diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index ee23efb..07c2c3d 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -991,10 +991,15 @@
       <!-- Photo -->
       <div class="form-section">
         <div class="form-section-title">📸 Photo (optional)</div>
-        <div id="manPhotoArea" class="camera-area" style="aspect-ratio:4/3;margin-bottom:8px;">
-          <div id="manPhotoPlaceholder" class="camera-placeholder" onclick="document.getElementById('manPhotoInput').click()">
-            <span class="cam-icon">📸</span>
-            <div class="cam-hint" style="margin-top:4px;">Tap to choose photo</div>
+        <div id="manPhotoArea" class="camera-area" style="aspect-ratio:4/3;margin-bottom:8px;overflow:visible;">
+          <div id="manPhotoPlaceholder" class="camera-placeholder">
+            <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;align-items:center;">
+              <button class="btn btn-outline" onclick="document.getElementById('manPhotoInput').click()" style="width:100%;padding:14px;font-size:15px;">📁 Choose from Gallery</button>
+              <div style="font-size:11px;color:var(--text2);">(preserves EXIF/GPS)</div>
+              <div style="width:80%;height:1px;background:var(--border);margin:4px 0;"></div>
+              <button class="btn btn-outline" onclick="openManualCamera()" style="width:100%;padding:14px;font-size:15px;">📸 Take Photo</button>
+              <div style="font-size:11px;color:var(--text2);">(quick capture, no EXIF)</div>
+            </div>
           </div>
           <input type="file" id="manPhotoInput" accept="image/*" style="display:none;" onchange="handleManualPhotoFile(event)">
         </div>
@@ -2614,13 +2619,23 @@
       inp.type = 'file';
       inp.accept = 'image/*';
       inp.capture = 'environment';
+      inp.style.display = 'none';
       inp.onchange = handleManualPhotoFile;
+      // Must be in DOM for mobile Chrome to allow programmatic click
+      document.body.appendChild(inp);
       inp.click();
+      // Clean up after file is picked (or cancelled)
+      inp.addEventListener('cancel', () => inp.remove());
+      // Fallback: remove after a timeout in case 'cancel' doesn't fire
+      setTimeout(() => { if (inp.parentNode) inp.remove(); }, 60000);
     }
 
     async function handleManualPhotoFile(event) {
       const file = event.target.files?.[0];
       if (!file) return;
+      // Clean up any dynamically created camera input
+      const inp = event.target;
+      if (inp.id !== 'manPhotoInput' && inp.parentNode) inp.remove();
       manualPhotoFile = file;
       manualPhotoBlob = file;  // Use original file (preserves EXIF)