diff --git a/backend/src/handlers/posts.rs b/backend/src/handlers/posts.rs
index 46e872d..cc9a66e 100644
--- a/backend/src/handlers/posts.rs
+++ b/backend/src/handlers/posts.rs
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ pub async fn create_post(
     }
 
     let images = extract_images(&payload.content);
-    if images.is_empty() {
+    if images.is_empty() && state.site_mode == crate::models::SiteMode::Atelier {
         return Err(AppError::BadRequest(
             "A gallery entry must include at least one image (![](url) in the markdown body)."
                 .to_string(),
diff --git a/backend/src/main.rs b/backend/src/main.rs
index bb4c92a..692e9f1 100644
--- a/backend/src/main.rs
+++ b/backend/src/main.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ use tower_http::{
 use tracing::{error, info, warn};
 
 use crate::handlers::contact::RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_MS;
-use crate::models::{ImageDim, PostInfo};
+use crate::models::{ImageDim, PostInfo, SiteMode};
 
 pub struct CachedPost {
     pub info: PostInfo,
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ pub struct AppState {
     pub admin_token: String,
     pub data_dir: PathBuf,
     pub cookie_secure: bool,
+    pub site_mode: SiteMode,
     pub post_lock: Mutex<()>,
     pub posts_cache: RwLock<Vec<CachedPost>>,
     pub image_dims_cache: RwLock<HashMap<String, ImageDim>>,
@@ -55,8 +56,25 @@ async fn main() {
     let cookie_secure = env::var("COOKIE_SECURE")
         .map(|v| v != "false" && v != "0")
         .unwrap_or(true);
+    let site_mode = env::var("SITE_MODE")
+        .map(|v| {
+            if v.to_lowercase() == "blog" {
+                SiteMode::Blog
+            } else {
+                SiteMode::Atelier
+            }
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(SiteMode::Atelier);
 
-    info!("Initializing backend with data dir: {:?}", data_dir);
+    info!(
+        "Initializing backend with data dir: {:?}, mode: {:?}",
+        data_dir,
+        if site_mode == SiteMode::Blog {
+            "blog"
+        } else {
+            "atelier"
+        }
+    );
 
     let posts_dir = data_dir.join("posts");
     let uploads_dir = data_dir.join("uploads");
@@ -71,6 +89,7 @@ async fn main() {
         admin_token,
         data_dir,
         cookie_secure,
+        site_mode,
         post_lock: Mutex::new(()),
         posts_cache: RwLock::new(Vec::new()),
         image_dims_cache: RwLock::new(HashMap::new()),
diff --git a/backend/src/models.rs b/backend/src/models.rs
index 29af6e9..208760f 100644
--- a/backend/src/models.rs
+++ b/backend/src/models.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,19 @@ use chrono::NaiveDate;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+pub enum SiteMode {
+    Blog,
+    Atelier,
+}
+
+impl Default for SiteMode {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::Atelier
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct ContactLink {
     pub kind: String,
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index dae5f2d..8a11295 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ services:
       - DATA_DIR=/app/data
       - COOKIE_SECURE=${COOKIE_SECURE:-true}
       - FRONTEND_ORIGIN=${FRONTEND_ORIGIN:-}
+      - SITE_MODE=${SITE_MODE:-atelier}
       - RUST_LOG=${RUST_LOG:-info}
     restart: unless-stopped
     networks:
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/react/admin/editor/usePostMeta.ts b/frontend/src/components/react/admin/editor/usePostMeta.ts
index 16371ed..e67b9f0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/react/admin/editor/usePostMeta.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/components/react/admin/editor/usePostMeta.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export function usePostMeta({ editSlug, getContent, setContent, mode = 'atelier'
       notify('Title, slug, and body are required.', 'error');
       return;
     }
-    if (!/!\[[^\]]*\]\([^)]+\)/.test(content)) {
+    if (mode === 'atelier' && !/!\[[^\]]*\]\([^)]+\)/.test(content)) {
       notify(
         'Add at least one image before saving — drag, paste, or use the Add image button.',
         'error',