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Photo Proof

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tempus2016 edited this page Jun 22, 2026 · 2 revisions

Photo proof lets a chore require evidence before it counts. When a chore has Require photo proof turned on, its completions always go through parent approval, and any photo attached to the completion is shown to the parent as a thumbnail in the approvals view.

How It Works

Child completes chore (optionally with a photo) → Always pending → Parent reviews photo → Approve / Reject
  • A chore with require_photo on always requires parent approval, even if Requires Approval is off. The evidence has to be reviewed before points are awarded.
  • The exception is completing on behalf of a child — a parent using the as_parent flag (see Chores) auto-approves as normal, since the parent is already the one acting.

Turning It On

Enable Require photo proof in the chore dialog (add and edit) in the Admin Panel. It is a simple on/off switch stored on the chore as require_photo (default off).

Attaching a Photo

A photo is attached at completion time via the photo_url field on the taskmate.complete_chore service. The value is a URL or path to an image — for example a camera snapshot captured by a Home Assistant automation.

service: taskmate.complete_chore
data:
  chore_id: b3f9a12c
  child_id: a8c8376a
  photo_url: /local/snapshots/dishwasher.jpg
Field Required Description
chore_id Yes The chore being completed
child_id Yes The child completing it
photo_url No URL/path to an evidence image

A common pattern is an automation that fires camera.snapshot to a file under /config/www/ (served at /local/...), then calls complete_chore with that path as photo_url. The photo is optional even on a photo-required chore — the requirement forces approval, while the photo is the evidence the parent looks at when deciding.

Where It's Stored

The photo path is saved on the completion record as photo_url and persists with the completion in storage. It is not copied or re-hosted — TaskMate stores the reference you pass in, so the underlying file must remain reachable for the thumbnail to load.

Reviewing During Approval

A completion that carries a photo_url shows a small thumbnail next to the entry. Clicking it opens the full image in a new tab (a View photo link). Since v4.0.1 the thumbnail renders not only in the Admin Panel approvals list, but also on the Approvals Card and the Parent Dashboard card. The parent then approves or rejects as usual:

  • Approve → points are awarded
  • Reject → completion removed, no points

Note: Browsers don't send the Home Assistant bearer token on a plain <img> request, so the sensor signs the photo URL (appending an authSig token) before handing it to the cards. This lets the evidence image load directly in the Approvals and Parent Dashboard cards without any extra authentication.

Related

  • Chores — chore configuration, approvals, and completing on behalf
  • Approvals-Card — where the thumbnail appears for review
  • Services — full complete_chore reference

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