diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cb899d5..63d48f1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 All notable changes to Epicure are documented here. This file is mirrored in-app at `/changelog` (and in the admin dashboard) via `apps/web/lib/changelog.ts` — update both together.
 
+## 0.29.0 — 2026-07-14 15:20
+
+### Added
+- **Photo recipe import now respects your app language** — previously it defaulted to English (or whatever language was in the photo) instead of matching your locale like other AI generation features.
+
+### Fixed
+- Importing a photo with no recognizable recipe used to open the recipe editor anyway with empty/garbage fields — it now shows a clear error instead.
+
 ## 0.28.3 — 2026-07-14 14:55
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/import-photo/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/import-photo/route.ts
index 2b417d4..b37e39d 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/import-photo/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/import-photo/route.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   if (!result.ok) return result.response;
   const recipe = result.data;
 
+  if (!recipe.found) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: "No recipe recognized in photo" }, { status: 422 });
+  }
+
   const newRecipeId = crypto.randomUUID();
   const now = new Date();
 
diff --git a/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx b/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx
index 267ac6e..149ec5a 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx
@@ -158,8 +158,10 @@ export function AiGenerateDialog({
         body: JSON.stringify({ imageBase64: photoBase64, mimeType: photoMime }),
       });
       if (!res.ok) {
-        let msg = t("photoError");
-        try { msg = ((await res.json()) as { error?: string }).error ?? msg; } catch { /* non-JSON body */ }
+        let msg = res.status === 422 ? tRecipe("photoNoRecipeFound") : t("photoError");
+        if (res.status !== 422) {
+          try { msg = ((await res.json()) as { error?: string }).error ?? msg; } catch { /* non-JSON body */ }
+        }
         toast.error(msg);
         return;
       }
diff --git a/apps/web/components/recipe/photo-import-button.tsx b/apps/web/components/recipe/photo-import-button.tsx
index 8f7b067..d3db79f 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/recipe/photo-import-button.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/recipe/photo-import-button.tsx
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ export function PhotoImportButton() {
       });
 
       if (!res.ok) {
+        if (res.status === 422) throw new Error(t("photoNoRecipeFound"));
         const data = await res.json().catch(() => ({})) as { error?: string };
         throw new Error(data.error ?? `Request failed: ${res.status}`);
       }
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/ai/features/import-photo.ts b/apps/web/lib/ai/features/import-photo.ts
index 679db5a..36ecde7 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/ai/features/import-photo.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/ai/features/import-photo.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { resolveModel, type AiConfig } from "../factory";
 import { dietaryTagsSchema, ingredientSchema, stepSchema } from "./recipe-schema";
 
 const ImportedRecipeSchema = z.object({
+  found: z.boolean().describe("false if the image does not contain a recognizable recipe (e.g. random photo, no visible ingredients/instructions)"),
   title: z.string(),
   description: z.string().optional(),
   baseServings: z.number().int().min(1).optional(),
@@ -17,19 +18,23 @@ const ImportedRecipeSchema = z.object({
 
 export type ImportedRecipe = z.infer<typeof ImportedRecipeSchema>;
 
+const LANG: Record<string, string> = { en: "English", fr: "French" };
+
 export async function importFromPhoto(
   imageBase64: string,
   mimeType: "image/jpeg" | "image/png" | "image/webp",
   config?: AiConfig,
-  _locale?: string,
+  locale?: string,
 ): Promise<ImportedRecipe> {
   const model = resolveModel(config);
+  const lang = LANG[locale ?? "en"] ?? "English";
+  const langInstruction = lang !== "English" ? ` Write the entire recipe (title, description, ingredient names, step instructions) in ${lang}, regardless of the language used in the image.` : "";
 
   const { object } = await generateObject({
     model,
     schema: ImportedRecipeSchema,
     system:
-      "You are a recipe extraction specialist. Extract the complete recipe from the provided image. Be precise with ingredient quantities and cooking instructions.",
+      `You are a recipe extraction specialist. Extract the complete recipe from the provided image. Be precise with ingredient quantities and cooking instructions. If the image does not contain a recognizable recipe (no visible ingredients or cooking instructions), set found to false and leave the other fields minimal/empty.${langInstruction}`,
     messages: [
       {
         role: "user",
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts b/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts
index 561aaa3..55e72b7 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/changelog.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Mirrors CHANGELOG.md at the repo root — update both together.
-export const APP_VERSION = "0.28.3";
+export const APP_VERSION = "0.29.0";
 
 export type ChangelogEntry = {
   version: string;
@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@ export type ChangelogEntry = {
 };
 
 export const CHANGELOG: ChangelogEntry[] = [
+  {
+    version: "0.29.0",
+    date: "2026-07-14 15:20",
+    added: [
+      "**Photo recipe import now respects your app language** — previously it defaulted to English (or whatever language was in the photo) instead of matching your locale like other AI generation features.",
+    ],
+    fixed: [
+      "Importing a photo with no recognizable recipe used to open the recipe editor anyway with empty/garbage fields — it now shows a clear error instead.",
+    ],
+  },
   {
     version: "0.28.3",
     date: "2026-07-14 14:55",
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/openapi.ts b/apps/web/lib/openapi.ts
index aa9c97b..1a36f3b 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/openapi.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/openapi.ts
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ export function generateOpenApiSpec(): object {
   }));
 
   registry.registerPath({ method: "post", path: "/api/v1/ai/generate-from-idea", summary: "Generate a full recipe from a short title/idea", description: "Rate-limited: 10 req/min. Consumes AI quota.", security, request: { body: { content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ title: z.string().min(1).max(200), provider: z.enum(["openai", "anthropic", "openrouter", "ollama"]).optional(), model: z.string().optional() }) } }, required: true } }, responses: { 200: { description: "Created recipe id", content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ id: z.string() }) } } }, 400: { description: "Validation error", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 429: { description: "Rate limited or AI quota exhausted", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } } } });
-  registry.registerPath({ method: "post", path: "/api/v1/ai/import-photo", summary: "Import a recipe from a photo using AI vision", description: "Rate-limited: 5 req/min. Consumes AI quota.", security, request: { body: { content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ imageBase64: z.string().max(14_000_000), mimeType: z.enum(["image/jpeg", "image/png", "image/webp"]) }) } }, required: true } }, responses: { 200: { description: "Created recipe id", content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ id: z.string() }) } } }, 400: { description: "Validation error", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 429: { description: "Rate limited or AI quota exhausted", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } } } });
+  registry.registerPath({ method: "post", path: "/api/v1/ai/import-photo", summary: "Import a recipe from a photo using AI vision", description: "Rate-limited: 5 req/min. Consumes AI quota. Written in the caller's app language, regardless of the language shown in the photo.", security, request: { body: { content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ imageBase64: z.string().max(14_000_000), mimeType: z.enum(["image/jpeg", "image/png", "image/webp"]) }) } }, required: true } }, responses: { 200: { description: "Created recipe id", content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ id: z.string() }) } } }, 400: { description: "Validation error", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 422: { description: "No recipe recognized in the photo", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 429: { description: "Rate limited or AI quota exhausted", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } } } });
   registry.registerPath({ method: "post", path: "/api/v1/ai/substitute", summary: "Suggest ingredient substitutions", description: "Rate-limited: 10 req/min. Consumes AI quota.", security, request: { body: { content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ ingredient: z.string().min(1).max(200), recipeTitle: z.string().max(200).optional(), provider: z.enum(["openai", "anthropic", "openrouter", "ollama"]).optional(), model: z.string().optional() }) } }, required: true } }, responses: { 200: { description: "Substitutions", content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ substitutions: z.array(z.record(z.string(), z.unknown())) }) } } }, 400: { description: "Validation error", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 429: { description: "Rate limited or AI quota exhausted", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } } } });
   registry.registerPath({ method: "post", path: "/api/v1/ai/scale", summary: "Scale a recipe's ingredients to a target serving count", description: "Rate-limited: 20 req/min. Consumes AI quota.", security, request: { body: { content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ recipeId: z.string(), targetServings: z.number().int().min(1).max(100) }) } }, required: true } }, responses: { 200: { description: "Scaled ingredients", content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ ingredients: z.array(z.record(z.string(), z.unknown())) }) } } }, 400: { description: "Validation error", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 404: { description: "Not found", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 429: { description: "Rate limited or AI quota exhausted", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } } } });
   registry.registerPath({ method: "post", path: "/api/v1/ai/adapt/{id}", summary: "Adapt a recipe to exclude ingredients or meet extra constraints", description: "Consumes AI quota. Creates a new private draft recipe.", security, request: { params: idParam, body: { content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ excludeIngredients: z.array(z.string()).default([]), extraConstraints: z.string().max(500).optional(), provider: z.enum(["openai", "anthropic", "openrouter", "ollama"]).optional(), model: z.string().optional() }) } }, required: true } }, responses: { 200: { description: "New recipe id and adaptation notes", content: { "application/json": { schema: z.object({ id: z.string(), adaptationNotes: z.string().optional() }) } } }, 400: { description: "Validation error or no constraint provided", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 404: { description: "Not found", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } }, 429: { description: "AI quota exhausted", content: { "application/json": { schema: ApiErrorRef } } } } });
diff --git a/apps/web/messages/en.json b/apps/web/messages/en.json
index bdc2b53..48a1daf 100644
--- a/apps/web/messages/en.json
+++ b/apps/web/messages/en.json
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@
     "cookAction": "Cook",
     "adaptConstraintPlaceholder": "e.g. Make it vegan, lower the calories, use pantry staples only, gluten-free…",
     "photoImportFailed": "Failed to import recipe from photo.",
+    "photoNoRecipeFound": "No recipe could be recognized in that photo. Try a clearer picture of the ingredients or instructions.",
     "importFromPhoto": "Import from Photo",
     "urlImportTitle": "Import recipe from URL",
     "urlImportDescription": "Paste a recipe URL and AI will extract the ingredients and instructions.",
diff --git a/apps/web/messages/fr.json b/apps/web/messages/fr.json
index d736eba..b993ec1 100644
--- a/apps/web/messages/fr.json
+++ b/apps/web/messages/fr.json
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@
     "drinksTypeHot": "Chaud",
     "cookAction": "Cuisiner",
     "photoImportFailed": "Échec de l'importation de la recette depuis la photo.",
+    "photoNoRecipeFound": "Aucune recette reconnue sur cette photo. Essayez une image plus nette des ingrédients ou des instructions.",
     "importFromPhoto": "Importer depuis une photo",
     "urlImportTitle": "Importer une recette depuis une URL",
     "urlImportDescription": "Collez l'URL d'une recette et l'IA en extraira les ingrédients et les instructions.",
diff --git a/apps/web/package.json b/apps/web/package.json
index 23f35f9..5f37df3 100644
--- a/apps/web/package.json
+++ b/apps/web/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@epicure/web",
-  "version": "0.28.3",
+  "version": "0.29.0",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3f05e88..46e390a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "epicure",
-  "version": "0.28.3",
+  "version": "0.29.0",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "pnpm --filter web dev",