: "Error",
+          text: errorMessage,
+        },
+        5000,
+      );
+      this.uploading = false;
+      this.blob = undefined;
+    }
   }
 }
 </script>
@@ -191,5 +548,9 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
   border-radius: 0.5rem;
   width: 100%;
   max-width: 700px;
+  max-height: 90vh;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
 }
 </style>