diff --git a/ios/Podfile b/ios/Podfile
index aa0cb6655c..2e80c1455b 100644
--- a/ios/Podfile
+++ b/ios/Podfile
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ target 'app' do
     :app_path => "#{Pod::Config.instance.installation_root}/.."
   )
 
+  # react-native-permissions settings
+  permissions_path = '../node_modules/react-native-permissions/ios'
+  pod 'Permission-Camera', :path => "#{permissions_path}/Camera"
+  pod 'Permission-PhotoLibrary', :path => "#{permissions_path}/PhotoLibrary"
+
   target 'appTests' do
     inherit! :complete
     # Pods for testing
diff --git a/ios/Podfile.lock b/ios/Podfile.lock
index 1df1a99cf5..0811f94a63 100644
--- a/ios/Podfile.lock
+++ b/ios/Podfile.lock
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ PODS:
   - libwebp/mux (1.2.4):
     - libwebp/demux
   - libwebp/webp (1.2.4)
+  - Permission-Camera (3.6.1):
+    - RNPermissions
+  - Permission-PhotoLibrary (3.6.1):
+    - RNPermissions
   - RCT-Folly (2021.07.22.00):
     - boost
     - DoubleConversion
@@ -379,6 +383,8 @@ PODS:
     - RNNotifee/NotifeeCore (= 7.4.0)
   - RNNotifee/NotifeeCore (7.4.0):
     - React-Core
+  - RNPermissions (3.6.1):
+    - React-Core
   - RNReactNativeHapticFeedback (1.14.0):
     - React-Core
   - RNReanimated (2.13.0):
@@ -437,6 +443,8 @@ DEPENDENCIES:
   - glog (from `../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/glog.podspec`)
   - hermes-engine (from `../node_modules/react-native/sdks/hermes-engine/hermes-engine.podspec`)
   - libevent (~> 2.1.12)
+  - Permission-Camera (from `../node_modules/react-native-permissions/ios/Camera`)
+  - Permission-PhotoLibrary (from `../node_modules/react-native-permissions/ios/PhotoLibrary`)
   - RCT-Folly (from `../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/RCT-Folly.podspec`)
   - RCTRequired (from `../node_modules/react-native/Libraries/RCTRequired`)
   - RCTTypeSafety (from `../node_modules/react-native/Libraries/TypeSafety`)
@@ -483,6 +491,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES:
   - RNImageCropPicker (from `../node_modules/react-native-image-crop-picker`)
   - RNInAppBrowser (from `../node_modules/react-native-inappbrowser-reborn`)
   - "RNNotifee (from `../node_modules/@notifee/react-native`)"
+  - RNPermissions (from `../node_modules/react-native-permissions`)
   - RNReactNativeHapticFeedback (from `../node_modules/react-native-haptic-feedback`)
   - RNReanimated (from `../node_modules/react-native-reanimated`)
   - RNScreens (from `../node_modules/react-native-screens`)
@@ -516,6 +525,10 @@ EXTERNAL SOURCES:
     :podspec: "../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/glog.podspec"
   hermes-engine:
     :podspec: "../node_modules/react-native/sdks/hermes-engine/hermes-engine.podspec"
+  Permission-Camera:
+    :path: "../node_modules/react-native-permissions/ios/Camera"
+  Permission-PhotoLibrary:
+    :path: "../node_modules/react-native-permissions/ios/PhotoLibrary"
   RCT-Folly:
     :podspec: "../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/RCT-Folly.podspec"
   RCTRequired:
@@ -606,6 +619,8 @@ EXTERNAL SOURCES:
     :path: "../node_modules/react-native-inappbrowser-reborn"
   RNNotifee:
     :path: "../node_modules/@notifee/react-native"
+  RNPermissions:
+    :path: "../node_modules/react-native-permissions"
   RNReactNativeHapticFeedback:
     :path: "../node_modules/react-native-haptic-feedback"
   RNReanimated:
@@ -632,6 +647,8 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   hermes-engine: f6e715aa6c8bd38de6c13bc85e07b0a337edaa89
   libevent: 4049cae6c81cdb3654a443be001fb9bdceff7913
   libwebp: f62cb61d0a484ba548448a4bd52aabf150ff6eef
+  Permission-Camera: bf6791b17c7f614b6826019fcfdcc286d3a107f6
+  Permission-PhotoLibrary: 5b34ca67279f7201ae109cef36f9806a6596002d
   RCT-Folly: 424b8c9a7a0b9ab2886ffe9c3b041ef628fd4fb1
   RCTRequired: fd4d923b964658aa0c4091a32c8b2004c6d9e3a6
   RCTTypeSafety: c276d85975bde3d8448907235c70bf0da257adfd
@@ -677,6 +694,7 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   RNImageCropPicker: 648356d68fbf9911a1016b3e3723885d28373eda
   RNInAppBrowser: e36d6935517101ccba0e875bac8ad7b0cb655364
   RNNotifee: da8dcf09f079ea22f46e239d7c406e10d4525a5f
+  RNPermissions: dcdb7b99796bbeda6975a6e79ad519c41b251b1c
   RNReactNativeHapticFeedback: 1e3efeca9628ff9876ee7cdd9edec1b336913f8c
   RNReanimated: d8d9d3d3801bda5e35e85cdffc871577d044dc2e
   RNScreens: 34cc502acf1b916c582c60003dc3089fa01dc66d
@@ -689,6 +707,6 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   TOCropViewController: edfd4f25713d56905ad1e0b9f5be3fbe0f59c863
   Yoga: 921eb014669cf9c718ada68b08d362517d564e0c
 
-PODFILE CHECKSUM: 32d3f4ec61d2c786d46fd58000f53917922dbb8a
+PODFILE CHECKSUM: 95c7fde1130d862b561348cca2b3fb7f9bd84bfb
 
 COCOAPODS: 1.11.3
diff --git a/jest/jestSetup.js b/jest/jestSetup.js
index 35bb1772fd..d7b0dcc575 100644
--- a/jest/jestSetup.js
+++ b/jest/jestSetup.js
@@ -55,3 +55,7 @@ jest.mock('@segment/analytics-react-native', () => ({
     flush: jest.fn(),
   }),
 }))
+
+jest.mock('react-native-permissions', () =>
+  require('react-native-permissions/mock'),
+)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 71a4944621..02ba7fa645 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
     "react-native-inappbrowser-reborn": "^3.6.3",
     "react-native-linear-gradient": "^2.6.2",
     "react-native-pager-view": "^6.0.2",
+    "react-native-permissions": "^3.6.1",
     "react-native-progress": "^5.0.0",
     "react-native-reanimated": "^2.9.1",
     "react-native-root-siblings": "^4.1.1",
diff --git a/src/lib/permissions.ts b/src/lib/permissions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ab2c73ca6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/permissions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import {Alert} from 'react-native'
+import {
+  check,
+  openSettings,
+  Permission,
+  PermissionStatus,
+  PERMISSIONS,
+  RESULTS,
+} from 'react-native-permissions'
+
+export const PHOTO_LIBRARY = PERMISSIONS.IOS.PHOTO_LIBRARY
+export const CAMERA = PERMISSIONS.IOS.CAMERA
+
+/**
+ * Returns `true` if the user has granted permission or hasn't made
+ * a decision yet. Returns `false` if unavailable or not granted.
+ */
+export async function hasAccess(perm: Permission): Promise<boolean> {
+  const status = await check(perm)
+  return isntANo(status)
+}
+
+export async function requestAccessIfNeeded(
+  perm: Permission,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (await hasAccess(perm)) {
+    return true
+  }
+  let permDescription
+  if (perm === PHOTO_LIBRARY) {
+    permDescription = 'photo library'
+  } else if (perm === CAMERA) {
+    permDescription = 'camera'
+  } else {
+    return false
+  }
+  Alert.alert(
+    'Permission needed',
+    `Bluesky does not have permission to access your ${permDescription}.`,
+    [
+      {
+        text: 'Cancel',
+        style: 'cancel',
+      },
+      {text: 'Open Settings', onPress: () => openSettings()},
+    ],
+  )
+  return false
+}
+
+export async function requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded() {
+  return requestAccessIfNeeded(PHOTO_LIBRARY)
+}
+
+export async function requestCameraAccessIfNeeded() {
+  return requestAccessIfNeeded(CAMERA)
+}
+
+function isntANo(status: PermissionStatus): boolean {
+  return status !== RESULTS.UNAVAILABLE && status !== RESULTS.BLOCKED
+}
diff --git a/src/state/models/user-local-photos.ts b/src/state/models/user-local-photos.ts
index 08b2b39018..a2ad26ac23 100644
--- a/src/state/models/user-local-photos.ts
+++ b/src/state/models/user-local-photos.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export class UserLocalPhotosModel {
   }
 
   private async _getPhotos() {
-    CameraRoll.getPhotos({first: 20}).then(r => {
+    return CameraRoll.getPhotos({first: 20}).then(r => {
       runInAction(() => {
         this.photos = r.edges
       })
diff --git a/src/view/com/composer/ComposePost.tsx b/src/view/com/composer/ComposePost.tsx
index 4e3e43e38a..11ca9c0520 100644
--- a/src/view/com/composer/ComposePost.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/composer/ComposePost.tsx
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ import {
 } from '../../../lib/strings'
 import {getLinkMeta} from '../../../lib/link-meta'
 import {downloadAndResize} from '../../../lib/images'
-import {UserLocalPhotosModel} from '../../../state/models/user-local-photos'
 import {getMentionAt, insertMentionAt} from '../../../lib/strings/mention-manip'
 import {PhotoCarouselPicker, cropPhoto} from './PhotoCarouselPicker'
 import {SelectedPhoto} from './SelectedPhoto'
@@ -94,10 +93,6 @@ export const ComposePost = observer(function ComposePost({
     () => new UserAutocompleteViewModel(store),
     [store],
   )
-  const localPhotos = React.useMemo<UserLocalPhotosModel>(
-    () => new UserLocalPhotosModel(store),
-    [store],
-  )
 
   // HACK
   // there's a bug with @mattermost/react-native-paste-input where if the input
@@ -112,8 +107,7 @@ export const ComposePost = observer(function ComposePost({
   // initial setup
   useEffect(() => {
     autocompleteView.setup()
-    localPhotos.setup()
-  }, [autocompleteView, localPhotos])
+  }, [autocompleteView])
 
   // external link metadata-fetch flow
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -436,13 +430,10 @@ export const ComposePost = observer(function ComposePost({
               />
             )}
           </ScrollView>
-          {isSelectingPhotos &&
-          localPhotos.photos != null &&
-          selectedPhotos.length < 4 ? (
+          {isSelectingPhotos && selectedPhotos.length < 4 ? (
             <PhotoCarouselPicker
               selectedPhotos={selectedPhotos}
               onSelectPhotos={onSelectPhotos}
-              localPhotos={localPhotos}
             />
           ) : !extLink &&
             selectedPhotos.length === 0 &&
diff --git a/src/view/com/composer/PhotoCarouselPicker.tsx b/src/view/com/composer/PhotoCarouselPicker.tsx
index 689e8579d5..7057330375 100644
--- a/src/view/com/composer/PhotoCarouselPicker.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/composer/PhotoCarouselPicker.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ import {
   UserLocalPhotosModel,
   PhotoIdentifier,
 } from '../../../state/models/user-local-photos'
+import {
+  requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded,
+  requestCameraAccessIfNeeded,
+} from '../../../lib/permissions'
 import {compressIfNeeded, scaleDownDimensions} from '../../../lib/images'
 import {usePalette} from '../../lib/hooks/usePalette'
 import {useStores} from '../../../state'
@@ -67,16 +71,31 @@ export async function cropPhoto(
 export const PhotoCarouselPicker = ({
   selectedPhotos,
   onSelectPhotos,
-  localPhotos,
 }: {
   selectedPhotos: string[]
   onSelectPhotos: (v: string[]) => void
-  localPhotos: UserLocalPhotosModel
 }) => {
   const pal = usePalette('default')
   const store = useStores()
+  const [isSetup, setIsSetup] = React.useState<boolean>(false)
+
+  const localPhotos = React.useMemo<UserLocalPhotosModel>(
+    () => new UserLocalPhotosModel(store),
+    [store],
+  )
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    // initial setup
+    localPhotos.setup().then(() => {
+      setIsSetup(true)
+    })
+  }, [localPhotos])
+
   const handleOpenCamera = useCallback(async () => {
     try {
+      if (!(await requestCameraAccessIfNeeded())) {
+        return
+      }
       const cameraRes = await openCamera({
         mediaType: 'photo',
         cropping: true,
@@ -107,34 +126,36 @@ export const PhotoCarouselPicker = ({
     [store.log, selectedPhotos, onSelectPhotos],
   )
 
-  const handleOpenGallery = useCallback(() => {
-    openPicker({
+  const handleOpenGallery = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!(await requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded())) {
+      return
+    }
+    const items = await openPicker({
       multiple: true,
       maxFiles: 4 - selectedPhotos.length,
       mediaType: 'photo',
-    }).then(async items => {
-      const result = []
-
-      for (const image of items) {
-        // choose target dimensions based on the original
-        // this causes the photo cropper to start with the full image "selected"
-        const {width, height} = scaleDownDimensions(
-          {width: image.width, height: image.height},
-          {width: MAX_WIDTH, height: MAX_HEIGHT},
-        )
-        const cropperRes = await openCropper({
-          mediaType: 'photo',
-          path: image.path,
-          ...IMAGE_PARAMS,
-          width,
-          height,
-        })
-        const finalImg = await compressIfNeeded(cropperRes, MAX_SIZE)
-        const permanentPath = await moveToPremanantPath(finalImg.path)
-        result.push(permanentPath)
-      }
-      onSelectPhotos([...selectedPhotos, ...result])
     })
+    const result = []
+
+    for (const image of items) {
+      // choose target dimensions based on the original
+      // this causes the photo cropper to start with the full image "selected"
+      const {width, height} = scaleDownDimensions(
+        {width: image.width, height: image.height},
+        {width: MAX_WIDTH, height: MAX_HEIGHT},
+      )
+      const cropperRes = await openCropper({
+        mediaType: 'photo',
+        path: image.path,
+        ...IMAGE_PARAMS,
+        width,
+        height,
+      })
+      const finalImg = await compressIfNeeded(cropperRes, MAX_SIZE)
+      const permanentPath = await moveToPremanantPath(finalImg.path)
+      result.push(permanentPath)
+    }
+    onSelectPhotos([...selectedPhotos, ...result])
   }, [selectedPhotos, onSelectPhotos])
 
   return (
@@ -156,15 +177,16 @@ export const PhotoCarouselPicker = ({
         onPress={handleOpenGallery}>
         <FontAwesomeIcon icon="image" style={pal.link} size={24} />
       </TouchableOpacity>
-      {localPhotos.photos.map((item: PhotoIdentifier, index: number) => (
-        <TouchableOpacity
-          testID="openSelectPhotoButton"
-          key={`local-image-${index}`}
-          style={[pal.border, styles.photoButton]}
-          onPress={() => handleSelectPhoto(item)}>
-          <Image style={styles.photo} source={{uri: item.node.image.uri}} />
-        </TouchableOpacity>
-      ))}
+      {isSetup &&
+        localPhotos.photos.map((item: PhotoIdentifier, index: number) => (
+          <TouchableOpacity
+            testID="openSelectPhotoButton"
+            key={`local-image-${index}`}
+            style={[pal.border, styles.photoButton]}
+            onPress={() => handleSelectPhoto(item)}>
+            <Image style={styles.photo} source={{uri: item.node.image.uri}} />
+          </TouchableOpacity>
+        ))}
     </ScrollView>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx b/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx
index 424c1e720d..c118682c8c 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ import {
   openPicker,
   Image as PickedImage,
 } from 'react-native-image-crop-picker'
+import {
+  requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded,
+  requestCameraAccessIfNeeded,
+} from '../../../lib/permissions'
 import {colors, gradients} from '../../lib/styles'
 import {DropdownButton} from './forms/DropdownButton'
 import {usePalette} from '../../lib/hooks/usePalette'
@@ -53,26 +57,34 @@ export function UserAvatar({
     {
       label: 'Camera',
       icon: 'camera',
-      // TODO: dark mode icon
-      onPress: () => {
-        openCamera({
-          mediaType: 'photo',
-          cropping: true,
-          width: 2000,
-          height: 2000,
-          cropperCircleOverlay: true,
-          forceJpg: true, // ios only
-          compressImageQuality: 1,
-        }).then(onSelectNewAvatar)
+      onPress: async () => {
+        if (!(await requestCameraAccessIfNeeded())) {
+          return
+        }
+        onSelectNewAvatar?.(
+          await openCamera({
+            mediaType: 'photo',
+            cropping: true,
+            width: 2000,
+            height: 2000,
+            cropperCircleOverlay: true,
+            forceJpg: true, // ios only
+            compressImageQuality: 1,
+          }),
+        )
       },
     },
     {
       label: 'Library',
       icon: 'image',
-      onPress: () => {
-        openPicker({
+      onPress: async () => {
+        if (!(await requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded())) {
+          return
+        }
+        const item = await openPicker({
           mediaType: 'photo',
-        }).then(async item => {
+        })
+        onSelectNewAvatar?.(
           await openCropper({
             mediaType: 'photo',
             path: item.path,
@@ -81,8 +93,8 @@ export function UserAvatar({
             cropperCircleOverlay: true,
             forceJpg: true, // ios only
             compressImageQuality: 1,
-          }).then(onSelectNewAvatar)
-        })
+          }),
+        )
       },
     },
     // TODO: Remove avatar https://github.com/bluesky-social/social-app/issues/122
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/UserBanner.tsx b/src/view/com/util/UserBanner.tsx
index fdd2517d16..d2b5a22ca4 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/UserBanner.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/UserBanner.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ import {
   openCropper,
   openPicker,
 } from 'react-native-image-crop-picker'
+import {
+  requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded,
+  requestCameraAccessIfNeeded,
+} from '../../../lib/permissions'
 import {DropdownButton} from './forms/DropdownButton'
 import {usePalette} from '../../lib/hooks/usePalette'
 
@@ -25,28 +29,36 @@ export function UserBanner({
     {
       label: 'Camera',
       icon: 'camera',
-      // TODO: Add darkmode support https://github.com/bluesky-social/social-app/issues/78
-      onPress: () => {
-        openCamera({
-          mediaType: 'photo',
-          cropping: true,
-          compressImageMaxWidth: 6000,
-          width: 6000,
-          compressImageMaxHeight: 2000,
-          height: 2000,
-          forceJpg: true, // ios only
-          compressImageQuality: 1,
-          includeExif: true,
-        }).then(onSelectNewBanner)
+      onPress: async () => {
+        if (!(await requestCameraAccessIfNeeded())) {
+          return
+        }
+        onSelectNewBanner?.(
+          await openCamera({
+            mediaType: 'photo',
+            cropping: true,
+            compressImageMaxWidth: 6000,
+            width: 6000,
+            compressImageMaxHeight: 2000,
+            height: 2000,
+            forceJpg: true, // ios only
+            compressImageQuality: 1,
+            includeExif: true,
+          }),
+        )
       },
     },
     {
       label: 'Library',
       icon: 'image',
-      onPress: () => {
-        openPicker({
+      onPress: async () => {
+        if (!(await requestPhotoAccessIfNeeded())) {
+          return
+        }
+        const item = await openPicker({
           mediaType: 'photo',
-        }).then(async item => {
+        })
+        onSelectNewBanner?.(
           await openCropper({
             mediaType: 'photo',
             path: item.path,
@@ -57,8 +69,8 @@ export function UserBanner({
             forceJpg: true, // ios only
             compressImageQuality: 1,
             includeExif: true,
-          }).then(onSelectNewBanner)
-        })
+          }),
+        )
       },
     },
     // TODO: Remove banner https://github.com/bluesky-social/social-app/issues/122
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 80796348be..e60b185641 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -11133,6 +11133,11 @@ react-native-pager-view@^6.0.2:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/react-native-pager-view/-/react-native-pager-view-6.1.2.tgz#3522079b9a9d6634ca5e8d153bc0b4d660254552"
   integrity sha512-qs2KSFc+7N7B+UZ6SG2sTvCkppagm5fVyRclv1KFKc7lDtrhXLzN59tXJw575LDP/dRJoXsNwqUAhZJdws6ABQ==
 
+react-native-permissions@^3.6.1:
+  version "3.6.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/react-native-permissions/-/react-native-permissions-3.6.1.tgz#73adcc1cef8cd57a9ef167b4507405f4ff5749c4"
+  integrity sha512-fzPpPQXeD34inUccqtoResSwYubfrwUguP4qrVUUv8+KSMjYSaHGoS5HaIJLZHlN9gO+TvLJZ2L5ZljTsb6qnQ==
+
 react-native-progress@^5.0.0:
   version "5.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/react-native-progress/-/react-native-progress-5.0.0.tgz#f5ac6ceaeee27f184c660b00f29419e82a9d0ab0"