diff --git a/backend/__tests__/services/feedbackDefaults.test.js b/backend/__tests__/services/feedbackDefaults.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e7ef0ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/services/feedbackDefaults.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+/**
+ * Global guest-feedback defaults (#1044).
+ *
+ * Before this module the creation defaults lived in four places that had
+ * already drifted: the admin create route's destructuring defaults, the v1
+ * create route's hard-coded insert (which omitted `allow_reactions`
+ * entirely), getEventFeedbackSettings()'s no-row fallback, and the migration
+ * column defaults. Pinned here:
+ *
+ *  - with no app_settings rows, the built-in fallbacks apply (so installs
+ *    that never open Settings > Events keep behaving exactly as before)
+ *  - a stored global overrides its fallback, whether it was written as a JSON
+ *    boolean, a bare "true"/"false" string, or SQLite's 0/1
+ *  - garbage in a settings row falls back rather than writing null into a
+ *    boolean column
+ *  - an explicitly-sent body value always beats the global
+ *  - keybind_mode only accepts the known schemes
+ *  - getEventFeedbackSettings()'s no-row fallback reads the same globals
+ */
+
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+
+process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test';
+process.env.TEST_DATABASE_PATH = path.join(
+  fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-feedback-defaults-')), 'db.sqlite',
+);
+process.env.JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'feedback-defaults-test-secret';
+
+const { bootCrmDb, seedMinimal } = require('../integration/helpers/crmDb');
+
+const {
+  FEEDBACK_TOGGLES,
+  resolveEventFeedbackDefaults,
+  applyFeedbackDefaults,
+} = require('../../src/services/feedbackDefaults');
+const feedbackService = require('../../src/services/feedbackService');
+
+let db;
+let cleanup;
+
+async function setGlobal(key, value) {
+  await db('app_settings').where('setting_key', key).delete();
+  await db('app_settings').insert({
+    setting_key: key,
+    setting_value: value,
+    setting_type: 'general',
+    updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+  });
+}
+
+async function clearGlobals() {
+  await db('app_settings').where('setting_key', 'like', 'event_default_%').delete();
+}
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  ({ db, cleanup } = await bootCrmDb());
+  await seedMinimal(db);
+}, 120000);
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  if (cleanup) await cleanup();
+});
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  await clearGlobals();
+});
+
+describe('resolveEventFeedbackDefaults (#1044)', () => {
+  it('falls back to the built-ins when nothing is configured', async () => {
+    const defaults = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
+    expect(defaults).toEqual({
+      allow_ratings: true,
+      allow_likes: true,
+      allow_favorites: true,
+      allow_comments: true,
+      allow_reactions: true,
+      // Colour labels are opt-in so no existing gallery grows a colour bar
+      // on upgrade.
+      allow_color_labels: false,
+      keybind_mode: 'colors',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('covers every toggle the UI shows — no type can be silently missing', async () => {
+    const defaults = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
+    for (const toggle of FEEDBACK_TOGGLES) {
+      expect(defaults).toHaveProperty(toggle.column);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('lets a stored global override its fallback', async () => {
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_comments', JSON.stringify(false));
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_color_labels', JSON.stringify(true));
+
+    const defaults = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
+    expect(defaults.allow_comments).toBe(false);
+    expect(defaults.allow_color_labels).toBe(true);
+    expect(defaults.allow_likes).toBe(true); // untouched
+  });
+
+  it('accepts the value shapes older writers left behind', async () => {
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_likes', 'false'); // bare string, not JSON-quoted
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_ratings', '0'); // SQLite boolean
+    const defaults = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
+    expect(defaults.allow_likes).toBe(false);
+    expect(defaults.allow_ratings).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('falls back rather than writing garbage into a boolean column', async () => {
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_favorites', 'not-a-boolean');
+    const defaults = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
+    expect(defaults.allow_favorites).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('only accepts known keybind schemes', async () => {
+    await setGlobal('event_default_keybind_mode', JSON.stringify('lightroom'));
+    expect((await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults()).keybind_mode).toBe('lightroom');
+
+    await setGlobal('event_default_keybind_mode', JSON.stringify('vim'));
+    expect((await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults()).keybind_mode).toBe('colors');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('applyFeedbackDefaults (#1044)', () => {
+  const globals = {
+    allow_ratings: true,
+    allow_likes: true,
+    allow_favorites: true,
+    allow_comments: true,
+    allow_reactions: true,
+    allow_color_labels: false,
+    keybind_mode: 'colors',
+  };
+
+  it('inherits every value the caller omitted', () => {
+    expect(applyFeedbackDefaults({}, globals)).toEqual(globals);
+    expect(applyFeedbackDefaults(undefined, globals)).toEqual(globals);
+  });
+
+  it('lets an explicit body value win — including an explicit false', () => {
+    const resolved = applyFeedbackDefaults(
+      { allow_likes: false, allow_color_labels: true, keybind_mode: 'lightroom' },
+      globals,
+    );
+    expect(resolved.allow_likes).toBe(false);
+    expect(resolved.allow_color_labels).toBe(true);
+    expect(resolved.keybind_mode).toBe('lightroom');
+    expect(resolved.allow_ratings).toBe(true); // still inherited
+  });
+
+  it('ignores an unknown keybind mode from the body', () => {
+    expect(applyFeedbackDefaults({ keybind_mode: 'emacs' }, globals).keybind_mode).toBe('colors');
+  });
+
+  it('does not mutate the globals object it was handed', () => {
+    const snapshot = { ...globals };
+    applyFeedbackDefaults({ allow_likes: false }, globals);
+    expect(globals).toEqual(snapshot);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getEventFeedbackSettings no-row fallback (#1044)', () => {
+  it('reads the same globals instead of a fourth hard-coded copy', async () => {
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_comments', JSON.stringify(false));
+    await setGlobal('event_default_allow_color_labels', JSON.stringify(true));
+
+    // An event id with no event_feedback_settings row.
+    const settings = await feedbackService.getEventFeedbackSettings(999999);
+    expect(settings.feedback_enabled).toBe(false); // no row still means feedback off
+    expect(settings.allow_comments).toBe(false);
+    expect(settings.allow_color_labels).toBe(true);
+    expect(settings.keybind_mode).toBe('colors');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/__tests__/services/photoAdminMarks.test.js b/backend/__tests__/services/photoAdminMarks.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de61d868
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/services/photoAdminMarks.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
+/**
+ * The photographer's own stars and colour labels (#1044 follow-up).
+ *
+ * The property that matters most here is isolation: admin marks live in their
+ * own table precisely so they can never reach a guest-facing surface. Pinned:
+ *
+ *  - rating and colour are independent halves of one mark — writing one must
+ *    not wipe the other
+ *  - a mark with neither half left is deleted, not kept as an empty row
+ *  - two admins on the same event keep separate marks
+ *  - marks never touch photo_feedback or the denormalized photos.* counters
+ *    the gallery reads
+ *  - invalid values are rejected the same way guest colour labels are
+ */
+
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+
+process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test';
+process.env.TEST_DATABASE_PATH = path.join(
+  fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-admin-marks-')), 'db.sqlite',
+);
+process.env.JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'admin-marks-test-secret';
+
+const { bootCrmDb, seedMinimal } = require('../integration/helpers/crmDb');
+
+const marks = require('../../src/services/photoAdminMarksService');
+const feedbackService = require('../../src/services/feedbackService');
+
+const ADMIN_A = 11;
+const ADMIN_B = 22;
+
+let db;
+let cleanup;
+let eventId;
+let photoIds;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  ({ db, cleanup } = await bootCrmDb());
+  await seedMinimal(db);
+  const inserted = await db('events').insert({
+    slug: 'admin-marks-test-event',
+    event_type: 'wedding',
+    event_name: 'Admin Marks Test',
+    event_date: '2026-07-20',
+    host_email: 'host@example.com',
+    admin_email: 'admin@example.com',
+    password_hash: 'x',
+    share_link: '/gallery/admin-marks-test-event/share',
+    share_token: 'admin-marks-share',
+    expires_at: new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 3600 * 1000).toISOString(),
+    is_active: 1,
+    is_archived: 0,
+    is_draft: 0,
+    created_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+  }).returning('id');
+  eventId = inserted[0]?.id ?? inserted[0];
+
+  photoIds = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+    const photo = await db('photos').insert({
+      event_id: eventId,
+      filename: `photo-${i}.jpg`,
+      path: `events/admin-marks/${i}.jpg`,
+      type: 'individual',
+      uploaded_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    }).returning('id');
+    photoIds.push(photo[0]?.id ?? photo[0]);
+  }
+}, 120000);
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  if (cleanup) await cleanup();
+});
+
+describe('photoAdminMarksService (#1044 follow-up)', () => {
+  it('sets a colour without touching the rating, and vice versa', async () => {
+    expect(await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[0], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'green' }))
+      .toEqual({ rating: null, color_label: 'green' });
+
+    // Writing the rating must leave the colour alone — the two lightbox key
+    // groups write independently.
+    expect(await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[0], ADMIN_A, { rating: 4 }))
+      .toEqual({ rating: 4, color_label: 'green' });
+
+    expect(await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[0], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'red' }))
+      .toEqual({ rating: 4, color_label: 'red' });
+  });
+
+  it('keeps exactly one row per photo per admin', async () => {
+    const rows = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[0], admin_id: ADMIN_A });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it('clears one half with null and leaves the other', async () => {
+    expect(await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[0], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: null }))
+      .toEqual({ rating: 4, color_label: null });
+  });
+
+  it('deletes the row once neither half is left', async () => {
+    expect(await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[0], ADMIN_A, { rating: null })).toBeNull();
+    const rows = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[0], admin_id: ADMIN_A });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps two admins on the same photo independent', async () => {
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[1], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'green' });
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[1], ADMIN_B, { colorLabel: 'red', rating: 2 });
+
+    expect((await marks.getEventMarks(eventId, ADMIN_A))[photoIds[1]])
+      .toEqual({ rating: null, color_label: 'green' });
+    expect((await marks.getEventMarks(eventId, ADMIN_B))[photoIds[1]])
+      .toEqual({ rating: 2, color_label: 'red' });
+  });
+
+  it('rejects colours outside the set and ratings outside 1-5', async () => {
+    await expect(marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[2], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'chartreuse' }))
+      .rejects.toThrow('Invalid color label');
+    await expect(marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[2], ADMIN_A, { rating: 6 }))
+      .rejects.toThrow('Rating must be between 1 and 5');
+    await expect(marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[2], ADMIN_A, { rating: 0 }))
+      .rejects.toThrow('Rating must be between 1 and 5');
+    // Nothing was written by any of the rejected calls.
+    expect(await marks.getEventMarks(eventId, ADMIN_A, [photoIds[2]])).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('tags caller mistakes with a code, not just a message', async () => {
+    // The route maps this to a 400. Keyed on the code so rewording the
+    // message can't silently turn a bad request into a 500.
+    await expect(marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[2], ADMIN_A, { rating: 9 }))
+      .rejects.toMatchObject({ code: marks.INVALID_MARK });
+    await expect(marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[2], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'beige' }))
+      .rejects.toMatchObject({ code: marks.INVALID_MARK });
+  });
+
+  it('narrows to a page of photo ids', async () => {
+    expect(Object.keys(await marks.getEventMarks(eventId, ADMIN_A, [photoIds[1]])))
+      .toEqual([String(photoIds[1])]);
+    expect(await marks.getEventMarks(eventId, ADMIN_A, [])).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('converges instead of 500ing when two marks race into the same row', async () => {
+    // Simulate the check-then-insert race a keyboard triage pass produces:
+    // both calls read "no row", one inserts, the other hits the unique index.
+    // The loser must land on the winner's row, not throw — and the half it
+    // did not address must keep the winner's value, not the stale pre-read.
+    const photoId = photoIds[2];
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId }).delete();
+
+    const [first, second] = await Promise.all([
+      marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { rating: 4 }),
+      marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'green' }),
+    ]);
+
+    expect(first).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(second).not.toBeNull();
+
+    const rows = await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId, admin_id: ADMIN_A });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
+    // Whichever order they landed in, neither half may be lost.
+    expect(rows[0].rating).toBe(4);
+    expect(rows[0].color_label).toBe('green');
+
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId }).delete();
+  });
+
+  it('does not lose a concurrent half when the row already exists', async () => {
+    // luap's finding on #1137: the insert race was handled, but two keystrokes
+    // on a photo that ALREADY has a mark took a plain read-modify-write —
+    // both calls read the old row, both wrote the full pair, and the second
+    // clobbered the first with its stale value. That is the COMMON case in a
+    // triage pass, since by the second keystroke there usually is a row.
+    const photoId = photoIds[2];
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId }).delete();
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { rating: 3 });
+
+    await Promise.all([
+      marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { rating: 4 }),
+      marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'blue' }),
+    ]);
+
+    const row = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoId, admin_id: ADMIN_A }).first();
+    expect(row.rating).toBe(4);          // was 3 before the fix — the colour
+    expect(row.color_label).toBe('blue'); // write reverted it
+
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId }).delete();
+  });
+
+  it('leaves the untouched half alone even when the caller sends only one', async () => {
+    // The mechanism behind the fix: an unaddressed column is never written,
+    // so it cannot be written with a stale value.
+    const photoId = photoIds[2];
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId }).delete();
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { rating: 2, colorLabel: 'purple' });
+
+    const before = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoId, admin_id: ADMIN_A }).first();
+
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoId, ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'green' });
+    const after = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoId, admin_id: ADMIN_A }).first();
+
+    expect(after.rating).toBe(before.rating);
+    expect(after.color_label).toBe('green');
+
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where({ photo_id: photoId }).delete();
+  });
+
+  it('counts colours per admin for the filter chips', async () => {
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[2], ADMIN_A, { colorLabel: 'green' });
+    expect(await marks.getEventMarkColorCounts(eventId, ADMIN_A)).toEqual({ green: 2 });
+    expect(await marks.getEventMarkColorCounts(eventId, ADMIN_B)).toEqual({ red: 1 });
+    // A rating-only mark contributes no colour count.
+    await marks.setMark(eventId, photoIds[0], ADMIN_A, { rating: 5 });
+    expect(await marks.getEventMarkColorCounts(eventId, ADMIN_A)).toEqual({ green: 2 });
+  });
+
+  it('never leaks into guest feedback or the denormalized gallery counters', async () => {
+    // Everything above wrote marks on all three photos.
+    expect(await db('photo_feedback').count('* as count').first())
+      .toEqual(expect.objectContaining({ count: 0 }));
+
+    for (const photoId of photoIds) {
+      // updatePhotoFeedbackStats is what the gallery payload reads; it must
+      // still see an untouched photo.
+      await feedbackService.updatePhotoFeedbackStats(photoId);
+      const photo = await db('photos').where('id', photoId).first();
+      expect(Number(photo.color_label_count) || 0).toBe(0);
+      expect(Number(photo.average_rating) || 0).toBe(0);
+      expect(Number(photo.feedback_count) || 0).toBe(0);
+    }
+
+    // And the guest-facing tallies stay empty.
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[1])).toEqual({});
+    expect(await feedbackService.getEventColorLabelCounts(eventId)).toEqual({});
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/__tests__/utils/feedbackColorLabels.test.js b/backend/__tests__/utils/feedbackColorLabels.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3fd9c73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/utils/feedbackColorLabels.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+/**
+ * Colour labels (#1044) — pins the contract of the `color_label` feedback
+ * type, which shares its single-value machinery with emoji reactions (#839):
+ *  - only the five Lightroom colours are accepted
+ *  - one label per guest per photo: the same colour again toggles OFF,
+ *    a different colour SWITCHES the existing row (never a second row)
+ *  - per-guest scoping mirrors reactions: guest_id when present, else the
+ *    device-hash guest_identifier
+ *  - a check-then-insert race that produced duplicate rows collapses on the
+ *    next interaction instead of leaving a phantom count
+ *  - denormalized photos.color_label_count and the per-colour tallies follow
+ *    visibility: hidden-by-moderator labels disappear from both
+ *  - the exports carry the colour
+ */
+
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+
+process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test';
+process.env.TEST_DATABASE_PATH = path.join(
+  fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-feedback-color-labels-')), 'db.sqlite',
+);
+process.env.JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'feedback-color-labels-test-secret';
+
+const { bootCrmDb, seedMinimal } = require('../integration/helpers/crmDb');
+
+const feedbackService = require('../../src/services/feedbackService');
+const { COLOR_LABELS, dominantColorLabel } = require('../../src/constants/colorLabels');
+const { XmpGenerator } = require('../../src/services/xmpGenerator');
+
+const EVENT_SLUG = 'color-labels-test-event';
+const GUEST_A = 'guest-a-identifier';
+const GUEST_B = 'guest-b-identifier';
+
+let db;
+let cleanup;
+let eventId;
+let photoIds;
+
+async function label(photoId, color, { guestIdentifier = GUEST_A, guestId = null } = {}) {
+  return feedbackService.submitFeedback(photoId, eventId, {
+    feedback_type: 'color_label',
+    color_label: color,
+    guest_id: guestId,
+    ip_address: '127.0.0.1',
+    user_agent: 'jest',
+  }, guestIdentifier);
+}
+
+async function colorLabelCountOf(photoId) {
+  const row = await db('photos').where('id', photoId).first();
+  return Number(row.color_label_count) || 0;
+}
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  ({ db, cleanup } = await bootCrmDb());
+  await seedMinimal(db);
+  const inserted = await db('events').insert({
+    slug: EVENT_SLUG,
+    event_type: 'wedding',
+    event_name: 'Colour Labels Test',
+    event_date: '2026-07-20',
+    host_email: 'host@example.com',
+    admin_email: 'admin@example.com',
+    password_hash: 'x',
+    share_link: `/gallery/${EVENT_SLUG}/share`,
+    share_token: 'color-labels-test-share',
+    expires_at: new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 3600 * 1000).toISOString(),
+    is_active: 1,
+    is_archived: 0,
+    is_draft: 0,
+    created_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+  }).returning('id');
+  eventId = inserted[0]?.id ?? inserted[0];
+
+  photoIds = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+    const photo = await db('photos').insert({
+      event_id: eventId,
+      filename: `photo-${i}.jpg`,
+      path: `events/color-labels/${i}.jpg`,
+      type: 'individual',
+      uploaded_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    }).returning('id');
+    photoIds.push(photo[0]?.id ?? photo[0]);
+  }
+}, 120000);
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  if (cleanup) await cleanup();
+});
+
+describe('colour label submission (#1044)', () => {
+  it('rejects colours outside the Lightroom set', async () => {
+    await expect(label(photoIds[0], 'chartreuse')).rejects.toThrow('Invalid color label');
+    await expect(label(photoIds[0], 'Green')).rejects.toThrow('Invalid color label'); // case matters
+    await expect(label(photoIds[0], undefined)).rejects.toThrow('Invalid color label');
+    expect(await colorLabelCountOf(photoIds[0])).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it('creates a label row and maintains the denormalized count', async () => {
+    const result = await label(photoIds[0], 'green');
+    expect(result.created).toBe(true);
+
+    const row = await db('photo_feedback')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[0], feedback_type: 'color_label' })
+      .first();
+    expect(row.color_label).toBe('green');
+    expect(await colorLabelCountOf(photoIds[0])).toBe(1);
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({ green: 1 });
+  });
+
+  it('switches to another colour in place — never a second row per guest', async () => {
+    const result = await label(photoIds[0], 'red');
+    expect(result.updated).toBe(true);
+
+    const rows = await db('photo_feedback')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[0], feedback_type: 'color_label' });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rows[0].color_label).toBe('red');
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({ red: 1 });
+  });
+
+  it('tallies different guests per colour', async () => {
+    await label(photoIds[0], 'red', { guestIdentifier: GUEST_B });
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({ red: 2 });
+    expect(await colorLabelCountOf(photoIds[0])).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it('toggles off with the same colour', async () => {
+    const result = await label(photoIds[0], 'red');
+    expect(result.removed).toBe(true);
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({ red: 1 }); // GUEST_B remains
+    expect(await colorLabelCountOf(photoIds[0])).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('scopes per guest_id when present — two token-guests on one device stay independent', async () => {
+    const first = await label(photoIds[1], 'green', { guestIdentifier: GUEST_A, guestId: 101 });
+    const second = await label(photoIds[1], 'blue', { guestIdentifier: GUEST_A, guestId: 102 });
+    expect(first.created).toBe(true);
+    expect(second.created).toBe(true); // NOT treated as guest 101's switch
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[1]))
+      .toEqual({ green: 1, blue: 1 });
+  });
+
+  it('accepts every colour of the set', async () => {
+    for (const color of COLOR_LABELS) {
+      const res = await label(photoIds[2], color, { guestIdentifier: `guest-${color}` });
+      expect(res.created).toBe(true);
+    }
+    const counts = await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[2]);
+    expect(Object.keys(counts).sort()).toEqual([...COLOR_LABELS].sort());
+  });
+
+  it('hidden labels leave both the per-colour tallies and color_label_count', async () => {
+    const row = await db('photo_feedback')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[0], feedback_type: 'color_label' })
+      .first();
+    await feedbackService.moderateFeedback(row.id, 'hide', 1);
+
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({});
+    expect(await colorLabelCountOf(photoIds[0])).toBe(0);
+
+    await feedbackService.moderateFeedback(row.id, 'approve', 1);
+    expect(await colorLabelCountOf(photoIds[0])).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('toggle and switch collapse racy duplicate rows for the same guest', async () => {
+    // Simulate the check-then-insert race: two rows for one guest+photo.
+    const mk = (color) => ({
+      photo_id: photoIds[1], event_id: eventId, feedback_type: 'color_label',
+      color_label: color, guest_identifier: 'dup-guest', is_approved: true, is_hidden: false,
+      created_at: new Date(), updated_at: new Date(),
+    });
+    await db('photo_feedback').insert([mk('yellow'), mk('yellow')]);
+
+    // Switching converges to exactly ONE row with the new colour…
+    const switched = await label(photoIds[1], 'purple', { guestIdentifier: 'dup-guest' });
+    expect(switched.updated).toBe(true);
+    let rows = await db('photo_feedback')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[1], feedback_type: 'color_label', guest_identifier: 'dup-guest' });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rows[0].color_label).toBe('purple');
+
+    // …and toggle-off removes the full guest-scoped set.
+    await db('photo_feedback').insert(mk('purple'));
+    const removed = await label(photoIds[1], 'purple', { guestIdentifier: 'dup-guest' });
+    expect(removed.removed).toBe(true);
+    rows = await db('photo_feedback')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoIds[1], feedback_type: 'color_label', guest_identifier: 'dup-guest' });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('reactions and colour labels coexist on the same photo and guest', async () => {
+    await feedbackService.submitFeedback(photoIds[0], eventId, {
+      feedback_type: 'reaction',
+      reaction: '❤️',
+      ip_address: '127.0.0.1',
+      user_agent: 'jest',
+    }, GUEST_B);
+    await label(photoIds[0], 'blue', { guestIdentifier: GUEST_B });
+
+    // Switching the colour must not disturb the reaction row, and vice versa.
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoReactionCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({ '❤️': 1 });
+    expect(await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoIds[0])).toEqual({ blue: 1 });
+  });
+
+  it('event-wide colour counts group per photo', async () => {
+    const byPhoto = await feedbackService.getEventColorLabelCounts(eventId);
+    expect(byPhoto[photoIds[2]]).toEqual(
+      COLOR_LABELS.reduce((acc, c) => ({ ...acc, [c]: 1 }), {}),
+    );
+    // Narrowing to a page of ids only returns those.
+    const narrowed = await feedbackService.getEventColorLabelCounts(eventId, [photoIds[2]]);
+    expect(Object.keys(narrowed)).toEqual([String(photoIds[2])]);
+    expect(await feedbackService.getEventColorLabelCounts(eventId, [])).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('summary and exports carry colour labels', async () => {
+    const summary = await feedbackService.getEventFeedbackSummary(eventId);
+    expect(Number(summary.stats.total_color_labels)).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+    const longRows = await feedbackService.exportEventFeedback(eventId);
+    const longLabel = longRows.find((r) => r.feedback_type === 'color_label');
+    expect(COLOR_LABELS).toContain(longLabel.color_label);
+
+    const pivotRows = await feedbackService.exportEventFeedbackPivoted(eventId);
+    const pivotWithLabel = pivotRows.find((r) => r.color_label);
+    expect(COLOR_LABELS).toContain(pivotWithLabel.color_label);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('dominant colour + XMP round-trip (#1044)', () => {
+  it('picks the most-labelled colour, breaking ties toward the 1st-choice order', () => {
+    expect(dominantColorLabel({ red: 3, green: 1 })).toBe('red');
+    // Tie: green is "1st choice" in the proofing workflow, so it survives.
+    expect(dominantColorLabel({ red: 2, green: 2 })).toBe('green');
+    expect(dominantColorLabel({})).toBeNull();
+    expect(dominantColorLabel(null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('xmp:Label prefers a real colour label over the rating-derived guess', () => {
+    const generator = new XmpGenerator();
+    // A 5-star photo would historically map to 'Red'. An explicit green label wins.
+    expect(generator.mapLabel({ average_rating: 5, dominant_color_label: 'green' })).toBe('Green');
+    expect(generator.mapLabel({ average_rating: 5, color_labels: { blue: 1 } })).toBe('Blue');
+    // No label: unchanged legacy behaviour, so existing exports don't move.
+    expect(generator.mapLabel({ average_rating: 5 })).toBe('Red');
+    expect(generator.mapLabel({ average_rating: 0 })).toBeNull();
+    // Tolerates the pre-#1044 call shape (a bare average rating).
+    expect(generator.mapLabel(4.6)).toBe('Red');
+  });
+
+  it('writes the label into the sidecar and adds a searchable keyword', () => {
+    const generator = new XmpGenerator();
+    const xmp = generator.generateXmp({
+      filename: 'a.jpg',
+      average_rating: 0,
+      like_count: 0,
+      favorite_count: 0,
+      dominant_color_label: 'yellow',
+      color_labels: { yellow: 2 },
+    });
+    expect(xmp).toContain('xmp:Label="Yellow"');
+    expect(xmp).toContain('color-yellow');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/migrations/core/182_add_color_labels.js b/backend/migrations/core/182_add_color_labels.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..39a3c315
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/core/182_add_color_labels.js
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+/**
+ * Colour labels for client proofing (#1044).
+ *
+ * Structurally identical to emoji reactions (migration 164): ONE value per
+ * guest per photo, changeable, the same value again toggles it off, drawn
+ * from a fixed curated set (constants/colorLabels.js). No new table.
+ *
+ * - event_feedback_settings.allow_color_labels: per-event toggle next to
+ *   allow_reactions. Defaults FALSE, unlike its siblings — a colour bar
+ *   appearing unannounced in every gallery that already has feedback enabled
+ *   would be a visible change to live galleries mid-proofing, so this one is
+ *   opt-in. New events inherit the global `event_default_allow_color_labels`
+ *   via services/feedbackDefaults.js.
+ * - event_feedback_settings.keybind_mode: which lightbox shortcut scheme the
+ *   gallery uses — 'colors' (1/2/3 = green/yellow/red, simplest for clients)
+ *   or 'lightroom' (1-5 stars, 6-9 colours, identical muscle memory for
+ *   photographers). See constants/colorLabels.js for the maps.
+ * - photo_feedback.color_label: the colour for feedback_type='color_label'
+ *   rows, validated against COLOR_LABELS.
+ * - photos.color_label_count: denormalized total, maintained by
+ *   updatePhotoFeedbackStats alongside like_count / reaction_count.
+ * - photo_feedback_color_label_idx: the admin "show only the greens" filter
+ *   runs as a whereExists over (event_id, feedback_type, color_label).
+ */
+
+exports.up = async function (knex) {
+  const hasAllowColorLabels = await knex.schema.hasColumn('event_feedback_settings', 'allow_color_labels');
+  if (!hasAllowColorLabels) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('event_feedback_settings', (table) => {
+      table.boolean('allow_color_labels').defaultTo(false);
+    });
+  }
+
+  const hasKeybindMode = await knex.schema.hasColumn('event_feedback_settings', 'keybind_mode');
+  if (!hasKeybindMode) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('event_feedback_settings', (table) => {
+      table.string('keybind_mode', 16).defaultTo('colors');
+    });
+  }
+
+  const hasColorLabel = await knex.schema.hasColumn('photo_feedback', 'color_label');
+  if (!hasColorLabel) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('photo_feedback', (table) => {
+      // Lightroom's colour names, lowercase: red/yellow/green/blue/purple.
+      table.string('color_label', 16);
+    });
+  }
+
+  // Outside the column guard on purpose: a run that died between the two
+  // statements would otherwise leave the column present and the index missing,
+  // and a re-run would skip both — silently costing the admin colour filter
+  // the index this migration's header says it relies on. IF NOT EXISTS is
+  // supported by Postgres and by SQLite (verified idempotent on 3.44), so this
+  // is safe to re-run in any state.
+  await knex.raw(
+    'CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS photo_feedback_color_label_idx '
+    + 'ON photo_feedback (event_id, feedback_type, color_label)'
+  );
+
+  const hasColorLabelCount = await knex.schema.hasColumn('photos', 'color_label_count');
+  if (!hasColorLabelCount) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('photos', (table) => {
+      table.integer('color_label_count').defaultTo(0);
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+exports.down = async function (knex) {
+  if (await knex.schema.hasColumn('photos', 'color_label_count')) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('photos', (table) => {
+      table.dropColumn('color_label_count');
+    });
+  }
+  // Drop the index first, and unconditionally: SQLite rebuilds the table on
+  // dropColumn and a lingering index over the dropped column makes that
+  // rebuild fail. Unconditional so a down() after a partial up() still clears
+  // whichever half landed.
+  await knex.raw('DROP INDEX IF EXISTS photo_feedback_color_label_idx');
+  if (await knex.schema.hasColumn('photo_feedback', 'color_label')) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('photo_feedback', (table) => {
+      table.dropColumn('color_label');
+    });
+  }
+  if (await knex.schema.hasColumn('event_feedback_settings', 'keybind_mode')) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('event_feedback_settings', (table) => {
+      table.dropColumn('keybind_mode');
+    });
+  }
+  if (await knex.schema.hasColumn('event_feedback_settings', 'allow_color_labels')) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('event_feedback_settings', (table) => {
+      table.dropColumn('allow_color_labels');
+    });
+  }
+};
diff --git a/backend/migrations/core/183_add_photo_admin_marks.js b/backend/migrations/core/183_add_photo_admin_marks.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0e2ddcc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/core/183_add_photo_admin_marks.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/**
+ * Photographer-side stars and colour labels (#1044 follow-up).
+ *
+ * The photographer triages their own shoot with the same 1-5 stars and five
+ * Lightroom colours the client uses while proofing — but their marks are a
+ * SEPARATE table rather than more photo_feedback rows, for one reason:
+ * photo_feedback is read by a long tail of guest-facing queries (the gallery
+ * payload, the per-photo tallies, the denormalized photos.average_rating /
+ * *_count columns, the feedback exports, moderation). Adding admin rows there
+ * would leak the photographer's own opinions into the client's proofing view
+ * through whichever of those queries someone forgot to filter — and "forgot to
+ * filter" is exactly the failure this shape makes impossible.
+ *
+ * One row per (photo, admin): rating and colour live together because they are
+ * one person's verdict on one photo, and a row with neither is deleted rather
+ * than kept as a tombstone.
+ */
+
+exports.up = async function (knex) {
+  const hasTable = await knex.schema.hasTable('photo_admin_marks');
+  if (!hasTable) {
+    await knex.schema.createTable('photo_admin_marks', (table) => {
+      table.increments('id').primary();
+      table.integer('photo_id').notNullable()
+        .references('id').inTable('photos').onDelete('CASCADE');
+      // Denormalized from photos.event_id so the per-event filter and the
+      // count queries don't have to join photos on every admin grid render.
+      table.integer('event_id').notNullable();
+      table.integer('admin_id').notNullable();
+      table.integer('rating'); // 1-5, NULL = no star rating
+      table.string('color_label', 16); // NULL = no colour
+      table.timestamp('created_at').defaultTo(knex.fn.now());
+      table.timestamp('updated_at').defaultTo(knex.fn.now());
+
+      // One verdict per photo per admin. Two admins on the same event keep
+      // their own marks; the same admin marking twice updates in place.
+      table.unique(['photo_id', 'admin_id'], 'photo_admin_marks_photo_admin_uniq');
+      table.index(['event_id', 'admin_id'], 'photo_admin_marks_event_admin_idx');
+      table.index(['event_id', 'color_label'], 'photo_admin_marks_color_idx');
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+exports.down = async function (knex) {
+  if (await knex.schema.hasTable('photo_admin_marks')) {
+    await knex.schema.dropTable('photo_admin_marks');
+  }
+};
diff --git a/backend/src/constants/colorLabels.js b/backend/src/constants/colorLabels.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..74b3cc7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/constants/colorLabels.js
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+/**
+ * Colour labels (#1044): the fixed, curated colour set clients mark photos
+ * with while proofing. Guests pick ONE per photo (changeable), exactly like
+ * the emoji reactions in constants/reactions.js.
+ *
+ * The set is Lightroom's, deliberately: keeping the same five colours means a
+ * client's selection can round-trip into the photographer's catalogue through
+ * the XMP `xmp:Label` field (services/xmpGenerator.js) with no remapping.
+ *
+ * Mirrored in frontend/src/services/feedback.service.ts (COLOR_LABELS and the
+ * keymaps) — update both together.
+ */
+
+/** Canonical stored values. Lowercase; the XMP layer capitalises. */
+const COLOR_LABELS = ['red', 'yellow', 'green', 'blue', 'purple'];
+
+/**
+ * Lightroom / XMP spelling for each label. `xmp:Label` is a free-text field,
+ * but Lightroom only lights up its colour swatch for these exact strings.
+ */
+const COLOR_LABEL_TO_XMP = {
+  red: 'Red',
+  yellow: 'Yellow',
+  green: 'Green',
+  blue: 'Blue',
+  purple: 'Purple',
+};
+
+/**
+ * Tie-break order when several guests labelled the same photo differently and
+ * the export has to pick one. Green first: in the proofing workflow this
+ * feature exists for, green is "1st choice" — the pick that must survive.
+ */
+const COLOR_LABEL_PRIORITY = ['green', 'yellow', 'red', 'blue', 'purple'];
+
+/**
+ * Lightbox keyboard schemes. Both are data, not code, so the gallery lightbox,
+ * the admin viewer and the settings preview can never drift.
+ *
+ * - 'colors'    the scheme requested in discussion #1027: three keys, no
+ *               Lightroom knowledge needed. 1 = 1st choice, 2 = 2nd choice,
+ *               3 = rejected.
+ * - 'lightroom' Lightroom's own defaults: 1-5 set the star rating, 6-9 set
+ *               red/yellow/green/blue. Lightroom has no default shortcut for
+ *               purple, and neither do we — it stays click-only.
+ *
+ * In both schemes pressing the same key again clears the value, and '0'
+ * clears (the rating in 'lightroom', the colour in 'colors').
+ */
+const KEYBIND_SCHEMES = {
+  colors: {
+    colors: { 1: 'green', 2: 'yellow', 3: 'red' },
+    ratings: {},
+  },
+  lightroom: {
+    colors: { 6: 'red', 7: 'yellow', 8: 'green', 9: 'blue' },
+    ratings: { 1: 1, 2: 2, 3: 3, 4: 4, 5: 5 },
+  },
+};
+
+function isValidColorLabel(value) {
+  return COLOR_LABELS.includes(value);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Pick the single colour that represents a photo when several guests have
+ * labelled it — most-labelled wins, ties broken by COLOR_LABEL_PRIORITY.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} counts - e.g. { green: 2, red: 1 }
+ * @returns {string|null}
+ */
+function dominantColorLabel(counts) {
+  if (!counts) return null;
+  let best = null;
+  let bestCount = 0;
+  for (const color of COLOR_LABEL_PRIORITY) {
+    const count = Number(counts[color]) || 0;
+    if (count > bestCount) {
+      best = color;
+      bestCount = count;
+    }
+  }
+  return best;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  COLOR_LABELS,
+  COLOR_LABEL_TO_XMP,
+  COLOR_LABEL_PRIORITY,
+  KEYBIND_SCHEMES,
+  isValidColorLabel,
+  dominantColorLabel,
+};
diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/feedbackRateLimit.js b/backend/src/middleware/feedbackRateLimit.js
index 7dad144d..51692929 100644
--- a/backend/src/middleware/feedbackRateLimit.js
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/feedbackRateLimit.js
@@ -25,6 +25,24 @@ function generateGuestIdentifier(req) {
     .digest('hex');
 }
 
+/**
+ * Per-action-type rate limits, in one place — the happy path and the
+ * error path used to keep separate copies, and the error copy silently
+ * missed every action type added after it was written.
+ */
+const DEFAULT_RATE_LIMITS = {
+  rating: { max: 100, window: 3600 }, // 100 ratings per hour
+  comment: { max: 20, window: 3600 }, // 20 comments per hour
+  like: { max: 200, window: 3600 }, // 200 likes per hour
+  favorite: { max: 100, window: 3600 }, // 100 favorites per hour
+  reaction: { max: 200, window: 3600 }, // reactions churn like likes (#839)
+  // Colour labels (#1044) are the keyboard-driven proofing path: a client
+  // works through a 500-photo shoot pressing 1/2/3, and changing their mind
+  // costs a second request. A likes-sized 200/h cap would lock them out
+  // mid-session, so this one is deliberately generous.
+  color_label: { max: 2000, window: 3600 }
+};
+
 /**
  * Get rate limit settings from app_settings
  */
@@ -37,13 +55,7 @@ async function getRateLimitSettings() {
     // Defaults FIRST, stored values override: persisted rows predate newer
     // action types (`reaction`, #839) — returning the stored object alone
     // would silently drop their intended defaults to the generic 100/h.
-    const defaults = {
-      rating: { max: 100, window: 3600 }, // 100 ratings per hour
-      comment: { max: 20, window: 3600 }, // 20 comments per hour
-      like: { max: 200, window: 3600 }, // 200 likes per hour
-      favorite: { max: 100, window: 3600 }, // 100 favorites per hour
-      reaction: { max: 200, window: 3600 } // reactions churn like likes (#839)
-    };
+    const defaults = { ...DEFAULT_RATE_LIMITS };
 
     if (settings && settings.setting_value) {
       // setting_value is already a JSON object in PostgreSQL
@@ -57,13 +69,7 @@ async function getRateLimitSettings() {
   } catch (error) {
     logger.error('Error getting rate limit settings:', error);
     // Return defaults on error
-    return {
-      rating: { max: 100, window: 3600 },
-      comment: { max: 20, window: 3600 },
-      like: { max: 200, window: 3600 },
-      favorite: { max: 100, window: 3600 },
-      reaction: { max: 200, window: 3600 }
-    };
+    return { ...DEFAULT_RATE_LIMITS };
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/crud.js b/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/crud.js
index 5dec245d..c2767c92 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/crud.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/crud.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const { getAppSetting } = require('../../utils/appSettings');
 const { clampIntOrUndefined } = require('../../utils/numericHelpers');
 const { getFrontendBaseUrl, getAbsoluteFrontendUrl } = require('../../utils/frontendUrl');
 const downloadZipService = require('../../services/downloadZipService');
+const { resolveEventFeedbackDefaults, applyFeedbackDefaults, KEYBIND_MODES } = require('../../services/feedbackDefaults');
 const { validateHeroImageAnchor, getEventFieldRequirements, readBooleanSetting, getDownloadProtectionDefaults, getBrandingDefaults, getCustomerNameFromPayload, getCustomerEmailFromPayload, getCustomerPhoneFromPayload, isPhoneFieldEnabled, mapEventForApi, hasCustomerContactColumns, deleteEventCascade, SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS, SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS } = require('./helpers');
 
 module.exports = (router) => {
@@ -93,6 +94,15 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     // #328 follow-up: per-event opt-in for presigned-URL "Download All".
     // Bypasses watermarks; admin must enable knowingly.
     body('allow_presigned_download').optional().isBoolean(),
+    // Feedback sub-toggles (#1044). Optional: omitting them inherits the
+    // global Settings > Events defaults.
+    body('allow_ratings').optional().isBoolean(),
+    body('allow_likes').optional().isBoolean(),
+    body('allow_comments').optional().isBoolean(),
+    body('allow_favorites').optional().isBoolean(),
+    body('allow_reactions').optional().isBoolean(),
+    body('allow_color_labels').optional().isBoolean(),
+    body('keybind_mode').optional().isIn(KEYBIND_MODES),
     body('css_template_id').optional({ nullable: true, checkFalsy: true }).isInt(),
     // Hero logo settings
     body('hero_logo_visible').optional({ nullable: true }).isBoolean(),
@@ -167,13 +177,20 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
         watermark_text = null,
         allow_presigned_download = false,
         require_password: requirePasswordInput,
-        // Feedback settings
+        // Feedback settings. The allow_* sub-toggles deliberately have NO
+        // destructuring defaults: `undefined` means "the caller didn't say",
+        // which inherits the global Settings > Events default (#1044). The
+        // admin create form posts explicit values (it seeds its own panel
+        // from the same globals), so inheritance here is what covers the v1
+        // API and any other caller that omits them.
         feedback_enabled: feedbackEnabledInput,
-        allow_ratings = true,
-        allow_likes = true,
-        allow_comments = true,
-        allow_favorites = true,
-        allow_reactions = true,
+        allow_ratings: allowRatingsInput,
+        allow_likes: allowLikesInput,
+        allow_comments: allowCommentsInput,
+        allow_favorites: allowFavoritesInput,
+        allow_reactions: allowReactionsInput,
+        allow_color_labels: allowColorLabelsInput,
+        keybind_mode: keybindModeInput,
         require_name_email = false,
         moderate_comments = true,
         show_feedback_to_guests = true,
@@ -253,6 +270,18 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
       }
       const feedback_enabled = parseBooleanInput(feedbackEnabledInput, feedbackEnabledFallback);
 
+      // Sub-toggle defaults from the global Settings > Events values (#1044).
+      // One batched read; an explicitly-sent body value still wins.
+      const feedbackDefaults = applyFeedbackDefaults({
+        allow_ratings: allowRatingsInput,
+        allow_likes: allowLikesInput,
+        allow_comments: allowCommentsInput,
+        allow_favorites: allowFavoritesInput,
+        allow_reactions: allowReactionsInput,
+        allow_color_labels: allowColorLabelsInput,
+        keybind_mode: keybindModeInput,
+      }, await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults());
+
       // Debug logging
       logger.debug('Download control values', {
         allow_downloads,
@@ -510,11 +539,13 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
         await db('event_feedback_settings').insert({
           event_id: eventId,
           feedback_enabled: formatBoolean(feedback_enabled),
-          allow_ratings: formatBoolean(allow_ratings),
-          allow_likes: formatBoolean(allow_likes),
-          allow_comments: formatBoolean(allow_comments),
-          allow_favorites: formatBoolean(allow_favorites),
-          allow_reactions: formatBoolean(allow_reactions),
+          allow_ratings: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_ratings),
+          allow_likes: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_likes),
+          allow_comments: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_comments),
+          allow_favorites: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_favorites),
+          allow_reactions: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_reactions),
+          allow_color_labels: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_color_labels),
+          keybind_mode: feedbackDefaults.keybind_mode,
           require_name_email: formatBoolean(require_name_email),
           moderate_comments: formatBoolean(moderate_comments),
           show_feedback_to_guests: formatBoolean(show_feedback_to_guests),
@@ -1157,6 +1188,10 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
           allow_comments: sourceFeedback.allow_comments,
           allow_favorites: sourceFeedback.allow_favorites,
           allow_reactions: sourceFeedback.allow_reactions,
+          // A clone copies the SOURCE event, so these come from the source
+          // row rather than the global defaults (#1044).
+          allow_color_labels: sourceFeedback.allow_color_labels,
+          keybind_mode: sourceFeedback.keybind_mode,
           require_name_email: sourceFeedback.require_name_email,
           moderate_comments: sourceFeedback.moderate_comments,
           show_feedback_to_guests: sourceFeedback.show_feedback_to_guests,
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminFeedback.js b/backend/src/routes/adminFeedback.js
index 481ccdc8..a1b76d59 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminFeedback.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminFeedback.js
@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ router.get('/events/:eventId/feedback-analytics',
         total_comments: Number(summaryData.stats?.total_comments) || 0,
         total_favorites: Number(summaryData.stats?.total_favorites) || 0,
         total_reactions: Number(summaryData.stats?.total_reactions) || 0,
+        total_color_labels: Number(summaryData.stats?.total_color_labels) || 0,
       };
       const summary = {
         average_rating: parseFloat(avgRatingResult?.average_rating || 0),
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ router.get('/events/:eventId/feedback-analytics',
         pending_moderation: Number(pendingModeration?.count) || 0,
         total_feedback: counts.total_ratings + counts.total_likes +
                        counts.total_comments + counts.total_favorites +
-                       counts.total_reactions
+                       counts.total_reactions + counts.total_color_labels
       };
       
       // Get top-rated photos
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminGuests.js b/backend/src/routes/adminGuests.js
index 91755c3b..320f0c55 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminGuests.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminGuests.js
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ router.get(
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN photo_feedback.feedback_type = \'comment\' THEN 1 END) AS comments'),
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN photo_feedback.feedback_type = \'rating\' THEN 1 END) AS ratings'),
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN photo_feedback.feedback_type = \'reaction\' THEN 1 END) AS reactions'),
+          db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN photo_feedback.feedback_type = \'color_label\' THEN 1 END) AS color_labels'),
           db.raw('COUNT(DISTINCT photo_feedback.photo_id) AS distinct_photos')
         )
         .orderBy('gallery_guests.created_at', 'desc');
@@ -410,6 +411,7 @@ router.get(
           'photo_feedback.rating',
           'photo_feedback.comment_text',
           'photo_feedback.reaction',
+          'photo_feedback.color_label',
           'photo_feedback.created_at',
           'photos.id as photo_id',
           'photos.filename',
@@ -433,6 +435,7 @@ router.get(
         rated: [],
         commented: [],
         reacted: [],
+        labeled: [],
       };
       for (const row of feedback) {
         if (row.feedback_type === 'like') {
@@ -449,6 +452,8 @@ router.get(
           });
         } else if (row.feedback_type === 'reaction') {
           selections.reacted.push({ photo: photoFor(row), reaction: row.reaction });
+        } else if (row.feedback_type === 'color_label') {
+          selections.labeled.push({ photo: photoFor(row), color_label: row.color_label });
         }
       }
 
@@ -461,6 +466,7 @@ router.get(
             comments: selections.commented.length,
             ratings: selections.rated.length,
             reactions: selections.reacted.length,
+            color_labels: selections.labeled.length,
           },
         },
         selections,
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminPhotoExport.js b/backend/src/routes/adminPhotoExport.js
index b6e1aa6c..e1874268 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminPhotoExport.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminPhotoExport.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../middleware/ownership');
 const { PhotoFilterBuilder } = require('../utils/photoFilterBuilder');
 const { getPagination } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { PhotoExportService } = require('../services/photoExportService');
+const photoAdminMarksService = require('../services/photoAdminMarksService');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 
 const exportService = new PhotoExportService();
@@ -29,6 +30,8 @@ router.get('/:eventId/filtered', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), re
   query('has_favorites').optional().isBoolean(),
   query('min_favorites').optional().isInt({ min: 0 }),
   query('has_comments').optional().isBoolean(),
+  query('color_labels').optional().isString(),
+  query('my_color_labels').optional().isString(),
   query('category_id').optional().isInt(),
   query('logic').optional().isIn(['AND', 'OR']),
   query('sort').optional().isIn(['rating', 'likes', 'favorites', 'date', 'filename']),
@@ -62,6 +65,9 @@ router.get('/:eventId/filtered', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), re
       has_favorites: req.query.has_favorites,
       min_favorites: req.query.min_favorites ? parseInt(req.query.min_favorites) : undefined,
       has_comments: req.query.has_comments,
+      color_labels: req.query.color_labels,
+      my_color_labels: req.query.my_color_labels,
+      admin_id: req.admin.id,
       category_id: req.query.category_id ? parseInt(req.query.category_id) : undefined,
       logic: req.query.logic || 'AND'
     };
@@ -84,6 +90,7 @@ router.get('/:eventId/filtered', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), re
           'photos.like_count',
           'photos.favorite_count',
           'photos.comment_count',
+          'photos.color_label_count',
           'photos.width',
           'photos.height',
           'photos.uploaded_at',
@@ -142,9 +149,15 @@ router.get('/:eventId/filter-summary', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view
       PhotoFilterBuilder.getSummary(db, eventId)
     );
 
+    // Per-colour counts for the caller's OWN marks (#1044 follow-up), so the
+    // "My marks" chips can show numbers the way the client-selection chips do.
+    const myColorLabelCounts = await withRetry(() =>
+      photoAdminMarksService.getEventMarkColorCounts(eventId, req.admin.id)
+    );
+
     res.json({
       success: true,
-      data: summary
+      data: { ...summary, myColorLabelCounts }
     });
   } catch (error) {
     logger.error('Filter summary error:', error);
@@ -161,6 +174,7 @@ router.post('/:eventId/export', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.download'),
   body('photo_ids.*').optional().isInt(),
   body('filter').optional().isObject(),
   body('format').isIn(['txt', 'csv', 'xmp', 'json']),
+  body('options.mark_source').optional().isIn(['client', 'mine']),
   body('options').optional().isObject()
 ], async (req, res) => {
   try {
@@ -189,13 +203,18 @@ router.post('/:eventId/export', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.download'),
         db('photos').select('id'),
         eventId
       );
-      filterBuilder.applyFilters(filter);
+      // admin_id comes from the session, so a my-marks filter in the body can
+      // only ever mean the caller's own marks.
+      filterBuilder.applyFilters({ ...filter, admin_id: req.admin.id });
       const filteredPhotos = await withRetry(() => filterBuilder.getQuery());
       photoIds = filteredPhotos.map(p => p.id);
     }
 
     // Export photos
-    const result = await exportService.exportPhotos(eventId, photoIds, format, options);
+    const result = await exportService.exportPhotos(eventId, photoIds, format, {
+      ...options,
+      admin_id: req.admin.id,
+    });
 
     if (result.type === 'stream') {
       res.setHeader('Content-Type', result.contentType);
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminPhotos.js b/backend/src/routes/adminPhotos.js
index 40abd792..e30de028 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminPhotos.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminPhotos.js
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ const {
   pickRawDownloadName,
 } = require('../services/downloadFilenameService');
 const { escapeLikePattern } = require('../utils/sqlSecurity');
+const { COLOR_LABELS, dominantColorLabel } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+const feedbackService = require('../services/feedbackService');
+const photoAdminMarksService = require('../services/photoAdminMarksService');
 const { validateUploadedFiles } = require('../middleware/uploadValidation');
 const { getMaxFilesPerUpload, getAllowedMimeTypes } = require('../services/uploadSettings');
 const { processUploadedPhotos } = require('../services/photoProcessor');
@@ -724,6 +727,60 @@ router.delete('/:eventId/photos/:photoId', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.
   }
 });
 
+// The photographer's own star / colour mark on a photo (#1044 follow-up).
+//
+// Separate from guest feedback in every sense: its own table, its own
+// endpoint, and never surfaced to the gallery. `rating` and `color_label` are
+// tri-state — omit a key to leave that half alone, send null to clear it — so
+// the lightbox's colour keys and star keys don't wipe each other.
+router.put('/:eventId/photos/:photoId/mark', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.edit'), requireEventOwnership, async (req, res) => {
+  try {
+    const { eventId } = req.params;
+    // Parse before querying: Postgres errors on `where id = 'abc'` (22P02),
+    // which would answer 500 for what is really a bad URL. SQLite just fails
+    // to match, so without this the two engines disagree.
+    const photoId = parseInt(req.params.photoId, 10);
+    if (!Number.isInteger(photoId) || photoId < 1) {
+      return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Photo not found' });
+    }
+
+    // requireEventOwnership proves the caller owns the EVENT; this proves the
+    // photo is in it, so a photo id from another event can't be marked
+    // through an event the caller does own.
+    const photo = await db('photos')
+      .where({ id: photoId, event_id: eventId })
+      .first();
+    if (!photo) {
+      return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Photo not found' });
+    }
+
+    const mark = {};
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(req.body, 'rating')) {
+      mark.rating = req.body.rating === null ? null : req.body.rating;
+    }
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(req.body, 'color_label')) {
+      mark.colorLabel = req.body.color_label === null ? null : req.body.color_label;
+    }
+    if (Object.keys(mark).length === 0) {
+      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Send rating and/or color_label' });
+    }
+
+    const result = await photoAdminMarksService.setMark(
+      parseInt(eventId, 10), photoId, req.admin.id, mark,
+    );
+
+    res.json({ success: true, mark: result });
+  } catch (error) {
+    // Validation errors from the service are the caller's fault, not a 500.
+    // Keyed on the code, not the message: matching text would couple this
+    // status to the service's wording.
+    if (error.code === photoAdminMarksService.INVALID_MARK) {
+      return res.status(400).json({ error: error.message });
+    }
+    errorResponse(res, error, 500, 'Failed to save mark');
+  }
+});
+
 // Update a photo (e.g., change category)
 router.patch('/:eventId/photos/:photoId', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.edit'), requireEventOwnership, async (req, res) => {
   try {
@@ -1036,7 +1093,7 @@ router.get('/:eventId/photos/:photoId/download', adminAuth, requirePermission('p
 router.get('/:eventId/photos', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), requireEventOwnership, async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const { eventId } = req.params;
-    const { category_id, type, search, sort = 'date', has_likes, has_favorites, has_comments, min_rating } = req.query;
+    const { category_id, type, search, sort = 'date', has_likes, has_favorites, has_comments, min_rating, color_label } = req.query;
     const order = ['asc', 'desc'].includes(req.query.order) ? req.query.order : 'desc';
     const logic = req.query.logic === 'OR' ? 'OR' : 'AND';
 
@@ -1090,6 +1147,41 @@ router.get('/:eventId/photos', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), requ
         feedbackConditions.push(qb => qb.where('photos.average_rating', '>=', minRatingNum));
       }
     }
+    // Colour-label filter (#1044). Comma-separated colours; unknown values are
+    // dropped rather than passed to the query. Unlike its siblings this can't
+    // read a denormalized count column — "any label" and "a GREEN label" are
+    // different questions — so it runs as an EXISTS over photo_feedback,
+    // which the migration-180 index covers.
+    const requestedColorLabels = String(color_label || '')
+      .split(',')
+      .map(value => value.trim().toLowerCase())
+      .filter(value => COLOR_LABELS.includes(value));
+    if (requestedColorLabels.length > 0) {
+      feedbackConditions.push(qb => qb.whereExists(function () {
+        this.select('*')
+          .from('photo_feedback')
+          .whereRaw('photo_feedback.photo_id = photos.id')
+          .where('photo_feedback.feedback_type', 'color_label')
+          .where('photo_feedback.is_hidden', false)
+          .whereIn('photo_feedback.color_label', requestedColorLabels);
+      }));
+    }
+    // The same filter against the caller's OWN marks (#1044 follow-up).
+    // Scoped to req.admin.id: one photographer's triage must not filter by
+    // another's, even on a shared event.
+    const requestedMyColorLabels = String(req.query.my_color_label || '')
+      .split(',')
+      .map(value => value.trim().toLowerCase())
+      .filter(value => COLOR_LABELS.includes(value));
+    if (requestedMyColorLabels.length > 0) {
+      feedbackConditions.push(qb => qb.whereExists(function () {
+        this.select('*')
+          .from('photo_admin_marks')
+          .whereRaw('photo_admin_marks.photo_id = photos.id')
+          .where('photo_admin_marks.admin_id', req.admin.id)
+          .whereIn('photo_admin_marks.color_label', requestedMyColorLabels);
+      }));
+    }
     if (feedbackConditions.length > 0) {
       if (logic === 'OR') {
         query = query.where(builder => {
@@ -1132,6 +1224,20 @@ router.get('/:eventId/photos', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), requ
     commentCounts.forEach(c => {
       commentMap[c.photo_id] = parseInt(c.comment_count);
     });
+
+    // Per-colour tallies for the grid badges (#1044) — one grouped query for
+    // the whole page, same shape as commentMap above.
+    const colorLabelMap = await feedbackService.getEventColorLabelCounts(
+      parseInt(eventId, 10),
+      photos.map(p => p.id),
+    );
+
+    // The caller's own marks for this page (#1044 follow-up).
+    const myMarks = await photoAdminMarksService.getEventMarks(
+      parseInt(eventId, 10),
+      req.admin.id,
+      photos.map(p => p.id),
+    );
     
     res.json({
       photos: photos.map(photo => ({
@@ -1159,6 +1265,13 @@ router.get('/:eventId/photos', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), requ
         comment_count: commentMap[photo.id] || 0,
         like_count: photo.like_count || 0,
         favorite_count: photo.favorite_count || 0,
+        color_label_count: photo.color_label_count || 0,
+        color_labels: colorLabelMap[photo.id] || {},
+        dominant_color_label: dominantColorLabel(colorLabelMap[photo.id]),
+        // The requesting admin's own mark — never the whole team's, and never
+        // shown to guests.
+        my_rating: myMarks[photo.id]?.rating ?? null,
+        my_color_label: myMarks[photo.id]?.color_label ?? null,
         // Engagement counters (#895 follow-up): the grid reads these, but
         // this explicit mapper never included them — so the Engagement
         // column showed 0 regardless of what the DB counted. This, not
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/gallery.js b/backend/src/routes/gallery.js
index d66734ab..6a0c10fd 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/gallery.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/gallery.js
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const { verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken, isAdminPreview } = require('../
 const withPreview = (req, url) => (req.isAdminPreview ? `${url}${url.includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}admin_preview=1` : url);
 const { resolveGuest } = require('../middleware/guestAuth');
 const { generateGuestIdentifier } = require('../middleware/feedbackRateLimit');
+const { COLOR_LABELS } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
 const secureImageService = require('../services/secureImageService');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const { pipeStreamToResponse } = require('../utils/streamResponse');
@@ -721,10 +722,11 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
         };
 
         let guestFeedbackByType = null;
+        let guestColorLabels = null;
         if (guest_id) {
           const guestFeedbackRows = await db('photo_feedback')
             .where({ event_id: req.event.id, guest_identifier: guest_id })
-            .select('photo_id', 'feedback_type');
+            .select('photo_id', 'feedback_type', 'color_label');
 
           guestFeedbackByType = guestFeedbackRows.reduce((acc, row) => {
             if (!acc[row.feedback_type]) {
@@ -733,6 +735,15 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
             acc[row.feedback_type].add(row.photo_id);
             return acc;
           }, {});
+
+          // Colour filters are per-COLOUR, not just per-type (#1044) — "show
+          // me my greens" needs the value, which the type map above discards.
+          guestColorLabels = guestFeedbackRows.reduce((acc, row) => {
+            if (row.feedback_type !== 'color_label' || !row.color_label) return acc;
+            if (!acc[row.color_label]) acc[row.color_label] = new Set();
+            acc[row.color_label].add(row.photo_id);
+            return acc;
+          }, {});
         }
 
         const includeGuestMatches = (type) => {
@@ -757,6 +768,23 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
           includeBy(photo => (photo.average_rating || 0) > 0);
         }
 
+        // Colour-label filters (#1044), one token per colour: `color:green`.
+        // Same OR-of-guest-and-aggregate shape as the sibling tokens above:
+        // the guest's own labels of that colour, plus anyone's. (The public
+        // gallery narrows to "my greens" client-side from `my_color_label`,
+        // which is per-viewer by construction.)
+        const requestedColors = COLOR_LABELS.filter(color => filterTokens.has(`color:${color}`));
+        if (requestedColors.length > 0) {
+          for (const color of requestedColors) {
+            guestColorLabels?.[color]?.forEach(id => include.add(id));
+          }
+          const colorRows = await db('photo_feedback')
+            .where({ event_id: req.event.id, feedback_type: 'color_label', is_hidden: false })
+            .whereIn('color_label', requestedColors)
+            .select('photo_id');
+          colorRows.forEach(row => include.add(row.photo_id));
+        }
+
         if (filterTokens.has('commented')) {
           includeGuestMatches('comment');
           const commentedRows = await db('photo_feedback')
@@ -813,6 +841,26 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
       likedRows.forEach(row => likedPhotoIds.add(row.photo_id));
     }
 
+    // Per-viewer colour label (#1044), same identity resolution as the likes
+    // above. NOT gated on showFeedbackToGuests: a guest's own label is their
+    // own selection, not shared aggregate data, and hiding it would blank the
+    // grid badges on every refresh in a gallery with sharing switched off.
+    const myColorLabelByPhoto = {};
+    if (photos.length > 0) {
+      const colorQuery = db('photo_feedback')
+        .where({ event_id: req.event.id, feedback_type: 'color_label' })
+        .whereIn('photo_id', photos.map(p => p.id));
+      if (req.guest?.id) {
+        colorQuery.where('guest_id', req.guest.id);
+      } else {
+        colorQuery.where('guest_identifier', generateGuestIdentifier(req));
+      }
+      const colorRows = await colorQuery.select('photo_id', 'color_label');
+      colorRows.forEach(row => {
+        if (row.color_label) myColorLabelByPhoto[row.photo_id] = row.color_label;
+      });
+    }
+
     // People in each photo (#1074). Two independent gates: the feature must
     // be on for this event AND, for a plain guest, the photographer must have
     // left the strip visible. A client (PIN access) is the photographer's own
@@ -1087,6 +1135,12 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
           // grid seed its lifted likedPhotoIds correctly on hard refresh.
           is_liked: showFeedbackToGuests ? likedPhotoIds.has(photo.id) : false,
           favorite_count: showFeedbackToGuests ? (photo.favorite_count || 0) : 0,
+          // Colour labels (#1044). The COUNT is aggregate data and follows
+          // show_feedback_to_guests like its siblings; the viewer's OWN label
+          // is not aggregate and must survive with sharing off, otherwise the
+          // grid badge disappears on refresh for the very guest who set it.
+          color_label_count: showFeedbackToGuests ? (photo.color_label_count || 0) : 0,
+          my_color_label: myColorLabelByPhoto[photo.id] || null,
           // People in this photo (#1074). Empty array when the feature is
           // off for this event or hidden from guests, so the frontend has
           // one shape to handle. Riding along on this payload is what keeps
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/galleryFeedback.js b/backend/src/routes/galleryFeedback.js
index c249a159..6e5105ba 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/galleryFeedback.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/galleryFeedback.js
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ router.get('/:slug/feedback-settings',
         allow_comments: Boolean(settings.allow_comments),
         allow_favorites: Boolean(settings.allow_favorites),
         allow_reactions: Boolean(settings.allow_reactions),
+        allow_color_labels: Boolean(settings.allow_color_labels),
+        // Which lightbox shortcut scheme this gallery uses (#1044).
+        keybind_mode: settings.keybind_mode || 'colors',
         require_name_email: Boolean(settings.require_name_email),
         show_feedback_to_guests: Boolean(settings.show_feedback_to_guests),
         identity_mode: settings.identity_mode || 'simple',
@@ -125,6 +128,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos/:photoId/feedback',
           // Gated like the per-emoji map below — aggregate reaction data is
           // a new surface, kept fully hidden while sharing is off.
           reaction_count: settings.show_feedback_to_guests ? (photo.reaction_count || 0) : 0,
+          color_label_count: settings.show_feedback_to_guests ? (photo.color_label_count || 0) : 0,
           comment_count: await db('photo_feedback')
             .where({ 
               photo_id: photoId, 
@@ -142,11 +146,17 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos/:photoId/feedback',
         reactions: settings.show_feedback_to_guests
           ? await feedbackService.getPhotoReactionCounts(photoId)
           : {},
+        // Per-colour tallies (#1044), gated exactly like `reactions` above:
+        // with sharing off the guest sees only their own label.
+        color_labels: settings.show_feedback_to_guests
+          ? await feedbackService.getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoId)
+          : {},
         my_feedback: {
           rating: guestFeedback.find(f => f.feedback_type === 'rating')?.rating,
           liked: !!guestFeedback.find(f => f.feedback_type === 'like'),
           favorited: !!guestFeedback.find(f => f.feedback_type === 'favorite'),
-          reaction: guestFeedback.find(f => f.feedback_type === 'reaction')?.reaction || null
+          reaction: guestFeedback.find(f => f.feedback_type === 'reaction')?.reaction || null,
+          color_label: guestFeedback.find(f => f.feedback_type === 'color_label')?.color_label || null
         }
       });
     } catch (error) {
@@ -199,7 +209,8 @@ router.post('/:slug/photos/:photoId/feedback',
         like: settings.allow_likes,
         comment: settings.allow_comments,
         favorite: settings.allow_favorites,
-        reaction: settings.allow_reactions
+        reaction: settings.allow_reactions,
+        color_label: settings.allow_color_labels
       };
 
       if (!typeAllowed[feedbackType]) {
@@ -246,6 +257,7 @@ router.post('/:slug/photos/:photoId/feedback',
         rating: req.body.rating,
         comment_text: req.body.comment_text,
         reaction: req.body.reaction,
+        color_label: req.body.color_label,
         guest_name: req.guest?.name ?? req.body.guest_name,
         guest_email: req.guest?.email ?? req.body.guest_email,
         guest_id: req.guest?.id ?? null,
@@ -372,7 +384,9 @@ router.get('/:slug/feedback-summary',
           allow_likes: settings.allow_likes,
           allow_comments: settings.allow_comments,
           allow_favorites: settings.allow_favorites,
-          allow_reactions: settings.allow_reactions
+          allow_reactions: settings.allow_reactions,
+          allow_color_labels: settings.allow_color_labels,
+          keybind_mode: settings.keybind_mode || 'colors'
         },
         summary: guestSummary
       });
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js b/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js
index db9b15eb..2d591c0a 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
               'seo_meta_noindex', 'seo_meta_nofollow', 'seo_meta_noai',
               'event_default_require_password',
               'event_default_feedback_enabled',
+              // Per-type feedback defaults (#1044) — the create form seeds
+              // its feedback panel from these, the same way it seeds the
+              // master toggle above.
+              'event_default_allow_ratings',
+              'event_default_allow_likes',
+              'event_default_allow_favorites',
+              'event_default_allow_comments',
+              'event_default_allow_reactions',
+              'event_default_allow_color_labels',
+              'event_default_keybind_mode',
               'gallery_show_filter_bar',
               'event_phone_field_enabled',
               // #613 — guest upload UI needs to know the per-batch file
@@ -206,6 +216,16 @@ router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
       // Defaults to false (matches the prior hard-coded form default), so
       // existing installs see no behaviour change until an admin flips it.
       event_default_feedback_enabled: settingsObject.event_default_feedback_enabled === true,
+      // Per-type feedback defaults (#1044). The fallbacks mirror
+      // FEEDBACK_TOGGLES in services/feedbackDefaults.js — the backend is
+      // still the authority; these only pre-fill the create form.
+      event_default_allow_ratings: settingsObject.event_default_allow_ratings !== false,
+      event_default_allow_likes: settingsObject.event_default_allow_likes !== false,
+      event_default_allow_favorites: settingsObject.event_default_allow_favorites !== false,
+      event_default_allow_comments: settingsObject.event_default_allow_comments !== false,
+      event_default_allow_reactions: settingsObject.event_default_allow_reactions !== false,
+      event_default_allow_color_labels: settingsObject.event_default_allow_color_labels === true,
+      event_default_keybind_mode: settingsObject.event_default_keybind_mode === 'lightroom' ? 'lightroom' : 'colors',
       // Phone-number field on events is opt-in (#322).
       event_phone_field_enabled: settingsObject.event_phone_field_enabled === true,
       // Whether to show the search/sort filter bar in public galleries (default: true)
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/v1/__tests__/events.create.test.js b/backend/src/routes/v1/__tests__/events.create.test.js
index 406e6046..1e973a86 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/v1/__tests__/events.create.test.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/v1/__tests__/events.create.test.js
@@ -172,20 +172,25 @@ describe('v1 POST /events — issue #550 (color_theme + feedback row)', () => {
     //   2. branding probe (whereIn → select)
     //   3. slug probe
     //   4. events insert
-    //   5. event_feedback_settings insert
+    //   5. feedback sub-toggle defaults probe (whereIn → select, #1044)
+    //   6. event_feedback_settings insert
     const devtoolsChain = buildChain({ firstResult: null });
     const brandingChain = buildChain({ selectResult: [] });
     const slugChain = buildChain({ firstResult: null });
     const insertChain = buildChain({ returningResult: [{ id: 50 }] });
+    const feedbackDefaultsChain = buildChain({ selectResult: [] });
     const feedbackInsertChain = buildChain();
-    db.__setImplementations(devtoolsChain, brandingChain, slugChain, insertChain, feedbackInsertChain);
+    db.__setImplementations(
+      devtoolsChain, brandingChain, slugChain, insertChain,
+      feedbackDefaultsChain, feedbackInsertChain,
+    );
 
     await request(buildApp())
       .post('/events')
       .send({ ...BASE_BODY, feedback_enabled: true })
       .expect(201);
 
-    expect(db).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(5, 'event_feedback_settings');
+    expect(db).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(6, 'event_feedback_settings');
 
     const feedbackRow = feedbackInsertChain.insert.mock.calls[0][0];
     expect(feedbackRow).toMatchObject({ event_id: 50 });
@@ -197,6 +202,12 @@ describe('v1 POST /events — issue #550 (color_theme + feedback row)', () => {
     expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.allow_likes)).toBe(true);
     expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.allow_comments)).toBe(true);
     expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.allow_favorites)).toBe(true);
+    // #1044: this insert used to omit allow_reactions entirely, so v1-created
+    // events only got reactions by accident of the column default.
+    expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.allow_reactions)).toBe(true);
+    // Colour labels are opt-in, so they stay off until the global is flipped.
+    expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.allow_color_labels)).toBe(false);
+    expect(feedbackRow.keybind_mode).toBe('colors');
     expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.require_name_email)).toBe(false);
     expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.moderate_comments)).toBe(true);
     expect(Boolean(feedbackRow.show_feedback_to_guests)).toBe(true);
@@ -205,7 +216,8 @@ describe('v1 POST /events — issue #550 (color_theme + feedback row)', () => {
   it('honours the event_default_feedback_enabled global when body omits feedback_enabled', async () => {
     // Feedback probe returns serialized "true" → fallback kicks in and
     // the feedback insert runs. Sequence: feedback probe, devtools probe,
-    // branding probe, slug, insert, feedback insert (6 calls total).
+    // branding probe, slug, insert, sub-toggle defaults probe (#1044),
+    // feedback insert (7 calls total).
     const feedbackProbe = buildChain({
       firstResult: { setting_key: 'event_default_feedback_enabled', setting_value: 'true' },
     });
@@ -213,9 +225,11 @@ describe('v1 POST /events — issue #550 (color_theme + feedback row)', () => {
     const brandingChain = buildChain({ selectResult: [] });
     const slugChain = buildChain({ firstResult: null });
     const insertChain = buildChain({ returningResult: [{ id: 51 }] });
+    const feedbackDefaultsChain = buildChain({ selectResult: [] });
     const feedbackInsertChain = buildChain();
     db.__setImplementations(
-      feedbackProbe, devtoolsChain, brandingChain, slugChain, insertChain, feedbackInsertChain
+      feedbackProbe, devtoolsChain, brandingChain, slugChain, insertChain,
+      feedbackDefaultsChain, feedbackInsertChain,
     );
 
     await request(buildApp())
@@ -223,7 +237,7 @@ describe('v1 POST /events — issue #550 (color_theme + feedback row)', () => {
       .send(BASE_BODY)
       .expect(201);
 
-    expect(db).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(6, 'event_feedback_settings');
+    expect(db).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(7, 'event_feedback_settings');
     expect(feedbackInsertChain.insert).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/v1/events.js b/backend/src/routes/v1/events.js
index 9284b3ca..bbc23b36 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/v1/events.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/v1/events.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const { requireEventOwnership, scopeEventsQuery } = require('../../middleware/ow
 // requirePermission gates supply the missing half; they key on req.admin.id,
 // which apiTokenAuth populates.
 const { requirePermission } = require('../../middleware/permissions');
+const { resolveEventFeedbackDefaults } = require('../../services/feedbackDefaults');
 const { buildShareLinkVariants } = require('../../services/shareLinkService');
 const { generateThumbnail } = require('../../services/imageProcessor');
 const logger = require('../../utils/logger');
@@ -303,17 +304,22 @@ router.post(
       const id = insertResult[0]?.id || insertResult[0];
 
       // Issue #550 — mirror adminEvents.js: create event_feedback_settings
-      // row when feedback is enabled, so the gallery actually shows
-      // feedback UI. Sub-flags default to the same values the admin form
-      // ships with (everything on except require_name_email).
+      // row when feedback is enabled, so the gallery actually shows feedback
+      // UI. The sub-flags come from the shared global defaults (#1044) rather
+      // than a hard-coded list, which is how this path silently shipped
+      // without allow_reactions for two releases.
       if (feedback_enabled) {
+        const feedbackDefaults = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
         await db('event_feedback_settings').insert({
           event_id: id,
           feedback_enabled: formatBoolean(true),
-          allow_ratings: formatBoolean(true),
-          allow_likes: formatBoolean(true),
-          allow_comments: formatBoolean(true),
-          allow_favorites: formatBoolean(true),
+          allow_ratings: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_ratings),
+          allow_likes: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_likes),
+          allow_comments: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_comments),
+          allow_favorites: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_favorites),
+          allow_reactions: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_reactions),
+          allow_color_labels: formatBoolean(feedbackDefaults.allow_color_labels),
+          keybind_mode: feedbackDefaults.keybind_mode,
           require_name_email: formatBoolean(false),
           moderate_comments: formatBoolean(true),
           show_feedback_to_guests: formatBoolean(true),
diff --git a/backend/src/services/feedbackDefaults.js b/backend/src/services/feedbackDefaults.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..058973f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/services/feedbackDefaults.js
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+/**
+ * Global defaults for the per-event guest-feedback toggles (#1044).
+ *
+ * Before this module the creation defaults lived in four places that had
+ * already drifted apart: the admin create route's destructuring defaults, the
+ * v1 create route's hard-coded insert (which forgot `allow_reactions`
+ * entirely), `feedbackService.getEventFeedbackSettings()`'s no-row fallback
+ * and the migration column defaults. The same install answered "are comments
+ * on by default?" differently depending on which code path created the event.
+ *
+ * Everything now resolves through FEEDBACK_TOGGLES:
+ *
+ *   app_settings row  ->  per-event column default  ->  the built-in fallback
+ *
+ * The `event_default_*` keys extend the family `event_default_require_password`
+ * (#317) and `event_default_feedback_enabled` (#520) already established: they
+ * are the value a NEW event starts from, not a retroactive master switch.
+ * Flipping one never changes a gallery that already exists — a switch that
+ * silently strips the rating stars off a gallery a client is mid-way through
+ * proofing would be a different, much riskier feature.
+ *
+ * Adding a seventh feedback type means adding one row to FEEDBACK_TOGGLES
+ * (plus its column in the migration and its UI) — no sweep across the create
+ * routes.
+ */
+
+const { db } = require('../database/db');
+const logger = require('../utils/logger');
+
+/**
+ * Every guest-feedback toggle, in the order the admin UI shows them.
+ *
+ * `fallback` is what applies when the admin has never touched the global
+ * setting. These match the values the admin create route has shipped with, so
+ * installs that never open Settings > Events keep creating events exactly as
+ * they did before — except `allow_color_labels`, which is new in #1044 and
+ * opt-in so no existing gallery grows a colour bar on upgrade.
+ */
+const FEEDBACK_TOGGLES = [
+  { column: 'allow_ratings', settingKey: 'event_default_allow_ratings', fallback: true },
+  { column: 'allow_likes', settingKey: 'event_default_allow_likes', fallback: true },
+  { column: 'allow_favorites', settingKey: 'event_default_allow_favorites', fallback: true },
+  { column: 'allow_comments', settingKey: 'event_default_allow_comments', fallback: true },
+  { column: 'allow_reactions', settingKey: 'event_default_allow_reactions', fallback: true },
+  { column: 'allow_color_labels', settingKey: 'event_default_allow_color_labels', fallback: false },
+];
+
+/** Non-boolean feedback defaults that follow the same global -> event flow. */
+const KEYBIND_MODES = ['colors', 'lightroom'];
+const DEFAULT_KEYBIND_MODE = 'colors';
+const KEYBIND_MODE_SETTING_KEY = 'event_default_keybind_mode';
+
+/** Every app_settings key this module owns — for the settings API surface. */
+const FEEDBACK_DEFAULT_SETTING_KEYS = [
+  ...FEEDBACK_TOGGLES.map((t) => t.settingKey),
+  KEYBIND_MODE_SETTING_KEY,
+];
+
+/**
+ * app_settings stores JSON-encoded values, but rows written by older code
+ * paths (and by SQLite's looser typing) can arrive as raw strings. Accept
+ * both, and return undefined for anything that isn't recognisably a boolean
+ * so the caller falls back rather than persisting `null` into a NOT NULL-ish
+ * boolean column.
+ */
+function parseBooleanSetting(rawValue) {
+  let value = rawValue;
+  if (typeof value === 'string') {
+    try {
+      value = JSON.parse(value);
+    } catch {
+      const normalized = value.trim().toLowerCase();
+      if (normalized === 'true') return true;
+      if (normalized === 'false') return false;
+      return undefined;
+    }
+  }
+  if (typeof value === 'boolean') return value;
+  // SQLite hands back 0/1 for booleans written through formatBoolean.
+  if (value === 1 || value === 0) return value === 1;
+  return undefined;
+}
+
+function parseKeybindModeSetting(rawValue) {
+  let value = rawValue;
+  if (typeof value === 'string') {
+    try {
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(value);
+      if (typeof parsed === 'string') value = parsed;
+    } catch {
+      /* keep raw */
+    }
+  }
+  return KEYBIND_MODES.includes(value) ? value : undefined;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolve the global feedback defaults in ONE query (mirrors
+ * getBrandingDefaults' batched whereIn rather than firing seven `.first()`
+ * calls on every event creation).
+ *
+ * Never throws: a settings-table hiccup must not fail event creation, so the
+ * built-in fallbacks stand in.
+ *
+ * @returns {Promise<{allow_ratings: boolean, allow_likes: boolean,
+ *   allow_favorites: boolean, allow_comments: boolean, allow_reactions: boolean,
+ *   allow_color_labels: boolean, keybind_mode: string}>}
+ */
+async function resolveEventFeedbackDefaults() {
+  const defaults = {};
+  for (const toggle of FEEDBACK_TOGGLES) {
+    defaults[toggle.column] = toggle.fallback;
+  }
+  defaults.keybind_mode = DEFAULT_KEYBIND_MODE;
+
+  try {
+    const rows = await db('app_settings')
+      .whereIn('setting_key', FEEDBACK_DEFAULT_SETTING_KEYS)
+      .select('setting_key', 'setting_value');
+
+    const bySettingKey = new Map(rows.map((row) => [row.setting_key, row.setting_value]));
+
+    for (const toggle of FEEDBACK_TOGGLES) {
+      if (!bySettingKey.has(toggle.settingKey)) continue;
+      const parsed = parseBooleanSetting(bySettingKey.get(toggle.settingKey));
+      if (parsed !== undefined) defaults[toggle.column] = parsed;
+    }
+
+    if (bySettingKey.has(KEYBIND_MODE_SETTING_KEY)) {
+      const parsed = parseKeybindModeSetting(bySettingKey.get(KEYBIND_MODE_SETTING_KEY));
+      if (parsed !== undefined) defaults.keybind_mode = parsed;
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.error('Failed to read global feedback defaults, using built-ins', {
+      error: error.message,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return defaults;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Merge an explicit request body over the resolved globals. A value the caller
+ * actually sent always wins; `undefined` (the field was omitted) inherits.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} body - the create-request payload
+ * @param {Object} globals - output of resolveEventFeedbackDefaults()
+ */
+function applyFeedbackDefaults(body = {}, globals) {
+  const resolved = { ...globals };
+  for (const toggle of FEEDBACK_TOGGLES) {
+    if (body[toggle.column] !== undefined) {
+      resolved[toggle.column] = body[toggle.column];
+    }
+  }
+  if (KEYBIND_MODES.includes(body.keybind_mode)) {
+    resolved.keybind_mode = body.keybind_mode;
+  }
+  return resolved;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  FEEDBACK_TOGGLES,
+  FEEDBACK_DEFAULT_SETTING_KEYS,
+  KEYBIND_MODES,
+  KEYBIND_MODE_SETTING_KEY,
+  DEFAULT_KEYBIND_MODE,
+  resolveEventFeedbackDefaults,
+  applyFeedbackDefaults,
+};
diff --git a/backend/src/services/feedbackService.js b/backend/src/services/feedbackService.js
index d1cb7d9e..565c4374 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/feedbackService.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/feedbackService.js
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const { formatBoolean } = require('../utils/dbCompat');
 const { REACTION_EMOJIS } = require('../constants/reactions');
+const { isValidColorLabel } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+const { resolveEventFeedbackDefaults, DEFAULT_KEYBIND_MODE, KEYBIND_MODES } = require('./feedbackDefaults');
 
 // Every writable column on event_feedback_settings (#1030). The admin form
 // posts its whole client-side state back, including UI-only keys that were
@@ -17,6 +19,8 @@ const FEEDBACK_SETTINGS_COLUMNS = [
   'allow_comments',
   'allow_favorites',
   'allow_reactions',
+  'allow_color_labels',
+  'keybind_mode',
   'require_name_email',
   'moderate_comments',
   'require_moderation',
@@ -26,6 +30,16 @@ const FEEDBACK_SETTINGS_COLUMNS = [
   'max_likes_per_guest'
 ];
 
+/**
+ * Feedback types that store exactly ONE value per guest per photo, and the
+ * column each keeps it in. Both share the toggle-off / switch semantics in
+ * submitFeedback below.
+ */
+const SINGLE_VALUE_COLUMNS = {
+  reaction: 'reaction',
+  color_label: 'color_label',
+};
+
 function pickSettingsColumns(settings) {
   const picked = {};
   for (const column of FEEDBACK_SETTINGS_COLUMNS) {
@@ -47,15 +61,15 @@ class FeedbackService {
         .first();
       
       if (!settings) {
-        // Return default settings if none exist
+        // No row = feedback was never enabled for this event. The sub-toggles
+        // still matter: they are the state the admin's feedback panel opens
+        // with. Read them from the same global defaults the create routes use
+        // (#1044) instead of a fourth hard-coded copy that drifts from them.
+        const globals = await resolveEventFeedbackDefaults();
         return {
           event_id: eventId,
           feedback_enabled: false,
-          allow_ratings: true,
-          allow_likes: true,
-          allow_comments: false,
-          allow_favorites: true,
-          allow_reactions: true,
+          ...globals,
           require_name_email: false,
           moderate_comments: true,
           show_feedback_to_guests: true,
@@ -69,6 +83,12 @@ class FeedbackService {
       if (!settings.identity_mode) {
         settings.identity_mode = 'simple';
       }
+      // Rows created before migration 180 have NULL keybind_mode. An
+      // unrecognised value gets the same treatment — the lightbox switches on
+      // this string and must never receive something it has no scheme for.
+      if (!KEYBIND_MODES.includes(settings.keybind_mode)) {
+        settings.keybind_mode = DEFAULT_KEYBIND_MODE;
+      }
       // Per-guest caps (#655). NULL on existing rows = unlimited; the route
       // layer treats null/0/missing identically.
       settings.max_favorites_per_guest = settings.max_favorites_per_guest ?? null;
@@ -139,10 +159,10 @@ class FeedbackService {
 
   async submitFeedback(photoId, eventId, feedbackData, guestIdentifier) {
     try {
-      const { feedback_type, rating, comment_text, reaction, guest_name, guest_email, ip_address, user_agent, guest_id } = feedbackData;
+      const { feedback_type, rating, comment_text, reaction, color_label, guest_name, guest_email, ip_address, user_agent, guest_id } = feedbackData;
 
       // Validate feedback type
-      if (!['rating', 'like', 'comment', 'favorite', 'reaction'].includes(feedback_type)) {
+      if (!['rating', 'like', 'comment', 'favorite', 'reaction', 'color_label'].includes(feedback_type)) {
         throw new Error('Invalid feedback type');
       }
 
@@ -152,6 +172,11 @@ class FeedbackService {
         throw new Error('Invalid reaction');
       }
 
+      // Same contract for colour labels (#1044).
+      if (feedback_type === 'color_label' && !isValidColorLabel(color_label)) {
+        throw new Error('Invalid color label');
+      }
+
       // Rating 0 clears the guest's rating (#884). Only the explicit zero
       // sentinel (0, or "0" from callers that skip the route validator's
       // toInt) triggers the destructive path — malformed input (undefined,
@@ -209,35 +234,41 @@ class FeedbackService {
             return { id: existing.id, updated: true };
           }
 
-          // One reaction per guest per photo, changeable (#839): the same
-          // emoji again toggles it off; a different one switches the row.
+          // Single-value types — one reaction (#839) and one colour label
+          // (#1044) per guest per photo, both changeable: submitting the
+          // current value again toggles it off, a different one switches the
+          // row. Shared so the two paths can't drift.
+          //
           // Toggle/switch act on the full guest-scoped QUERY, not existing.id:
           // like the sibling like path, the check-then-insert above can race
           // into duplicate rows — operating on the set makes the next
           // interaction collapse them instead of leaving a phantom count.
-          const reactionScope = () => {
-            const q = db('photo_feedback').where({
-              photo_id: photoId,
-              event_id: eventId,
-              feedback_type: 'reaction',
-            });
-            if (guest_id) q.where('guest_id', guest_id);
-            else q.where('guest_identifier', guestIdentifier);
-            return q;
-          };
-          if (feedback_type === 'reaction') {
-            if (existing.reaction === reaction) {
-              await reactionScope().delete();
+          const singleValueColumn = SINGLE_VALUE_COLUMNS[feedback_type];
+          if (singleValueColumn) {
+            const submittedValue = feedback_type === 'reaction' ? reaction : color_label;
+            const singleValueScope = () => {
+              const q = db('photo_feedback').where({
+                photo_id: photoId,
+                event_id: eventId,
+                feedback_type,
+              });
+              if (guest_id) q.where('guest_id', guest_id);
+              else q.where('guest_identifier', guestIdentifier);
+              return q;
+            };
+
+            if (existing[singleValueColumn] === submittedValue) {
+              await singleValueScope().delete();
               await this.updatePhotoFeedbackStats(photoId);
               return { removed: true };
             }
             // Converge to exactly one row: drop any racy duplicates, then
-            // switch the surviving row's emoji.
-            await reactionScope().whereNot('id', existing.id).delete();
+            // switch the surviving row's value.
+            await singleValueScope().whereNot('id', existing.id).delete();
             await db('photo_feedback')
               .where('id', existing.id)
               .update({
-                reaction,
+                [singleValueColumn]: submittedValue,
                 updated_at: new Date()
               });
             await this.updatePhotoFeedbackStats(photoId);
@@ -300,6 +331,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
         rating: feedback_type === 'rating' ? rating : null,
         comment_text: feedback_type === 'comment' ? comment_text : null,
         reaction: feedback_type === 'reaction' ? reaction : null,
+        color_label: feedback_type === 'color_label' ? color_label : null,
         guest_name,
         guest_email,
         guest_identifier: guestIdentifier,
@@ -352,7 +384,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
       
       const feedback = await query
         .orderBy('created_at', 'desc')
-        .select('id', 'feedback_type', 'rating', 'comment_text', 'reaction', 'guest_name', 'created_at', 'is_approved', 'is_hidden');
+        .select('id', 'feedback_type', 'rating', 'comment_text', 'reaction', 'color_label', 'guest_name', 'created_at', 'is_approved', 'is_hidden');
       
       return feedback;
     } catch (error) {
@@ -368,7 +400,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
     try {
       const photos = await db('photos')
         .where('event_id', eventId)
-        .select('id', 'filename', 'feedback_count', 'like_count', 'average_rating', 'favorite_count', 'reaction_count')
+        .select('id', 'filename', 'feedback_count', 'like_count', 'average_rating', 'favorite_count', 'reaction_count', 'color_label_count')
         .orderBy('average_rating', 'desc')
         .orderBy('like_count', 'desc');
       
@@ -380,7 +412,8 @@ class FeedbackService {
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as total_likes', ['like']),
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as total_comments', ['comment']),
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as total_favorites', ['favorite']),
-          db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as total_reactions', ['reaction'])
+          db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as total_reactions', ['reaction']),
+          db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as total_color_labels', ['color_label'])
         )
         .first();
       
@@ -419,6 +452,67 @@ class FeedbackService {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Per-colour tallies for one photo (#1044) — the colour-label sibling of
+   * getPhotoReactionCounts.
+   */
+  async getPhotoColorLabelCounts(photoId) {
+    try {
+      const rows = await db('photo_feedback')
+        .where({ photo_id: photoId, feedback_type: 'color_label' })
+        .where('is_hidden', false)
+        .groupBy('color_label')
+        .select('color_label')
+        .count('id as count');
+
+      const counts = {};
+      for (const row of rows) {
+        if (row.color_label) counts[row.color_label] = Number(row.count) || 0;
+      }
+      return counts;
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error('Error getting photo color label counts:', error);
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Per-colour tallies for every labelled photo in an event, keyed by photo
+   * id (#1044). One grouped query — the admin grid needs this for a whole
+   * page of photos at once, and the per-photo helper above would be N+1.
+   *
+   * @param {number} eventId
+   * @param {number[]} [photoIds] - optional narrowing to the visible page
+   * @returns {Promise<Object>} { [photoId]: { green: 2, red: 1 } }
+   */
+  async getEventColorLabelCounts(eventId, photoIds = null) {
+    try {
+      const query = db('photo_feedback')
+        .where({ event_id: eventId, feedback_type: 'color_label' })
+        .where('is_hidden', false)
+        .groupBy('photo_id', 'color_label')
+        .select('photo_id', 'color_label')
+        .count('id as count');
+
+      if (Array.isArray(photoIds)) {
+        if (photoIds.length === 0) return {};
+        query.whereIn('photo_id', photoIds);
+      }
+
+      const rows = await query;
+      const byPhoto = {};
+      for (const row of rows) {
+        if (!row.color_label) continue;
+        if (!byPhoto[row.photo_id]) byPhoto[row.photo_id] = {};
+        byPhoto[row.photo_id][row.color_label] = Number(row.count) || 0;
+      }
+      return byPhoto;
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error('Error getting event color label counts:', error);
+      return {};
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Update photo feedback statistics
    */
@@ -433,6 +527,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as like_count', ['like']),
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as favorite_count', ['favorite']),
           db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as reaction_count', ['reaction']),
+          db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN 1 END) as color_label_count', ['color_label']),
           db.raw('AVG(CASE WHEN feedback_type = ? THEN rating END) as average_rating', ['rating']),
           db.raw('COUNT(DISTINCT COALESCE(CAST(guest_id AS VARCHAR), guest_identifier)) as feedback_count')
         )
@@ -446,7 +541,8 @@ class FeedbackService {
           like_count: stats.like_count || 0,
           average_rating: stats.average_rating || 0,
           favorite_count: stats.favorite_count || 0,
-          reaction_count: stats.reaction_count || 0
+          reaction_count: stats.reaction_count || 0,
+          color_label_count: stats.color_label_count || 0
         });
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error('Error updating photo feedback stats:', error);
@@ -587,6 +683,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
           'photo_feedback.rating',
           'photo_feedback.comment_text',
           'photo_feedback.reaction',
+          'photo_feedback.color_label',
           'photo_feedback.guest_name',
           'photo_feedback.guest_email',
           'photo_feedback.created_at'
@@ -625,6 +722,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
           'photo_feedback.rating',
           'photo_feedback.comment_text',
           'photo_feedback.reaction',
+          'photo_feedback.color_label',
           'photo_feedback.guest_name',
           'photo_feedback.guest_email',
           'photo_feedback.guest_identifier',
@@ -651,6 +749,7 @@ class FeedbackService {
             star_rating: '',
             comment: '',
             reaction: '',
+            color_label: '',
             latest_at: row.created_at,
           };
           byKey.set(key, entry);
@@ -680,6 +779,9 @@ class FeedbackService {
           case 'reaction':
             if (row.reaction) entry.reaction = row.reaction;
             break;
+          case 'color_label':
+            if (row.color_label) entry.color_label = row.color_label;
+            break;
           default:
             // Unknown feedback type — ignore so a future type doesn't break the export.
             break;
diff --git a/backend/src/services/photoAdminMarksService.js b/backend/src/services/photoAdminMarksService.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2512945d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/services/photoAdminMarksService.js
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+/**
+ * The photographer's own stars and colour labels (#1044 follow-up).
+ *
+ * Deliberately separate from photo_feedback — see the migration-181 header for
+ * why. Nothing in here is ever read by a guest-facing route: admin marks show
+ * on admin surfaces and in exports, and the client's proofing view never sees
+ * what the photographer thought.
+ */
+
+const { db } = require('../database/db');
+const logger = require('../utils/logger');
+const { isValidColorLabel } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+
+/**
+ * A mark the caller got wrong, as opposed to something that went wrong.
+ *
+ * Carries a `code` so the route can map it to a 400 without matching on the
+ * message text — message-matching couples the status code to this file's copy,
+ * and a reworded string would silently turn a 400 into a 500.
+ */
+const INVALID_MARK = 'INVALID_MARK';
+function invalidMark(message) {
+  return Object.assign(new Error(message), { code: INVALID_MARK });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Set, change or clear an admin's mark on one photo.
+ *
+ * `rating` and `colorLabel` are tri-state: `undefined` leaves that half of the
+ * mark alone, `null` clears it, a value sets it. That is what lets the
+ * lightbox's colour keys and star keys write independently without each
+ * wiping the other.
+ *
+ * @param {number} eventId
+ * @param {number} photoId
+ * @param {number} adminId
+ * @param {{rating?: number|null, colorLabel?: string|null}} mark
+ * @returns {Promise<{rating: number|null, color_label: string|null}|null>}
+ *          the resulting mark, or null when it was cleared entirely
+ */
+async function setMark(eventId, photoId, adminId, { rating, colorLabel } = {}) {
+  if (rating !== undefined && rating !== null) {
+    const asInt = Number(rating);
+    if (!Number.isInteger(asInt) || asInt < 1 || asInt > 5) {
+      throw invalidMark('Rating must be between 1 and 5');
+    }
+  }
+  if (colorLabel !== undefined && colorLabel !== null && !isValidColorLabel(colorLabel)) {
+    throw invalidMark('Invalid color label');
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Write ONLY the halves this call was asked about, onto the row as it
+   * stands right now.
+   *
+   * The obvious version — recompute both halves from a pre-read and write the
+   * pair — loses a concurrent write: press 4 then 9 on a photo that already
+   * has a mark and both calls read the old row, both write {rating,
+   * color_label}, and the second silently clobbers the first with its stale
+   * value. Not writing the untouched column at all means there is nothing to
+   * lose, and no race machinery is needed to achieve it.
+   */
+  const applyToRow = async (row) => {
+    const now = new Date().toISOString();
+    const patch = { updated_at: now };
+    if (rating !== undefined) patch.rating = rating === null ? null : Number(rating);
+    if (colorLabel !== undefined) patch.color_label = colorLabel;
+
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').where('id', row.id).update(patch);
+
+    // A mark with neither half left is deleted, not kept as an empty row — an
+    // empty row would still count as "marked" to anything testing existence.
+    //
+    // The emptiness test is a predicate ON the delete rather than a re-read
+    // followed by a delete: a concurrent call that just filled a half back in
+    // must not have its value dropped by our stale view of the row.
+    const removed = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where('id', row.id)
+      .whereNull('rating')
+      .whereNull('color_label')
+      .delete();
+    if (removed) return null;
+
+    const after = await db('photo_admin_marks').where('id', row.id).first();
+    if (!after) return null;
+    return { rating: after.rating ?? null, color_label: after.color_label ?? null };
+  };
+
+  const existing = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+    .where({ photo_id: photoId, admin_id: adminId })
+    .first();
+
+  if (existing) return applyToRow(existing);
+
+  // No row yet, so there is nothing for a clear-only call to clear.
+  const fresh = {
+    rating: rating === undefined || rating === null ? null : Number(rating),
+    color_label: colorLabel === undefined || colorLabel === null ? null : colorLabel,
+  };
+  if (fresh.rating === null && fresh.color_label === null) return null;
+
+  const now = new Date().toISOString();
+  try {
+    await db('photo_admin_marks').insert({
+      photo_id: photoId,
+      event_id: eventId,
+      admin_id: adminId,
+      ...fresh,
+      created_at: now,
+      updated_at: now,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    // The read above and this insert are not atomic, and a triage pass fires
+    // them back to back — press 4 then 9 on an UNMARKED photo and both
+    // requests can find no row and both try to insert. The unique index stops
+    // the duplicate, which would otherwise surface as a 500 and a lost
+    // keystroke; converge onto the row the winner created, through the same
+    // write-only-what-you-addressed path as any other update.
+    const raced = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ photo_id: photoId, admin_id: adminId })
+      .first();
+    if (!raced) throw error;
+    return applyToRow(raced);
+  }
+
+  return fresh;
+}
+
+/**
+ * One admin's marks across an event, keyed by photo id. Optionally narrowed to
+ * the ids on the current page.
+ *
+ * @returns {Promise<Object>} { [photoId]: { rating, color_label } }
+ */
+async function getEventMarks(eventId, adminId, photoIds = null) {
+  try {
+    const query = db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ event_id: eventId, admin_id: adminId })
+      .select('photo_id', 'rating', 'color_label');
+
+    if (Array.isArray(photoIds)) {
+      if (photoIds.length === 0) return {};
+      query.whereIn('photo_id', photoIds);
+    }
+
+    const rows = await query;
+    const byPhoto = {};
+    for (const row of rows) {
+      byPhoto[row.photo_id] = {
+        rating: row.rating ?? null,
+        color_label: row.color_label ?? null,
+      };
+    }
+    return byPhoto;
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.error('Error reading admin photo marks:', error);
+    return {};
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Per-colour photo counts for one admin's marks — drives the counts on the
+ * "My marks" filter chips.
+ */
+async function getEventMarkColorCounts(eventId, adminId) {
+  try {
+    const rows = await db('photo_admin_marks')
+      .where({ event_id: eventId, admin_id: adminId })
+      .whereNotNull('color_label')
+      .groupBy('color_label')
+      .select('color_label')
+      .count('id as count');
+
+    const counts = {};
+    for (const row of rows) {
+      counts[row.color_label] = parseInt(row.count, 10) || 0;
+    }
+    return counts;
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.error('Error counting admin photo marks:', error);
+    return {};
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = { setMark, getEventMarks, getEventMarkColorCounts, INVALID_MARK };
diff --git a/backend/src/services/photoExportService.js b/backend/src/services/photoExportService.js
index 530b59c2..4d97d391 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/photoExportService.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/photoExportService.js
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 const archiver = require('archiver');
 const { PassThrough } = require('stream');
 const { XmpGenerator } = require('./xmpGenerator');
+const { dominantColorLabel } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+const photoAdminMarksService = require('./photoAdminMarksService');
+const feedbackService = require('./feedbackService');
 const { neutralizeSpreadsheetFormula } = require('../utils/spreadsheetSafe');
 const { db } = require('../database/db');
 const path = require('path');
@@ -22,7 +25,7 @@ class PhotoExportService {
    * @param {number[]} photoIds - Photo IDs to export (optional, exports all if not provided)
    * @returns {Promise<Object[]>} Photos with feedback
    */
-  async getPhotosWithFeedback(eventId, photoIds = null) {
+  async getPhotosWithFeedback(eventId, photoIds = null, adminId = null) {
     let query = db('photos')
       .leftJoin('photo_categories', 'photos.category_id', 'photo_categories.id')
       .where('photos.event_id', eventId)
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ class PhotoExportService {
         'photos.like_count',
         'photos.favorite_count',
         'photos.comment_count',
+        'photos.color_label_count',
         'photos.width',
         'photos.height',
         'photos.size_bytes',
@@ -48,7 +52,33 @@ class PhotoExportService {
       query = query.whereIn('photos.id', photoIds);
     }
 
-    return await query;
+    const photos = await query;
+
+    // Colour labels (#1044). One grouped query for the whole export, then
+    // each row carries both the per-colour tallies and the single colour the
+    // XMP sidecar should claim.
+    const colorCounts = await feedbackService.getEventColorLabelCounts(
+      eventId,
+      photos.map(p => p.id),
+    );
+    for (const photo of photos) {
+      photo.color_labels = colorCounts[photo.id] || {};
+      photo.dominant_color_label = dominantColorLabel(photo.color_labels);
+    }
+
+    // The exporting photographer's own marks (#1044 follow-up), so a triage
+    // pass can leave the app as XMP the same way a client selection can.
+    if (adminId) {
+      const marks = await photoAdminMarksService.getEventMarks(
+        eventId, adminId, photos.map(p => p.id),
+      );
+      for (const photo of photos) {
+        photo.my_rating = marks[photo.id]?.rating ?? null;
+        photo.my_color_label = marks[photo.id]?.color_label ?? null;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return photos;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -60,7 +90,9 @@ class PhotoExportService {
    * @returns {Promise<Object>} Export result with stream/content
    */
   async exportPhotos(eventId, photoIds, format, options = {}) {
-    const photos = await this.getPhotosWithFeedback(eventId, photoIds);
+    // admin_id is set by the route from the session, never taken from the
+    // request body — it decides whose marks the export carries.
+    const photos = await this.getPhotosWithFeedback(eventId, photoIds, options.admin_id || null);
 
     if (photos.length === 0) {
       throw new Error('No photos to export');
@@ -139,6 +171,9 @@ class PhotoExportService {
       'likes',
       'favorites',
       'comments',
+      'color_label',
+      'my_rating',
+      'my_color_label',
       'category',
       'width',
       'height',
@@ -154,6 +189,9 @@ class PhotoExportService {
       photo.like_count || 0,
       photo.favorite_count || 0,
       photo.comment_count || 0,
+      photo.dominant_color_label || '',
+      photo.my_rating ?? '',
+      photo.my_color_label || '',
       photo.category_name || '',
       photo.width || '',
       photo.height || '',
@@ -181,7 +219,17 @@ class PhotoExportService {
    * Export as XMP sidecar files in a ZIP archive
    */
   async exportAsXmpZip(photos, options = {}) {
-    const { filename_format = 'original' } = options;
+    const { filename_format = 'original', mark_source = 'client' } = options;
+
+    // Whose verdict the sidecar carries (#1044 follow-up). Default 'client'
+    // keeps existing exports identical; 'mine' writes the photographer's own
+    // triage instead, which is the point of being able to mark at all.
+    const project = (photo) => (mark_source !== 'mine' ? photo : {
+      ...photo,
+      average_rating: photo.my_rating || 0,
+      dominant_color_label: photo.my_color_label || null,
+      color_labels: {},
+    });
 
     const archive = archiver('zip', { zlib: { level: 9 } });
     const passthrough = new PassThrough();
@@ -192,7 +240,7 @@ class PhotoExportService {
         ? (photo.original_filename || photo.filename)
         : photo.filename;
       const xmpFilename = this.xmpGenerator.getXmpFilename(baseFilename);
-      const xmpContent = this.xmpGenerator.generateXmp(photo, options);
+      const xmpContent = this.xmpGenerator.generateXmp(project(photo), options);
 
       archive.append(xmpContent, { name: xmpFilename });
     }
@@ -237,6 +285,10 @@ class PhotoExportService {
         likes: photo.like_count || 0,
         favorites: photo.favorite_count || 0,
         comments: photo.comment_count || 0,
+        color_label: photo.dominant_color_label || null,
+        color_labels: photo.color_labels || {},
+        my_rating: photo.my_rating ?? null,
+        my_color_label: photo.my_color_label || null,
         dimensions: {
           width: photo.width || null,
           height: photo.height || null
diff --git a/backend/src/services/xmpGenerator.js b/backend/src/services/xmpGenerator.js
index 5a70989e..f0ce7d95 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/xmpGenerator.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/xmpGenerator.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
  * Generates Adobe XMP metadata files for photos with guest feedback
  */
 
+const { COLOR_LABEL_TO_XMP, dominantColorLabel } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+
 class XmpGenerator {
   /**
    * Generate XMP sidecar content for a photo
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ class XmpGenerator {
     } = options;
 
     const rating = include_rating ? this.mapRating(photo.average_rating) : 0;
-    const label = include_label ? this.mapLabel(photo.average_rating) : null;
+    const label = include_label ? this.mapLabel(photo) : null;
 
     const descriptionXml = include_description ? this.generateDescription(photo) : '';
     const keywordsXml = include_keywords ? this.generateKeywords(photo) : '';
@@ -57,11 +59,39 @@ class XmpGenerator {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Map PicPeak rating to XMP color label
+   * Resolve the photo's XMP colour label.
+   *
+   * A real colour label the client set while proofing (#1044) always wins:
+   * that is the whole point of using Lightroom's colour set, and it is an
+   * explicit choice rather than something inferred. Only when a photo has no
+   * label does this fall back to the historical rating-derived mapping, so
+   * exports for events that never enabled colour labels are unchanged.
+   *
+   * @param {Object} photo - photo row, may carry dominant_color_label
+   * @returns {string|null} XMP label colour
+   */
+  mapLabel(photo) {
+    // Tolerate being handed a bare rating: this used to take one, and
+    // callers outside the export service may still do so.
+    if (typeof photo === 'number' || photo === null || photo === undefined) {
+      return this.mapRatingToLabel(photo);
+    }
+
+    const colorLabel = photo.dominant_color_label
+      || dominantColorLabel(photo.color_labels);
+    if (colorLabel && COLOR_LABEL_TO_XMP[colorLabel]) {
+      return COLOR_LABEL_TO_XMP[colorLabel];
+    }
+
+    return this.mapRatingToLabel(photo.average_rating);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The pre-#1044 mapping: infer a colour from the average star rating.
    * @param {number} avgRating - Average rating
    * @returns {string|null} XMP label color
    */
-  mapLabel(avgRating) {
+  mapRatingToLabel(avgRating) {
     if (!avgRating || avgRating === 0) return null;
     if (avgRating >= 4.5) return 'Red';      // Top picks
     if (avgRating >= 3.5) return 'Yellow';   // Good
@@ -80,7 +110,9 @@ class XmpGenerator {
     const likes = photo.like_count || 0;
     const favorites = photo.favorite_count || 0;
 
-    const desc = `PicPeak Guest Feedback: ${rating} stars, ${likes} likes, ${favorites} favorites`;
+    const colorLabel = photo.dominant_color_label || dominantColorLabel(photo.color_labels);
+    const colorPart = colorLabel ? `, ${colorLabel} label` : '';
+    const desc = `PicPeak Guest Feedback: ${rating} stars, ${likes} likes, ${favorites} favorites${colorPart}`;
 
     return `<dc:description>
         <rdf:Alt>
@@ -113,6 +145,14 @@ class XmpGenerator {
       keywords.push('favorited');
     }
 
+    // A searchable keyword for the client's colour choice (#1044) — Lightroom
+    // can filter on xmp:Label directly, Bridge and Capture One users often
+    // find keywords easier.
+    const colorLabel = photo.dominant_color_label || dominantColorLabel(photo.color_labels);
+    if (colorLabel) {
+      keywords.push(`color-${colorLabel}`);
+    }
+
     if (photo.category_name) {
       keywords.push(this.sanitizeKeyword(photo.category_name));
     }
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js b/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js
index bfcd6163..65c828c3 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js
+++ b/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
 const validator = require('validator');
 const { IDENTITY_PRESERVING_NORMALIZE_EMAIL } = require('./emailNormalization');
 const { REACTION_EMOJIS } = require('../constants/reactions');
+const { COLOR_LABELS } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+const { KEYBIND_MODES } = require('../services/feedbackDefaults');
 
 /**
  * Validation rules for feedback submission
@@ -134,7 +136,7 @@ function getValidationRules(feedbackType) {
  */
 const validateFeedbackSubmission = [
   body('feedback_type')
-    .isIn(['rating', 'like', 'comment', 'favorite', 'reaction'])
+    .isIn(['rating', 'like', 'comment', 'favorite', 'reaction', 'color_label'])
     .withMessage('Invalid feedback type'),
 
   // Conditional validation based on feedback type. 0 clears the guest's
@@ -151,6 +153,14 @@ const validateFeedbackSubmission = [
     .if(body('feedback_type').equals('reaction'))
     .custom((value) => REACTION_EMOJIS.includes(value))
     .withMessage('Invalid reaction'),
+
+  // Colour labels (#1044): Lightroom's five colours only — the value ends up
+  // in an XMP field Lightroom parses, so free-form strings are rejected here
+  // rather than sanitised later.
+  body('color_label')
+    .if(body('feedback_type').equals('color_label'))
+    .custom((value) => COLOR_LABELS.includes(value))
+    .withMessage('Invalid color label'),
   
   body('comment_text')
     .if(body('feedback_type').equals('comment'))
@@ -194,6 +204,9 @@ const validateFeedbackSettings = [
   body('allow_comments').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('allow_favorites').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('allow_reactions').optional().isBoolean(),
+  body('allow_color_labels').optional().isBoolean(),
+  body('keybind_mode').optional().isIn(KEYBIND_MODES)
+    .withMessage(`keybind_mode must be one of: ${KEYBIND_MODES.join(', ')}`),
   body('require_name_email').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('moderate_comments').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('show_feedback_to_guests').optional().isBoolean(),
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/photoFilterBuilder.js b/backend/src/utils/photoFilterBuilder.js
index deb829cf..d772e0ea 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/photoFilterBuilder.js
+++ b/backend/src/utils/photoFilterBuilder.js
@@ -3,6 +3,23 @@
  * Builds Knex queries for filtering photos by feedback metrics
  */
 
+const { COLOR_LABELS } = require('../constants/colorLabels');
+
+/**
+ * Accept a colour filter as an array or a comma-separated string, drop
+ * anything that isn't one of the five known colours, and de-duplicate.
+ */
+function normalizeColorLabels(value) {
+  if (!value) return [];
+  const raw = Array.isArray(value) ? value : String(value).split(',');
+  const seen = new Set();
+  for (const entry of raw) {
+    const color = String(entry).trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (COLOR_LABELS.includes(color)) seen.add(color);
+  }
+  return [...seen];
+}
+
 class PhotoFilterBuilder {
   constructor(queryBuilder, eventId) {
     this.query = queryBuilder;
@@ -21,6 +38,9 @@ class PhotoFilterBuilder {
       has_favorites,
       min_favorites,
       has_comments,
+      color_labels,
+      my_color_labels,
+      admin_id,
       category_id,
       logic = 'AND'
     } = filters;
@@ -59,6 +79,36 @@ class PhotoFilterBuilder {
       conditions.push(builder => builder.where('photos.comment_count', '>', 0));
     }
 
+    // Colour labels (#1044): "only the greens". Can't read a denormalized
+    // count — "has any label" and "has a GREEN label" are different questions
+    // — so this is an EXISTS over photo_feedback, covered by the
+    // photo_feedback_color_label_idx index from migration 180.
+    const requestedColors = normalizeColorLabels(color_labels);
+    if (requestedColors.length > 0) {
+      conditions.push(builder => builder.whereExists(function () {
+        this.select('*')
+          .from('photo_feedback')
+          .whereRaw('photo_feedback.photo_id = photos.id')
+          .where('photo_feedback.feedback_type', 'color_label')
+          .where('photo_feedback.is_hidden', false)
+          .whereIn('photo_feedback.color_label', requestedColors);
+      }));
+    }
+
+    // The same question against the caller's own marks (#1044 follow-up).
+    // Requires admin_id: without one this would filter by every admin's marks
+    // at once, so it is skipped rather than silently widened.
+    const requestedMyColors = normalizeColorLabels(my_color_labels);
+    if (requestedMyColors.length > 0 && admin_id) {
+      conditions.push(builder => builder.whereExists(function () {
+        this.select('*')
+          .from('photo_admin_marks')
+          .whereRaw('photo_admin_marks.photo_id = photos.id')
+          .where('photo_admin_marks.admin_id', admin_id)
+          .whereIn('photo_admin_marks.color_label', requestedMyColors);
+      }));
+    }
+
     if (category_id) {
       conditions.push(builder => builder.where('photos.category_id', category_id));
     }
@@ -143,18 +193,36 @@ class PhotoFilterBuilder {
         db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN average_rating > 0 THEN 1 END) as with_ratings'),
         db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN like_count > 0 THEN 1 END) as with_likes'),
         db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN favorite_count > 0 THEN 1 END) as with_favorites'),
-        db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN comment_count > 0 THEN 1 END) as with_comments')
+        db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN comment_count > 0 THEN 1 END) as with_comments'),
+        db.raw('COUNT(CASE WHEN color_label_count > 0 THEN 1 END) as with_color_labels')
       )
       .first();
 
+    // Per-colour totals for the filter chips (#1044) — the swatch row shows
+    // "Green 42" so the photographer knows which colours are worth filtering.
+    const colorRows = await db('photo_feedback')
+      .where({ event_id: eventId, feedback_type: 'color_label' })
+      .where('is_hidden', false)
+      .groupBy('color_label')
+      .select('color_label')
+      .countDistinct('photo_id as count');
+
+    const colorLabelCounts = {};
+    for (const color of COLOR_LABELS) colorLabelCounts[color] = 0;
+    for (const row of colorRows) {
+      if (row.color_label) colorLabelCounts[row.color_label] = parseInt(row.count) || 0;
+    }
+
     return {
       total: parseInt(result.total) || 0,
       withRatings: parseInt(result.with_ratings) || 0,
       withLikes: parseInt(result.with_likes) || 0,
       withFavorites: parseInt(result.with_favorites) || 0,
-      withComments: parseInt(result.with_comments) || 0
+      withComments: parseInt(result.with_comments) || 0,
+      withColorLabels: parseInt(result.with_color_labels) || 0,
+      colorLabelCounts
     };
   }
 }
 
-module.exports = { PhotoFilterBuilder };
+module.exports = { PhotoFilterBuilder, normalizeColorLabels };
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestDetail.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestDetail.tsx
index 58594f3b..37c9cbab 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestDetail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestDetail.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
-import { X, Heart, Bookmark, Star, MessageCircle, Smile } from 'lucide-react';
+import { X, Heart, Bookmark, Star, MessageCircle, Smile, Palette } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Loading } from '../common';
 import { guestsService, AdminGuest } from '../../services/guests.service';
 import { AuthenticatedImage } from '../common/AuthenticatedImage';
@@ -14,13 +14,18 @@ interface AdminGuestDetailProps {
   onClose: () => void;
 }
 
-type Tab = 'all' | 'liked' | 'favorited' | 'rated' | 'commented' | 'reacted';
+type Tab = 'all' | 'liked' | 'favorited' | 'rated' | 'commented' | 'reacted' | 'labeled';
 
 export const AdminGuestDetail: React.FC<AdminGuestDetailProps> = ({ eventId, guest, onClose }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const { formatDateTime: fmtDateTime } = useLocalizedDate();
   const [tab, setTab] = useState<Tab>('all');
 
+  // Badges are plain strings in this grid, so a colour label shows as its
+  // name rather than a swatch — which also keeps it readable for anyone who
+  // can't tell the five colours apart.
+  const colorBadge = (color: string) => t(`feedback.colorLabels.${color}`, color);
+
   const { data, isLoading } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ['admin-guest-detail', eventId, guest.id],
     queryFn: () => guestsService.getGuestDetail(eventId, guest.id),
@@ -32,6 +37,7 @@ export const AdminGuestDetail: React.FC<AdminGuestDetailProps> = ({ eventId, gue
   const rated = selections?.rated || [];
   const commented = selections?.commented || [];
   const reacted = selections?.reacted || [];
+  const labeled = selections?.labeled || [];
 
   // "all" view combines the three visual selection types.
   type GridItem = { photo: { id: number; filename: string; thumbnail_url: string }; badges: string[] };
@@ -50,6 +56,7 @@ export const AdminGuestDetail: React.FC<AdminGuestDetailProps> = ({ eventId, gue
   favorited.forEach((p) => add(p, 'favorite'));
   rated.forEach((r) => add(r.photo, 'rating'));
   reacted.forEach((r) => add(r.photo, r.reaction));
+  labeled.forEach((r) => add(r.photo, colorBadge(r.color_label)));
 
   const visibleItems: GridItem[] =
     tab === 'all'
@@ -62,6 +69,8 @@ export const AdminGuestDetail: React.FC<AdminGuestDetailProps> = ({ eventId, gue
       ? rated.map((r) => ({ photo: r.photo, badges: [`${r.rating}★`] }))
       : tab === 'reacted'
       ? reacted.map((r) => ({ photo: r.photo, badges: [r.reaction] }))
+      : tab === 'labeled'
+      ? labeled.map((r) => ({ photo: r.photo, badges: [colorBadge(r.color_label)] }))
       : [];
 
   return (
@@ -137,11 +146,20 @@ export const AdminGuestDetail: React.FC<AdminGuestDetailProps> = ({ eventId, gue
                   {t('admin.guests.columns.reactions', 'Reactions')}
                 </div>
               </div>
+              <div className="p-3 bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded text-center">
+                <div className="text-2xl font-semibold text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
+                  {labeled.length}
+                </div>
+                <div className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400 flex items-center justify-center gap-1">
+                  <Palette className="w-3 h-3" />
+                  {t('admin.guests.columns.colorLabels', 'Color labels')}
+                </div>
+              </div>
             </div>
 
             {/* Tabs */}
             <div className="flex gap-1 border-b border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 mb-4">
-              {(['all', 'liked', 'favorited', 'rated', 'commented', 'reacted'] as const).map((k) => (
+              {(['all', 'liked', 'favorited', 'rated', 'commented', 'reacted', 'labeled'] as const).map((k) => (
                 <button
                   key={k}
                   type="button"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestsList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestsList.tsx
index 01ac46b7..b8178a95 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestsList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminGuestsList.tsx
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ export const AdminGuestsList: React.FC<AdminGuestsListProps> = ({ eventId, event
                   <th className="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400 uppercase">
                     {t('admin.guests.columns.reactions', 'Reactions')}
                   </th>
+                  <th className="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400 uppercase">
+                    {t('admin.guests.columns.colorLabels', 'Color labels')}
+                  </th>
                   <th className="px-4 py-3 text-left text-xs font-medium text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400 uppercase">
                     {t('admin.guests.columns.lastSeen', 'Last seen')}
                   </th>
@@ -276,6 +279,9 @@ export const AdminGuestsList: React.FC<AdminGuestsListProps> = ({ eventId, event
                     <td className="px-4 py-3 text-right text-sm text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
                       {guest.stats.reactions}
                     </td>
+                    <td className="px-4 py-3 text-right text-sm text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
+                      {guest.stats.color_labels ?? 0}
+                    </td>
                     <td className="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400">
                       {fmtDate(guest.last_seen_at)}
                     </td>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoGrid.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoGrid.tsx
index eae384fb..92ba9879 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoGrid.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoGrid.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { Check, Download, Trash2, Eye, EyeOff, Heart, Package, MessageSquare, Star, Video, FolderOpen, Cog, AlertTriangle, RefreshCw, LayoutGrid, List } from 'lucide-react';
+import { COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, type ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
 import { toast } from 'react-toastify';
 import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
@@ -465,6 +466,56 @@ export const AdminPhotoGrid: React.FC<AdminPhotoGridProps> = ({
               </div>
             )}
             
+            {/* Color label (#1044). Bottom-left, opposite the rating/comment
+                indicators, so a labelled photo reads at a glance in the
+                admin grid the same way it does in the client's gallery. */}
+            {photo.dominant_color_label && COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[photo.dominant_color_label as ColorLabel] && (
+              <div className="absolute bottom-2 left-2 z-10">
+                <span
+                  className="flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 rounded-full border-2 border-white/90 shadow"
+                  style={{ backgroundColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[photo.dominant_color_label as ColorLabel].fill }}
+                  role="img"
+                  aria-label={t('feedback.markedAs', 'Marked as {{color}}', {
+                    color: t(`feedback.colorLabels.${photo.dominant_color_label}`, photo.dominant_color_label),
+                  })}
+                  title={t('feedback.markedAs', 'Marked as {{color}}', {
+                    color: t(`feedback.colorLabels.${photo.dominant_color_label}`, photo.dominant_color_label),
+                  })}
+                />
+              </div>
+            )}
+
+            {/* The admin's OWN mark (#1044 follow-up), next to the client's
+                dot but visually distinct — a white ring and a star count —
+                so a triage pass is never confused with what the client
+                chose. */}
+            {(photo.my_color_label || photo.my_rating) && (
+              <div className="absolute bottom-2 left-9 z-10 flex items-center gap-1">
+                {photo.my_color_label && COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[photo.my_color_label as ColorLabel] && (
+                  <span
+                    className="w-5 h-5 rounded-full border-2 border-dashed border-white shadow"
+                    style={{ backgroundColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[photo.my_color_label as ColorLabel].fill }}
+                    role="img"
+                    aria-label={t('admin.photos.yourMarkColor', 'Your mark: {{color}}', {
+                      color: t(`feedback.colorLabels.${photo.my_color_label}`, photo.my_color_label),
+                    })}
+                    title={t('admin.photos.yourMarkColor', 'Your mark: {{color}}', {
+                      color: t(`feedback.colorLabels.${photo.my_color_label}`, photo.my_color_label),
+                    })}
+                  />
+                )}
+                {!!photo.my_rating && (
+                  <span
+                    className="bg-white/90 backdrop-blur-sm rounded-full px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-neutral-700 flex items-center gap-0.5"
+                    title={t('admin.photos.yourMarkRating', 'Your rating: {{count}}', { count: photo.my_rating })}
+                  >
+                    <Star className="w-3 h-3 text-yellow-500" fill="currentColor" />
+                    {photo.my_rating}
+                  </span>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            )}
+
             {/* Feedback Indicators (moved to bottom-right to avoid covering category) */}
             {(commentCount > 0 || averageRating > 0 || likeCount > 0) && (
               <div className="absolute bottom-2 right-2 flex items-center gap-1 z-10">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoViewer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoViewer.tsx
index e36b8ba8..4e8da529 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoViewer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminPhotoViewer.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import { Button } from '../common';
 import { AdminAuthenticatedImage } from './AdminAuthenticatedImage';
 import { AdminAuthenticatedVideo } from './AdminAuthenticatedVideo';
 import { useLocalizedDate } from '../../hooks/useLocalizedDate';
+import { COLOR_LABELS, COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, type ColorLabel, type KeybindMode } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+import { resolveFeedbackKey, colorShortcutHints } from '../../utils/feedbackKeybinds';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useMutationWithToast, useModal } from '../../hooks';
 
 type AdminFeedbackResponse = {
@@ -36,6 +39,11 @@ export const AdminPhotoViewer: React.FC<AdminPhotoViewerProps> = ({
 }) => {
   const [currentIndex, setCurrentIndex] = useState(initialIndex);
   const [isDeleting, setIsDeleting] = useState(false);
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  // The photographer's own triage mark (#1044 follow-up). Held locally and
+  // seeded from the row so the star/colour UI responds instantly; the grid
+  // picks it up when its query is invalidated.
+  const [myMarks, setMyMarks] = useState<Record<number, { rating: number | null; color_label: ColorLabel | null }>>({});
   const categoryMenuModal = useModal();
   const commentsModal = useModal();
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
@@ -143,6 +151,52 @@ export const AdminPhotoViewer: React.FC<AdminPhotoViewerProps> = ({
     errorMessage: () => 'Failed to delete feedback'
   });
 
+  // The mark shown for a photo: the local edit if there is one, otherwise
+  // whatever the list query loaded.
+  const markFor = (photo: AdminPhoto) => myMarks[photo.id] ?? {
+    rating: photo.my_rating ?? null,
+    color_label: (photo.my_color_label as ColorLabel) ?? null,
+  };
+  const currentMark = markFor(currentPhoto);
+
+  const saveMark = async (patch: { rating?: number | null; color_label?: ColorLabel | null }) => {
+    const photoId = currentPhoto.id;
+    const previous = markFor(currentPhoto);
+    const optimistic = {
+      rating: patch.rating === undefined ? previous.rating : patch.rating,
+      color_label: patch.color_label === undefined ? previous.color_label : patch.color_label,
+    };
+    setMyMarks((prev) => ({ ...prev, [photoId]: optimistic }));
+    try {
+      await photosService.setPhotoMark(eventId, photoId, patch);
+      // The grid reads my_rating / my_color_label off the photo rows.
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['admin-event-photos', String(eventId)] });
+    } catch {
+      setMyMarks((prev) => ({ ...prev, [photoId]: previous }));
+      toast.error(t('admin.photos.markError', 'Failed to save your mark'));
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Pressing the same value again clears it, matching the gallery lightbox.
+  //
+  // 0 is the clear sentinel — Lightroom's own binding, and what
+  // resolveFeedbackKey returns for the '0' key. It must become `null` here:
+  // the mark service stores 1-5 only and rejects a literal 0, so passing it
+  // straight through turned "clear my rating" into an error toast.
+  const toggleMarkRating = (value: number) =>
+    saveMark({ rating: value === 0 || currentMark.rating === value ? null : value });
+  const toggleMarkColor = (color: ColorLabel) =>
+    saveMark({ color_label: currentMark.color_label === color ? null : color });
+
+  // The admin viewer always uses the Lightroom bindings — 1-5 stars, 6-9
+  // colours — regardless of the scheme chosen for the gallery. That scheme is
+  // a choice made FOR the client; this surface belongs to the photographer,
+  // who came from Lightroom and needs both halves on the keyboard. Resolved
+  // through the shared helper so the two viewers can't drift.
+  const keybindMode: KeybindMode = 'lightroom';
+  const markRef = React.useRef({ currentMark, toggleMarkRating, toggleMarkColor, saveMark });
+  markRef.current = { currentMark, toggleMarkRating, toggleMarkColor, saveMark };
+
   React.useEffect(() => {
     const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
       switch (e.key) {
@@ -155,6 +209,23 @@ export const AdminPhotoViewer: React.FC<AdminPhotoViewerProps> = ({
         case 'ArrowRight':
           goToNext();
           break;
+        default: {
+          // Proofing shortcuts for the photographer's own marks (#1044
+          // follow-up). Read through a ref: this effect is keyed on
+          // currentIndex, so the closure would otherwise mark the photo that
+          // was open when it was registered.
+          const action = resolveFeedbackKey(e, {
+            mode: keybindMode,
+            allowColorLabels: true,
+            allowRatings: true,
+          });
+          if (!action) break;
+          e.preventDefault();
+          if (action.type === 'color') void markRef.current.toggleMarkColor(action.color);
+          else if (action.type === 'rating') void markRef.current.toggleMarkRating(action.value);
+          else void markRef.current.saveMark({ color_label: null });
+          break;
+        }
       }
     };
 
@@ -331,6 +402,74 @@ export const AdminPhotoViewer: React.FC<AdminPhotoViewerProps> = ({
             )}
           </div>
 
+          {/* The photographer's own marks (#1044 follow-up). Above the guest
+              feedback block on purpose: this is the surface being used during
+              a triage pass, and it is explicitly labelled as private so
+              nobody mistakes it for what the client chose. */}
+          <div className="mt-6 pt-6 border-t border-neutral-700">
+            <h4 className="text-white font-medium mb-1 flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Star className="w-4 h-4" />
+              {t('admin.photos.myMarks', 'Your marks')}
+            </h4>
+            <p className="text-xs text-neutral-400 mb-3">
+              {t('admin.photos.myMarksHelp', 'Only you see these. They never appear in the client gallery, and they export to Lightroom as XMP.')}
+            </p>
+
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-1 mb-3" aria-label={t('admin.photos.myRating', 'Your rating')}>
+              {[1, 2, 3, 4, 5].map((value) => (
+                <button
+                  key={value}
+                  type="button"
+                  onClick={() => toggleMarkRating(value)}
+                  className="p-0.5"
+                  aria-pressed={currentMark.rating === value}
+                  aria-label={currentMark.rating === value
+                    ? t('admin.photos.clearRating', 'Clear your rating')
+                    : t('admin.photos.rateStars', 'Rate {{count}} stars', { count: value })}
+                  title={`${value}`}
+                >
+                  <Star
+                    className={`w-5 h-5 ${(currentMark.rating || 0) >= value ? 'text-yellow-400' : 'text-neutral-600'}`}
+                    fill={(currentMark.rating || 0) >= value ? 'currentColor' : 'none'}
+                  />
+                </button>
+              ))}
+              <span className="ml-2 text-xs text-neutral-500">1–5</span>
+            </div>
+
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5" role="group" aria-label={t('feedback.colorLabelsTitle', 'Color labels')}>
+              {COLOR_LABELS.map((color) => {
+                const swatch = COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color];
+                const isMine = currentMark.color_label === color;
+                const shortcut = colorShortcutHints(keybindMode)[color];
+                const name = t(`feedback.colorLabels.${color}`, color);
+                return (
+                  <button
+                    key={color}
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => toggleMarkColor(color)}
+                    aria-pressed={isMine}
+                    // Colour alone can't carry which swatch this is.
+                    aria-label={isMine
+                      ? t('feedback.removeColorLabel', 'Remove {{color}} label', { color: name })
+                      : t('feedback.setColorLabel', 'Mark as {{color}}', { color: name })}
+                    title={shortcut ? `${name} (${shortcut})` : name}
+                    className={`flex items-center gap-1 pl-1.5 pr-2 py-1 rounded-full text-xs transition-all ${
+                      isMine ? 'bg-white/15 ring-1 ring-white/60' : 'bg-white/5 hover:bg-white/10'
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    <span
+                      className="w-3.5 h-3.5 rounded-full border shrink-0"
+                      style={{ backgroundColor: swatch.fill, borderColor: swatch.ring }}
+                      aria-hidden="true"
+                    />
+                    {shortcut && <span className="text-neutral-400">{shortcut}</span>}
+                  </button>
+                );
+              })}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           {/* Feedback Section */}
           {feedbackData && (
             <div className="mt-6 pt-6 border-t border-neutral-700">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/FeedbackSettings.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/FeedbackSettings.tsx
index 1d05c2cf..269ac6f9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/FeedbackSettings.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/FeedbackSettings.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import React from 'react';
-import { MessageSquare, Star, Heart, Bookmark, Shield, Eye, User, Users, Smile } from 'lucide-react';
+import { MessageSquare, Star, Heart, Bookmark, Shield, Eye, User, Users, Smile, Palette, Keyboard } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Card } from '../common';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { COLOR_LABELS, COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, KEYBIND_SCHEMES, type KeybindMode } from '../../services/feedback.service';
 
 interface FeedbackSettingsProps {
   settings: FeedbackSettings;
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@ interface FeedbackSettings {
   allow_comments: boolean;
   allow_favorites: boolean;
   allow_reactions: boolean;
+  allow_color_labels: boolean;
+  keybind_mode?: KeybindMode;
   require_name_email: boolean;
   moderate_comments: boolean;
   show_feedback_to_guests: boolean;
@@ -238,9 +241,105 @@ export const FeedbackSettings: React.FC<FeedbackSettingsProps> = ({
                     </div>
                   </div>
                 </label>
+
+                {/* Color labels (#1044) */}
+                <label className="flex items-center gap-3 p-3 bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg cursor-pointer hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700">
+                  <input
+                    type="checkbox"
+                    checked={settings.allow_color_labels}
+                    onChange={() => handleToggle('allow_color_labels')}
+                    className="w-4 h-4 text-accent bg-neutral-100 border-neutral-300 rounded focus:ring-primary-500"
+                  />
+                  <Palette className="w-5 h-5 text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400" />
+                  <div className="flex-1">
+                    <div className="text-sm font-medium text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100 flex items-center gap-2">
+                      {t('feedback.settings.colorLabels', 'Color Labels')}
+                      <span className="flex items-center gap-1" aria-hidden="true">
+                        {COLOR_LABELS.map((color) => (
+                          <span
+                            key={color}
+                            className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full border"
+                            style={{
+                              backgroundColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color].fill,
+                              borderColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color].ring,
+                            }}
+                          />
+                        ))}
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+                      {t('feedback.settings.colorLabelsDesc', "One color per guest per photo, using Lightroom's color set so selections carry over via XMP")}
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </label>
               </div>
             </div>
 
+            {/* Keyboard scheme for the lightbox (#1044). Only meaningful once
+                color labels are on — stars alone already use 1-5. */}
+            {settings.allow_color_labels && (
+              <div className="space-y-3">
+                <h3 className="text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 flex items-center gap-2">
+                  <Keyboard className="w-4 h-4" />
+                  {t('feedback.settings.keybindMode', 'Keyboard shortcuts')}
+                </h3>
+                <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-3">
+                  {(['colors', 'lightroom'] as KeybindMode[]).map((mode) => (
+                    <label
+                      key={mode}
+                      className={`flex gap-3 p-3 rounded-lg cursor-pointer border ${
+                        (settings.keybind_mode || 'colors') === mode
+                          ? 'border-primary-500 bg-primary-50 dark:bg-primary-900/20'
+                          : 'border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-800 hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700'
+                      }`}
+                    >
+                      <input
+                        type="radio"
+                        name="keybind_mode"
+                        checked={(settings.keybind_mode || 'colors') === mode}
+                        onChange={() => onChange({ ...settings, keybind_mode: mode })}
+                        className="mt-1 w-4 h-4 text-accent border-neutral-300 focus:ring-primary-500"
+                      />
+                      <div className="flex-1">
+                        <div className="text-sm font-medium text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
+                          {mode === 'colors'
+                            ? t('feedback.settings.keybindColors', 'Colors only (simplest)')
+                            : t('feedback.settings.keybindLightroom', 'Lightroom defaults')}
+                        </div>
+                        <div className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+                          {mode === 'colors'
+                            ? t('feedback.settings.keybindColorsDesc', '1 = green (1st choice), 2 = yellow (2nd choice), 3 = red (rejected)')
+                            : t('feedback.settings.keybindLightroomDesc', '1-5 set the star rating, 6-9 set red / yellow / green / blue')}
+                        </div>
+                        {/* The actual keymap, read from the shared scheme so
+                            this preview can never claim a binding the
+                            lightbox doesn't have. */}
+                        <div className="mt-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
+                          {Object.entries(KEYBIND_SCHEMES[mode].colors).map(([key, color]) => (
+                            <span
+                              key={key}
+                              className="flex items-center gap-1 text-[11px] text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-300"
+                            >
+                              <kbd className="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-neutral-300 dark:border-neutral-600 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
+                                {key}
+                              </kbd>
+                              <span
+                                className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full border"
+                                style={{
+                                  backgroundColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color].fill,
+                                  borderColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color].ring,
+                                }}
+                              />
+                            </span>
+                          ))}
+                        </div>
+                      </div>
+                    </label>
+                  ))}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            )}
+
             {/* Per-guest caps (#655). Two numeric inputs; 0 / empty = unlimited.
                 Only renders when the matching toggle is on — the cap is
                 meaningless if the type itself is disabled. */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoExportMenu.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoExportMenu.tsx
index bb1bd267..e7d8f3fb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoExportMenu.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoExportMenu.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ export const PhotoExportMenu: React.FC<PhotoExportMenuProps> = ({
     },
   });
 
+  // Whose verdict the XMP sidecars carry (#1044 follow-up). Defaults to the
+  // client's selections, so existing exports are unchanged.
+  const [markSource, setMarkSource] = useState<'client' | 'mine'>('client');
+
   const handleExport = (format: 'txt' | 'csv' | 'xmp' | 'json') => {
     const options: ExportOptions = {
       format,
@@ -98,7 +102,8 @@ export const PhotoExportMenu: React.FC<PhotoExportMenuProps> = ({
         include_rating: true,
         include_label: true,
         include_description: true,
-        include_keywords: true
+        include_keywords: true,
+        mark_source: markSource
       }
     };
 
@@ -115,6 +120,9 @@ export const PhotoExportMenu: React.FC<PhotoExportMenuProps> = ({
         has_favorites: filters.hasFavorites,
         min_favorites: filters.minFavorites,
         has_comments: filters.hasComments,
+        // #1044 — lets "export only the greens" round-trip to Lightroom.
+        color_labels: filters.colorLabels?.length ? filters.colorLabels : undefined,
+        my_color_labels: filters.myColorLabels?.length ? filters.myColorLabels : undefined,
         category_id: filters.categoryId,
         logic: filters.logic,
         sort: filters.sort,
@@ -134,7 +142,9 @@ export const PhotoExportMenu: React.FC<PhotoExportMenuProps> = ({
     filters.minRating !== null ||
     filters.hasLikes ||
     filters.hasFavorites ||
-    filters.hasComments
+    filters.hasComments ||
+    (filters.colorLabels?.length || 0) > 0 ||
+    (filters.myColorLabels?.length || 0) > 0
   );
 
   const isDisabled = disabled || (!hasSelection && !hasFilters);
@@ -187,6 +197,22 @@ export const PhotoExportMenu: React.FC<PhotoExportMenuProps> = ({
                 }
               </p>
 
+              {/* Whose stars/colours the XMP sidecars carry (#1044
+                  follow-up). Only affects XMP — the CSV and JSON exports
+                  carry both columns regardless. */}
+              <label className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400">
+                <span>{t('export.markSource', 'XMP stars & colour from')}</span>
+                <select
+                  value={markSource}
+                  onChange={(e) => setMarkSource(e.target.value === 'mine' ? 'mine' : 'client')}
+                  className="px-2 py-1 rounded border border-neutral-300 dark:border-neutral-600 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100"
+                  onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+                >
+                  <option value="client">{t('export.markSourceClient', 'Client selections')}</option>
+                  <option value="mine">{t('export.markSourceMine', 'Your marks')}</option>
+                </select>
+              </label>
+
               {EXPORT_FORMATS.map((format) => {
                 const Icon = format.icon;
                 return (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoFilterPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoFilterPanel.tsx
index 0b5f5122..3b43ec44 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoFilterPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/PhotoFilterPanel.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { Star, Heart, Bookmark, MessageCircle, Filter, X } from 'lucide-react';
+import { COLOR_LABELS, COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, type ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { Button } from '../common';
 import { FeedbackFilters, FilterSummary } from '../../services/photos.service';
@@ -37,6 +38,31 @@ export const PhotoFilterPanel: React.FC<PhotoFilterPanelProps> = ({
     onChange({ ...filters, [field]: !filters[field] });
   };
 
+  // Colour labels are multi-select (#1044): each swatch toggles its colour,
+  // an empty list means no colour filtering.
+  const toggleColorLabel = (color: ColorLabel) => {
+    const active = filters.colorLabels || [];
+    onChange({
+      ...filters,
+      colorLabels: active.includes(color)
+        ? active.filter(c => c !== color)
+        : [...active, color],
+    });
+  };
+
+  // The same row against the admin's own marks (#1044 follow-up), kept as a
+  // separate filter rather than merged with the client's — "the client's
+  // greens" and "my greens" are different questions during a cull.
+  const toggleMyColorLabel = (color: ColorLabel) => {
+    const active = filters.myColorLabels || [];
+    onChange({
+      ...filters,
+      myColorLabels: active.includes(color)
+        ? active.filter(c => c !== color)
+        : [...active, color],
+    });
+  };
+
   const handleLogicChange = (logic: 'AND' | 'OR') => {
     onChange({ ...filters, logic });
   };
@@ -47,6 +73,8 @@ export const PhotoFilterPanel: React.FC<PhotoFilterPanelProps> = ({
       hasLikes: false,
       hasFavorites: false,
       hasComments: false,
+      colorLabels: [],
+      myColorLabels: [],
       logic: 'AND'
     });
   };
@@ -54,7 +82,9 @@ export const PhotoFilterPanel: React.FC<PhotoFilterPanelProps> = ({
   const hasActiveFilters = filters.minRating !== null ||
     filters.hasLikes ||
     filters.hasFavorites ||
-    filters.hasComments;
+    filters.hasComments ||
+    (filters.colorLabels?.length || 0) > 0 ||
+    (filters.myColorLabels?.length || 0) > 0;
 
   return (
     <div className="bg-white dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg border border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 p-4 mb-4">
@@ -150,6 +180,90 @@ export const PhotoFilterPanel: React.FC<PhotoFilterPanelProps> = ({
           </label>
         </div>
 
+        {/* Color labels (#1044). Rendered only when someone has actually
+            labelled something — an always-visible swatch row would be dead
+            UI in the many galleries that never turn the feature on. */}
+        {(summary?.withColorLabels || 0) > 0 && (
+          <div>
+            <span className="block text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 mb-2">
+              {t('filter.colorLabels', 'Color labels')}
+            </span>
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+              {COLOR_LABELS.map((color) => {
+                const count = summary?.colorLabelCounts?.[color] || 0;
+                const isActive = (filters.colorLabels || []).includes(color);
+                const swatch = COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color];
+                const name = t(`feedback.colorLabels.${color}`, color);
+                return (
+                  <button
+                    key={color}
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => toggleColorLabel(color)}
+                    disabled={isLoading}
+                    aria-pressed={isActive}
+                    aria-label={t('filter.showOnlyColor', 'Show only {{color}}', { color: name })}
+                    className={`flex items-center gap-2 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-full border text-sm transition-colors ${
+                      isActive
+                        ? 'border-accent-dark bg-accent-dark/10 text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100'
+                        : 'border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400 hover:bg-neutral-50 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700'
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    <span
+                      className="w-3.5 h-3.5 rounded-full border shrink-0"
+                      style={{ backgroundColor: swatch.fill, borderColor: swatch.ring }}
+                      aria-hidden="true"
+                    />
+                    <span>{name}</span>
+                    <span className="text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">({count})</span>
+                  </button>
+                );
+              })}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* The admin's own marks (#1044 follow-up). Same shape as the row
+            above, labelled so the two are never confused. */}
+        {Object.keys(summary?.myColorLabelCounts || {}).length > 0 && (
+          <div>
+            <span className="block text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 mb-2">
+              {t('filter.myColorLabels', 'Your marks')}
+            </span>
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+              {COLOR_LABELS.map((color) => {
+                const count = summary?.myColorLabelCounts?.[color] || 0;
+                if (count === 0 && !(filters.myColorLabels || []).includes(color)) return null;
+                const isActive = (filters.myColorLabels || []).includes(color);
+                const swatch = COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color];
+                const name = t(`feedback.colorLabels.${color}`, color);
+                return (
+                  <button
+                    key={color}
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => toggleMyColorLabel(color)}
+                    disabled={isLoading}
+                    aria-pressed={isActive}
+                    aria-label={t('filter.showOnlyMyColor', 'Show only my {{color}} marks', { color: name })}
+                    className={`flex items-center gap-2 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-full border text-sm transition-colors ${
+                      isActive
+                        ? 'border-accent-dark bg-accent-dark/10 text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100'
+                        : 'border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-400 hover:bg-neutral-50 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700'
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    <span
+                      className="w-3.5 h-3.5 rounded-full border-2 border-dashed shrink-0"
+                      style={{ backgroundColor: swatch.fill, borderColor: swatch.ring }}
+                      aria-hidden="true"
+                    />
+                    <span>{name}</span>
+                    <span className="text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">({count})</span>
+                  </button>
+                );
+              })}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
         {/* Logic Toggle */}
         {(filters.hasLikes || filters.hasFavorites || filters.hasComments) && (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/ColorLabelBadge.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/ColorLabelBadge.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8b3df86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/ColorLabelBadge.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, type ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+
+interface ColorLabelBadgeProps {
+  colorLabel?: string | null;
+  /** Extra classes for positioning inside the tile. */
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The colour a guest gave a photo, shown on the thumbnail (#1044).
+ *
+ * The whole point of the feature is that a client can see their selection
+ * progress across the grid without reopening anything, so this is deliberately
+ * loud: an inset ring around the tile plus a corner dot. Both are
+ * pointer-events-none so they never swallow a click meant for the tile.
+ */
+export const ColorLabelBadge: React.FC<ColorLabelBadgeProps> = ({ colorLabel, className = '' }) => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+
+  if (!colorLabel || !(colorLabel in COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES)) return null;
+  const swatch = COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[colorLabel as ColorLabel];
+  const name = t(`feedback.colorLabels.${colorLabel}`, colorLabel);
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <span
+        className={`absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none rounded-[inherit] ${className}`}
+        // Inset rather than an outline: the tile is often flush against its
+        // neighbours in masonry/justified layouts, where an outer ring would
+        // be clipped.
+        style={{ boxShadow: `inset 0 0 0 3px ${swatch.fill}` }}
+        aria-hidden="true"
+      />
+      <span
+        className="absolute top-2 left-2 pointer-events-none flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 rounded-full border-2 border-white/90 shadow"
+        style={{ backgroundColor: swatch.fill }}
+        // Colour alone can't carry the meaning — the accessible name does.
+        title={t('feedback.markedAs', 'Marked as {{color}}', { color: name })}
+        role="img"
+        aria-label={t('feedback.markedAs', 'Marked as {{color}}', { color: name })}
+      />
+    </>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/ColorLabelFilterChips.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/ColorLabelFilterChips.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7291a29f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/ColorLabelFilterChips.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { COLOR_LABELS, COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, type ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+
+interface ColorLabelFilterChipsProps {
+  activeColors: ColorLabel[];
+  onToggle: (color: ColorLabel) => void;
+  /** Per-colour counts for the viewer's own labels. */
+  counts?: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>>;
+  /** Hide colours nobody has used yet. On by default — five permanently
+   *  empty swatches are noise in a gallery that isn't using every colour. */
+  hideEmpty?: boolean;
+  className?: string;
+  showLabel?: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * "Show only the greens" (#1044). Multi-select: each chip toggles its colour,
+ * an empty set means no colour filtering.
+ */
+export const ColorLabelFilterChips: React.FC<ColorLabelFilterChipsProps> = ({
+  activeColors,
+  onToggle,
+  counts = {},
+  hideEmpty = true,
+  className = '',
+  showLabel = true,
+}) => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+
+  const visible = COLOR_LABELS.filter(color =>
+    !hideEmpty || (counts[color] || 0) > 0 || activeColors.includes(color)
+  );
+  if (visible.length === 0) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <div className={`flex items-center gap-2 ${className}`}>
+      {showLabel && (
+        <span className="text-sm text-muted-theme whitespace-nowrap">
+          {t('gallery.colorFilter', 'Color')}
+        </span>
+      )}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1 flex-wrap">
+        {visible.map((color) => {
+          const isActive = activeColors.includes(color);
+          const swatch = COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color];
+          const count = counts[color] || 0;
+          const name = t(`feedback.colorLabels.${color}`, color);
+          return (
+            <button
+              key={color}
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => onToggle(color)}
+              aria-pressed={isActive}
+              // Colour is the only thing distinguishing these chips, so the
+              // name has to carry it for screen readers and colour-blind
+              // viewers; the count is part of the visible label.
+              aria-label={t('gallery.filterByColor', 'Show only {{color}}', { color: name })}
+              title={`${name}${count > 0 ? ` (${count})` : ''}`}
+              className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 pl-1.5 pr-2 h-8 rounded-full border text-xs transition-all ${
+                isActive
+                  ? 'border-current ring-2 ring-offset-1 ring-current text-theme'
+                  : 'border-black/15 text-muted-theme hover:border-current'
+              }`}
+              style={isActive ? { color: swatch.ring } : undefined}
+            >
+              <span
+                className="w-4 h-4 rounded-full border shrink-0"
+                style={{ backgroundColor: swatch.fill, borderColor: swatch.ring }}
+                aria-hidden="true"
+              />
+              {count > 0 && <span className="font-medium">{count}</span>}
+            </button>
+          );
+        })}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/GallerySidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/GallerySidebar.tsx
index 1e241e71..4f7e971e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/GallerySidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/GallerySidebar.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { Button } from '../common';
 import { PhotoCategory } from '../../types';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { GalleryFilter, type FilterType, type FeedbackFilterType } from './GalleryFilter';
+import { ColorLabelFilterChips } from './ColorLabelFilterChips';
+import type { ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
 
 interface GallerySidebarProps {
   isOpen: boolean;
@@ -38,6 +40,11 @@ interface GallerySidebarProps {
   likeCount?: number;
   favoriteCount?: number;
   ratedCount?: number;
+  // Colour-label filters (#1044).
+  colorLabelsEnabled?: boolean;
+  activeColorFilters?: ColorLabel[];
+  onColorFilterChange?: (color: ColorLabel) => void;
+  colorLabelCounts?: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>>;
   mediaFilter?: 'all' | 'photo' | 'video';
   onMediaFilterChange?: (filter: 'all' | 'photo' | 'video') => void;
   showMediaFilter?: boolean;
@@ -74,6 +81,10 @@ export const GallerySidebar: React.FC<GallerySidebarProps> = ({
   likeCount = 0,
   favoriteCount = 0,
   ratedCount = 0,
+  colorLabelsEnabled = false,
+  activeColorFilters = [],
+  onColorFilterChange,
+  colorLabelCounts = {},
   mediaFilter = 'all',
   onMediaFilterChange,
   showMediaFilter = false
@@ -241,6 +252,15 @@ export const GallerySidebar: React.FC<GallerySidebarProps> = ({
                 className="w-full"
                 variant="compact"
               />
+              {/* Colour filter (#1044) */}
+              {colorLabelsEnabled && onColorFilterChange && (
+                <ColorLabelFilterChips
+                  className="mt-3"
+                  activeColors={activeColorFilters}
+                  onToggle={onColorFilterChange}
+                  counts={colorLabelCounts}
+                />
+              )}
             </div>
           )}
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/GalleryView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/GalleryView.tsx
index 3bb6eff2..585a5a6e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/GalleryView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/GalleryView.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useState, useMemo, useEffect } from 'react';
+import React, { useState, useMemo, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { differenceInDays, parseISO } from 'date-fns';
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import { useDevToolsProtection } from '../../hooks/useDevToolsProtection';
 import { api } from '../../config/api';
 import { Upload, Menu, Eye, EyeOff, Shield, X, Download } from 'lucide-react';
 import { galleryService } from '../../services/gallery.service';
-import { feedbackService } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+import { feedbackService, type ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
 import { useWatermarkSettings } from '../../hooks/useWatermarkSettings';
 import { useGalleryCustomCss } from '../../hooks/useGalleryCustomCss';
 import { usePublicSettings } from '../../hooks/usePublicSettings';
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
   // Multi-select feedback filters (#889): OR-combined; empty = "All".
   // Clicking a filter toggles it, clicking "All" clears the set.
   const [activeFilters, setActiveFilters] = useState<FeedbackFilterType[]>([]);
+  // Colour-label filters (#1044) live in their own slice rather than as five
+  // more members of FeedbackFilterType: every exhaustive
+  // Record<FeedbackFilterType, …> in this file and the chip components would
+  // otherwise have to grow to ten keys.
+  const [activeColorFilters, setActiveColorFilters] = useState<ColorLabel[]>([]);
 
   // People filter (#1074). Multi-select, AND by default — see the filter
   // block below. `peopleMatchAny` only becomes reachable once a second
@@ -639,6 +644,16 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
       });
     }
 
+    // Apply colour-label filters (#1044). Guest-scoped by construction:
+    // `my_color_label` is the requesting viewer's own label, which is what a
+    // proofing client means by "show me my greens". Composes with (ANDs
+    // against) every filter above, like the people filter.
+    if (activeColorFilters.length > 0) {
+      photos = photos.filter(photo =>
+        !!photo.my_color_label && activeColorFilters.includes(photo.my_color_label as ColorLabel)
+      );
+    }
+
     // Apply sorting
     // Each comparator defaults to its natural order (desc for dates/size/rating, asc for name).
     // The flip multiplier reverses that when sortDesc differs from the natural order.
@@ -679,7 +694,7 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
     }
     
     return photos;
-  }, [data?.photos, selectedCategoryId, searchTerm, sortBy, sortDesc, watermarkEnabled, slug, activeFilters, mediaFilter, isGuestIdentityMode, myFeedbackPhotoIds, selectedPersonIds, peopleMatchAny]);
+  }, [data?.photos, selectedCategoryId, searchTerm, sortBy, sortDesc, watermarkEnabled, slug, activeFilters, activeColorFilters, mediaFilter, isGuestIdentityMode, myFeedbackPhotoIds, selectedPersonIds, peopleMatchAny]);
 
   // Counts shown in the filter chips ("Liked (N)", etc.). In guest
   // mode these need to mirror the per-guest filter behaviour above —
@@ -703,6 +718,24 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
     return data?.photos?.filter(p => (p.total_ratings || 0) > 0 || (p.average_rating || 0) > 0).length || 0;
   }, [data?.photos, isGuestIdentityMode, myFeedbackPhotoIds]);
 
+  // Per-colour chip counts (#1044) — the viewer's own labels, matching what
+  // the filter actually selects.
+  const colorLabelCounts = useMemo(() => {
+    const counts: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>> = {};
+    for (const photo of data?.photos || []) {
+      const label = photo.my_color_label as ColorLabel | null | undefined;
+      if (!label) continue;
+      counts[label] = (counts[label] || 0) + 1;
+    }
+    return counts;
+  }, [data?.photos]);
+
+  const handleColorFilterToggle = useCallback((color: ColorLabel) => {
+    setActiveColorFilters(prev =>
+      prev.includes(color) ? prev.filter(c => c !== color) : [...prev, color]
+    );
+  }, []);
+
   // Check if downloads are allowed (both event setting and not expired)
   const allowDownloads = !isExpired && (data?.event?.allow_downloads === true);
 
@@ -1090,6 +1123,10 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
           likeCount={likeCount}
           favoriteCount={favoriteCount}
           ratedCount={ratedCount}
+          colorLabelsEnabled={!!feedbackSettings?.allow_color_labels}
+          activeColorFilters={activeColorFilters}
+          onColorFilterChange={handleColorFilterToggle}
+          colorLabelCounts={colorLabelCounts}
         />
       ) : null}
 
@@ -1237,6 +1274,10 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
             mediaFilter={mediaFilter}
             onMediaFilterChange={setMediaFilter}
             showMediaFilter={showMediaFilter}
+            colorLabelsEnabled={!!feedbackSettings?.allow_color_labels}
+            activeColorFilters={activeColorFilters}
+            onColorFilterChange={handleColorFilterToggle}
+            colorLabelCounts={colorLabelCounts}
           />
         </div>
       ) : null}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoCard.tsx
index acd09954..412ef6f6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoCard.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { AuthenticatedImage } from '../common';
 import { thumbnailUrlForTile } from './imageTiers';
 import { FeedbackIdentityModal } from './FeedbackIdentityModal';
 import { feedbackService } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+import { ColorLabelBadge } from './ColorLabelBadge';
 import { useGuestIdentityOptional } from '../../contexts/GuestIdentityContext';
 import type { Photo } from '../../types';
 
@@ -378,6 +379,11 @@ export const PhotoCard: React.FC<PhotoCardProps> = ({
         <>
           <AuthenticatedImage {...imageProps} src={tileSrc} />
 
+          {/* The guest's own colour label (#1044) — visible without hovering
+              or opening anything, which is the point: the client watches
+              their selection progress across the grid. */}
+          <ColorLabelBadge colorLabel={photo.my_color_label} />
+
           {beforeOverlay}
 
           {/* Hover Overlay */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoColorLabels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoColorLabels.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..25952c92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoColorLabels.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import {
+  feedbackService,
+  COLOR_LABELS,
+  COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES,
+  type ColorLabel,
+} from '../../services/feedback.service';
+import { toast } from 'react-toastify';
+import { FeedbackIdentityModal } from './FeedbackIdentityModal';
+import { useGuestIdentityOptional } from '../../contexts/GuestIdentityContext';
+
+interface PhotoColorLabelsProps {
+  photoId: string;
+  gallerySlug: string;
+  /** The guest's current colour label, or null. */
+  myColorLabel: ColorLabel | null;
+  /** Per-colour visible counts, e.g. { green: 3 }. */
+  colorLabelCounts?: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>>;
+  isEnabled: boolean;
+  requireNameEmail?: boolean;
+  /** Keyboard hint to show under each swatch, e.g. { green: '1' }. */
+  shortcutHints?: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, string>>;
+  onColorLabelChange?: (label: ColorLabel | null) => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Colour-label picker (#1044): one label per guest per photo, changeable —
+ * tapping the current colour removes it, tapping another switches. Same
+ * contract and identity handling as PhotoReactions; the labels are
+ * Lightroom's five colours so a selection round-trips into the catalogue.
+ */
+export const PhotoColorLabels: React.FC<PhotoColorLabelsProps> = ({
+  photoId,
+  gallerySlug,
+  myColorLabel,
+  colorLabelCounts = {},
+  isEnabled,
+  requireNameEmail = false,
+  shortcutHints = {},
+  onColorLabelChange
+}) => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const guestIdentity = useGuestIdentityOptional();
+  const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false);
+  const [showIdentityModal, setShowIdentityModal] = useState(false);
+  const [savedIdentity, setSavedIdentity] = useState<{ name: string; email: string } | null>(null);
+  const [pendingColor, setPendingColor] = useState<ColorLabel | null>(null);
+
+  const colorName = (color: ColorLabel) => t(`feedback.colorLabels.${color}`, color);
+
+  const submitColorLabelMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (data: { color: ColorLabel; guest_name?: string; guest_email?: string }) =>
+      feedbackService.submitFeedback(gallerySlug, photoId, {
+        feedback_type: 'color_label',
+        color_label: data.color,
+        guest_name: data.guest_name || undefined,
+        guest_email: data.guest_email || undefined
+      }),
+    onMutate: async (data) => {
+      setIsSubmitting(true);
+      // Optimistic update: the same colour toggles off, another switches. The
+      // PRE-mutation value travels via the mutation context — the onError
+      // closure sees the post-optimistic render, so reading `myColorLabel`
+      // there would "revert" to the already-wrong state.
+      const previousColor = myColorLabel;
+      if (onColorLabelChange) {
+        onColorLabelChange(data.color === previousColor ? null : data.color);
+      }
+      return { previousColor };
+    },
+    onSuccess: () => {
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photo-feedback', gallerySlug, photoId] });
+    },
+    onError: (_error, _data, context) => {
+      if (onColorLabelChange) {
+        onColorLabelChange(context?.previousColor ?? null); // revert optimistic update
+      }
+      toast.error(t('feedback.colorLabelError', 'Failed to update color label'));
+    },
+    onSettled: () => {
+      setIsSubmitting(false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  const handleColorClick = async (color: ColorLabel) => {
+    if (!isEnabled || isSubmitting) return;
+
+    // Guest identity mode: ensure a per-person guest token; the server reads
+    // name/email from the token — body values are ignored.
+    if (guestIdentity?.identityMode === 'guest') {
+      try {
+        await guestIdentity.ensureIdentity();
+      } catch {
+        return; // user cancelled the prompt
+      }
+      submitColorLabelMutation.mutate({ color });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Simple mode: legacy inline prompt flow.
+    if (requireNameEmail && !savedIdentity) {
+      setPendingColor(color);
+      setShowIdentityModal(true);
+    } else {
+      submitColorLabelMutation.mutate({
+        color,
+        ...(savedIdentity ? { guest_name: savedIdentity.name, guest_email: savedIdentity.email } : {})
+      });
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleIdentitySubmit = (name: string, email: string) => {
+    setSavedIdentity({ name, email });
+    setShowIdentityModal(false);
+    if (pendingColor) {
+      submitColorLabelMutation.mutate({ color: pendingColor, guest_name: name, guest_email: email });
+      setPendingColor(null);
+    }
+  };
+
+  if (!isEnabled) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <div
+        className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5"
+        role="group"
+        aria-label={t('feedback.colorLabelsTitle', 'Color labels')}
+      >
+        {COLOR_LABELS.map((color) => {
+          const count = colorLabelCounts[color] || 0;
+          const isMine = myColorLabel === color;
+          const swatch = COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color];
+          const shortcut = shortcutHints[color];
+          return (
+            <button
+              key={color}
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => handleColorClick(color)}
+              disabled={isSubmitting}
+              className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 pl-1.5 pr-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-full text-sm transition-all ${
+                isMine
+                  ? 'bg-primary-100 dark:bg-primary-900/40 ring-1 ring-primary-500 scale-105'
+                  : 'bg-surface text-muted-theme hover:bg-black/10 hover:scale-105'
+              } ${isSubmitting ? 'cursor-not-allowed opacity-50' : 'cursor-pointer'}`}
+              aria-pressed={isMine}
+              // The colour is the only visual difference between these five
+              // buttons, so the name has to carry it for anyone who can't
+              // distinguish them.
+              aria-label={isMine
+                ? t('feedback.removeColorLabel', 'Remove {{color}} label', { color: colorName(color) })
+                : t('feedback.setColorLabel', 'Mark as {{color}}', { color: colorName(color) })}
+              title={shortcut
+                ? `${colorName(color)} (${shortcut})`
+                : colorName(color)}
+            >
+              <span
+                className="w-4 h-4 rounded-full border shrink-0"
+                style={{ backgroundColor: swatch.fill, borderColor: swatch.ring }}
+                aria-hidden="true"
+              />
+              {shortcut && (
+                <span className="text-[10px] font-semibold opacity-70 leading-none" aria-hidden="true">
+                  {shortcut}
+                </span>
+              )}
+              {count > 0 && <span className="font-medium">{count}</span>}
+            </button>
+          );
+        })}
+      </div>
+      <FeedbackIdentityModal
+        isOpen={showIdentityModal}
+        onClose={() => { setShowIdentityModal(false); setPendingColor(null); }}
+        onSubmit={handleIdentitySubmit}
+        feedbackType={t('feedback.colorLabel', 'color label')}
+      />
+    </>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoFilterBar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoFilterBar.tsx
index c329c355..01b4e182 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoFilterBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoFilterBar.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { Search, SortAsc, SortDesc, Grid, Heart, Star, MessageSquare, Bookmark }
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { Button, Input } from '../common';
 import type { FilterType, FeedbackFilterType } from './GalleryFilter';
+import { ColorLabelFilterChips } from './ColorLabelFilterChips';
+import type { ColorLabel } from '../../services/feedback.service';
 
 interface PhotoCategory {
   id: number | string;
@@ -40,6 +42,12 @@ interface PhotoFilterBarProps {
   mediaFilter?: 'all' | 'photo' | 'video';
   onMediaFilterChange?: (filter: 'all' | 'photo' | 'video') => void;
   showMediaFilter?: boolean;
+  // Colour-label filters (#1044). Their own slice rather than more members
+  // of FilterType — see the note in GalleryView.
+  colorLabelsEnabled?: boolean;
+  activeColorFilters?: ColorLabel[];
+  onColorFilterChange?: (color: ColorLabel) => void;
+  colorLabelCounts?: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>>;
 }
 
 export const PhotoFilterBar: React.FC<PhotoFilterBarProps> = ({
@@ -59,7 +67,11 @@ export const PhotoFilterBar: React.FC<PhotoFilterBarProps> = ({
   onFilterChange,
   mediaFilter = 'all',
   onMediaFilterChange,
-  showMediaFilter = false
+  showMediaFilter = false,
+  colorLabelsEnabled = false,
+  activeColorFilters = [],
+  onColorFilterChange,
+  colorLabelCounts = {}
 }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const [showSortMenu, setShowSortMenu] = useState(false);
@@ -291,6 +303,16 @@ export const PhotoFilterBar: React.FC<PhotoFilterBarProps> = ({
               </div>
             )}
 
+            {/* Colour filter (#1044), desktop */}
+            {feedbackEnabled && colorLabelsEnabled && onColorFilterChange && (
+              <ColorLabelFilterChips
+                className="hidden lg:flex flex-shrink-0"
+                activeColors={activeColorFilters}
+                onToggle={onColorFilterChange}
+                counts={colorLabelCounts}
+              />
+            )}
+
             {/* Without categories this row only carries desktop content (the
                 chips are lg-only; mobile has its own block below), so hide
                 the count below lg to keep the mobile layout unchanged. */}
@@ -389,6 +411,16 @@ export const PhotoFilterBar: React.FC<PhotoFilterBarProps> = ({
             </div>
           </div>
         )}
+
+        {/* Colour filter (#1044), mobile/tablet */}
+        {feedbackEnabled && colorLabelsEnabled && onColorFilterChange && (
+          <ColorLabelFilterChips
+            className="flex lg:hidden"
+            activeColors={activeColorFilters}
+            onToggle={onColorFilterChange}
+            counts={colorLabelCounts}
+          />
+        )}
       </div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoLightbox.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoLightbox.tsx
index f40b6e9b..2c0cc569 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoLightbox.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/PhotoLightbox.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import { useSavePhotoToDevice } from '../../hooks/useGallery';
 import { AuthenticatedImage } from '../common';
 import { PhotoFeedback } from './PhotoFeedback';
 import { previewUrlForViewport } from './imageTiers';
-import { feedbackService } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+import { feedbackService, type ColorLabel, type KeybindMode } from '../../services/feedback.service';
+import { PhotoColorLabels } from './PhotoColorLabels';
+import { resolveFeedbackKey, colorShortcutHints } from '../../utils/feedbackKeybinds';
 import { galleryService } from '../../services/gallery.service';
 import { FeedbackIdentityModal } from './FeedbackIdentityModal';
 import { VideoPlayer } from './VideoPlayer';
@@ -93,19 +95,25 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
     allow_ratings?: boolean;
     allow_comments?: boolean;
     allow_reactions?: boolean;
+    allow_color_labels?: boolean;
+    keybind_mode?: KeybindMode;
     show_feedback_to_guests?: boolean;
     require_name_email?: boolean;
   } | null>(null);
   const [myLiked, setMyLiked] = useState<boolean>(false);
   const [myRating, setMyRating] = useState<number>(0);
+  const [myColorLabel, setMyColorLabel] = useState<ColorLabel | null>(null);
+  const [colorLabelCounts, setColorLabelCounts] = useState<Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>>>({});
   const [likeCount, setLikeCount] = useState<number>(0);
   const [avgRating, setAvgRating] = useState<number>(0);
   const [totalRatings, setTotalRatings] = useState<number>(0);
   const [savedIdentity, setSavedIdentity] = useState<{ name: string; email: string } | null>(null);
   const [showIdentityModal, setShowIdentityModal] = useState(false);
-  const [pendingAction, setPendingAction] = useState<null | { type: 'like' | 'rating'; rating?: number }>(null);
+  const [pendingAction, setPendingAction] = useState<null | { type: 'like' | 'rating' | 'color_label'; rating?: number; color?: ColorLabel }>(null);
   const guestIdentity = useGuestIdentityOptional();
   const isGuestMode = guestIdentity?.identityMode === 'guest';
+  // Which shortcut scheme this gallery uses (#1044).
+  const keybindMode: KeybindMode = feedbackSettings?.keybind_mode || 'colors';
   // Per-guest cap modal (#655) — shared across every submitFeedback call site
   // in the lightbox (guest mode, simple mode, identity-modal-confirm path).
   const { modal: limitModal, handleError: handleLimitError } = useFeedbackLimitModal();
@@ -224,6 +232,21 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
     };
   }, [disableRightClick]);
 
+  // The keydown effect below is registered with [currentIndex] deps, so its
+  // closure would still hold the settings from the moment the lightbox
+  // opened — i.e. `null`, since they load asynchronously, leaving every
+  // proofing shortcut dead until the user changed photo. A ref refreshed on
+  // every render keeps the handler reading current state without
+  // re-registering the listener on each keystroke's worth of state change.
+  const proofingRef = useRef({
+    feedbackEnabled: false,
+    allowColorLabels: false,
+    allowRatings: false,
+    keybindMode: 'colors' as KeybindMode,
+    myRating: 0,
+    submitColorLabel: (async () => {}) as (color: ColorLabel | null) => Promise<void>,
+    submitRating: (async () => {}) as (value: number) => Promise<void>,
+  });
   useEffect(() => {
     const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
       switch (e.key) {
@@ -250,6 +273,30 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
             handleDownload();
           }
           break;
+        default: {
+          // Proofing shortcuts (#1044). Resolved from the event's keybind
+          // scheme so 1/2/3 mean colours in colour-only mode and stars in
+          // Lightroom mode; the helper ignores modified keys and anything
+          // typed into a field.
+          const proofing = proofingRef.current;
+          if (!proofing.feedbackEnabled) break;
+          const action = resolveFeedbackKey(e, {
+            mode: proofing.keybindMode,
+            allowColorLabels: proofing.allowColorLabels,
+            allowRatings: proofing.allowRatings,
+          });
+          if (!action) break;
+          e.preventDefault();
+          if (action.type === 'color') {
+            void proofing.submitColorLabel(action.color);
+          } else if (action.type === 'rating') {
+            // Pressing the current rating again clears it (#884).
+            void proofing.submitRating(action.value === proofing.myRating ? 0 : action.value);
+          } else {
+            void proofing.submitColorLabel(null);
+          }
+          break;
+        }
       }
     };
 
@@ -296,6 +343,8 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
         if (!mounted) return;
         setMyLiked(!!data.my_feedback.liked);
         setMyRating(data.my_feedback.rating || 0);
+        setMyColorLabel((data.my_feedback.color_label as ColorLabel) || null);
+        setColorLabelCounts(data.color_labels || {});
         setLikeCount(Number(data.summary?.like_count) || 0);
         setAvgRating(Number(data.summary?.average_rating) || 0);
         setTotalRatings(Number(data.summary?.total_ratings) || 0);
@@ -417,6 +466,72 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
     if (onFeedbackChange) onFeedbackChange();
   };
 
+  /**
+   * Set / switch / clear the guest's colour label (#1044). Same identity
+   * handling as submitLike above; `null` means "clear", which the backend
+   * expresses as submitting the current colour again.
+   */
+  const submitColorLabel = async (color: ColorLabel | null) => {
+    if (!feedbackSettings?.allow_color_labels) return;
+    // Clearing means re-submitting the current colour — the backend toggles
+    // a repeat submission off. With nothing set there is nothing to clear.
+    const value = color ?? myColorLabel;
+    if (!value) return;
+    const willBeSet = value === myColorLabel ? null : value;
+
+    if (isGuestMode && guestIdentity) {
+      try {
+        await guestIdentity.ensureIdentity();
+      } catch {
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        await feedbackService.submitFeedback(slug, String(currentPhoto.id), {
+          feedback_type: 'color_label',
+          color_label: value,
+        });
+        setMyColorLabel(willBeSet);
+        if (onFeedbackChange) onFeedbackChange();
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (handleLimitError(err)) return;
+        console.warn('Color label submit failed', err);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const needIdentity = feedbackSettings?.require_name_email && !savedIdentity;
+    if (needIdentity) {
+      setPendingAction({ type: 'color_label', color: value });
+      setShowIdentityModal(true);
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      await feedbackService.submitFeedback(slug, String(currentPhoto.id), {
+        feedback_type: 'color_label',
+        color_label: value,
+        guest_name: savedIdentity?.name,
+        guest_email: savedIdentity?.email,
+      });
+      setMyColorLabel(willBeSet);
+      if (onFeedbackChange) onFeedbackChange();
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (handleLimitError(err)) return;
+      console.warn('Color label submit failed', err);
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Refreshed on every render (see the ref's declaration above): the keydown
+  // listener reads current settings and handlers without being re-registered.
+  proofingRef.current = {
+    feedbackEnabled: !!feedbackEnabled && !!feedbackSettings?.feedback_enabled,
+    allowColorLabels: !!feedbackSettings?.allow_color_labels,
+    allowRatings: !!feedbackSettings?.allow_ratings,
+    keybindMode,
+    myRating,
+    submitColorLabel,
+    submitRating,
+  };
+
   const goToPrevious = () => {
     setCurrentIndex((prev) => (prev > 0 ? prev - 1 : photos.length - 1));
     resetZoom();
@@ -927,6 +1042,27 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
               </div>
             )}
             
+            {/* Inline color labels (#1044). In the toolbar rather than the
+                feedback panel: the whole point is a fast keyboard/click
+                proofing pass, which a panel toggle would interrupt. */}
+            {feedbackEnabled && feedbackSettings?.allow_color_labels && (
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-1 ml-1">
+                <PhotoColorLabels
+                  photoId={String(currentPhoto.id)}
+                  gallerySlug={slug}
+                  myColorLabel={myColorLabel}
+                  colorLabelCounts={feedbackSettings?.show_feedback_to_guests ? colorLabelCounts : {}}
+                  isEnabled
+                  requireNameEmail={!!feedbackSettings?.require_name_email}
+                  shortcutHints={colorShortcutHints(keybindMode)}
+                  onColorLabelChange={(label) => {
+                    setMyColorLabel(label);
+                    if (onFeedbackChange) onFeedbackChange();
+                  }}
+                />
+              </div>
+            )}
+
             {/* Feedback button with indicator. Likes/ratings have their
                 own dedicated toolbar buttons above, so this panel toggle
                 only has work to do when comments (#518) or the emoji
@@ -1197,13 +1333,29 @@ export const PhotoLightbox: React.FC<PhotoLightboxProps> = ({
               setAvgRating(Number(fresh.summary?.average_rating) || 0);
               setTotalRatings(Number(fresh.summary?.total_ratings) || 0);
             } catch {}
+          } else if (pendingAction?.type === 'color_label' && pendingAction.color) {
+            try {
+              await feedbackService.submitFeedback(slug, String(currentPhoto.id), {
+                feedback_type: 'color_label',
+                color_label: pendingAction.color,
+                guest_name: name,
+                guest_email: email,
+              });
+              setMyColorLabel(pendingAction.color === myColorLabel ? null : pendingAction.color);
+            } catch (err) {
+              if (!handleLimitError(err)) throw err;
+            }
           }
           // Sync gallery photo list (feedback filter chips) — parity with
           // the direct submit paths.
           if (onFeedbackChange) onFeedbackChange();
           setPendingAction(null);
         }}
-        feedbackType={pendingAction?.type === 'rating' ? 'rating' : 'like'}
+        feedbackType={
+          pendingAction?.type === 'rating' ? 'rating'
+            : pendingAction?.type === 'color_label' ? 'color label'
+              : 'like'
+        }
       />
       {/* Per-guest cap modal (#655). Single instance fires for any of the
           lightbox's submitFeedback paths via the shared hook. */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/GalleryPremiumLayout.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/GalleryPremiumLayout.tsx
index 743e2c9e..5699dbf8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/GalleryPremiumLayout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/GalleryPremiumLayout.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import Download from 'yet-another-react-lightbox/plugins/download';
 import Captions from 'yet-another-react-lightbox/plugins/captions';
 import 'yet-another-react-lightbox/styles.css';
 import 'yet-another-react-lightbox/plugins/thumbnails.css';
+import { ColorLabelBadge } from '../ColorLabelBadge';
 import 'yet-another-react-lightbox/plugins/captions.css';
 import { motion, AnimatePresence } from 'framer-motion';
 import { Download as DownloadIcon, Heart, Check, Star, MessageSquare, Package, LogOut } from 'lucide-react';
@@ -130,6 +131,9 @@ const PhotoCard: React.FC<PhotoCardProps> = ({
         useCanvasRendering={useCanvasRendering || protectionLevel === 'maximum'}
       />
 
+      {/* Colour label (#1044) — same badge every layout uses. */}
+      <ColorLabelBadge colorLabel={photo.my_color_label} />
+
       {/* Overlay Gradient */}
       <div className="gallery-premium-photo-overlay" />
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/story/StoryPhotoCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/story/StoryPhotoCard.tsx
index 2bd4e0ca..dd3374bd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/story/StoryPhotoCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/layouts/story/StoryPhotoCard.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { motion } from 'framer-motion';
 import { Heart } from 'lucide-react';
 import { AuthenticatedImage } from '../../../common';
+import { ColorLabelBadge } from '../../ColorLabelBadge';
 import type { Photo } from '../../../../types';
 
 interface StoryPhotoCardProps {
@@ -78,6 +79,9 @@ export const StoryPhotoCard: React.FC<StoryPhotoCardProps> = ({
         />
       </a>
 
+      {/* Colour label (#1044) — same badge every layout uses. */}
+      <ColorLabelBadge colorLabel={photo.my_color_label} />
+
       {/* Overlay */}
       <div className="story-photo-card-overlay" />
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/features/settings/hooks/useSettingsState.ts b/frontend/src/features/settings/hooks/useSettingsState.ts
index 37ad7f1d..3d45d4e9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/settings/hooks/useSettingsState.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/features/settings/hooks/useSettingsState.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ export interface EventSettings {
   event_require_expiration: boolean;
   event_default_require_password: boolean;
   event_default_feedback_enabled: boolean;
+  // Per-type guest-feedback defaults for new galleries (#1044). These are
+  // DEFAULTS: changing one never touches a gallery that already exists.
+  event_default_allow_ratings: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_likes: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_favorites: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_comments: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_reactions: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_color_labels: boolean;
+  event_default_keybind_mode: 'colors' | 'lightroom';
   gallery_show_filter_bar: boolean;
   event_phone_field_enabled: boolean;
 }
@@ -177,6 +186,13 @@ export function useSettingsState() {
     event_require_expiration: true,
     event_default_require_password: true,
     event_default_feedback_enabled: false,
+    event_default_allow_ratings: true,
+    event_default_allow_likes: true,
+    event_default_allow_favorites: true,
+    event_default_allow_comments: true,
+    event_default_allow_reactions: true,
+    event_default_allow_color_labels: false,
+    event_default_keybind_mode: 'colors',
     gallery_show_filter_bar: true,
     event_phone_field_enabled: false
   });
@@ -285,6 +301,15 @@ export function useSettingsState() {
         event_require_expiration: toBoolean(settings.event_require_expiration, true),
         event_default_require_password: toBoolean(settings.event_default_require_password, true),
         event_default_feedback_enabled: toBoolean(settings.event_default_feedback_enabled, false),
+        // Fallbacks mirror FEEDBACK_TOGGLES in backend
+        // services/feedbackDefaults.js — keep the two in step.
+        event_default_allow_ratings: toBoolean(settings.event_default_allow_ratings, true),
+        event_default_allow_likes: toBoolean(settings.event_default_allow_likes, true),
+        event_default_allow_favorites: toBoolean(settings.event_default_allow_favorites, true),
+        event_default_allow_comments: toBoolean(settings.event_default_allow_comments, true),
+        event_default_allow_reactions: toBoolean(settings.event_default_allow_reactions, true),
+        event_default_allow_color_labels: toBoolean(settings.event_default_allow_color_labels, false),
+        event_default_keybind_mode: settings.event_default_keybind_mode === 'lightroom' ? 'lightroom' : 'colors',
         gallery_show_filter_bar: toBoolean(settings.gallery_show_filter_bar, true),
         event_phone_field_enabled: toBoolean(settings.event_phone_field_enabled, false)
       });
diff --git a/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/EventsTab.tsx b/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/EventsTab.tsx
index 5907c724..7a81ea60 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/EventsTab.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/EventsTab.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Save, AlertCircle } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button, Card } from '../../../components/common';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import type { EventSettings } from '../hooks/useSettingsState';
+import { COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES, COLOR_LABELS } from '../../../services/feedback.service';
 
 interface EventsTabProps {
   eventSettings: EventSettings;
@@ -13,6 +14,25 @@ interface EventsTabProps {
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * The per-type feedback defaults, in the order the per-event panel shows
+ * them. Mirrors FEEDBACK_TOGGLES in backend services/feedbackDefaults.js.
+ */
+const FEEDBACK_TYPE_DEFAULTS: Array<{
+  key: 'event_default_allow_ratings' | 'event_default_allow_likes'
+    | 'event_default_allow_favorites' | 'event_default_allow_comments'
+    | 'event_default_allow_reactions' | 'event_default_allow_color_labels';
+  label: string;
+  fallback: string;
+}> = [
+  { key: 'event_default_allow_ratings', label: 'settings.events.defaultAllowRatings', fallback: 'Star ratings' },
+  { key: 'event_default_allow_likes', label: 'settings.events.defaultAllowLikes', fallback: 'Likes' },
+  { key: 'event_default_allow_favorites', label: 'settings.events.defaultAllowFavorites', fallback: 'Favourites' },
+  { key: 'event_default_allow_comments', label: 'settings.events.defaultAllowComments', fallback: 'Comments' },
+  { key: 'event_default_allow_reactions', label: 'settings.events.defaultAllowReactions', fallback: 'Emoji reactions' },
+  { key: 'event_default_allow_color_labels', label: 'settings.events.defaultAllowColorLabels', fallback: 'Color labels' },
+];
+
 export const EventsTab: React.FC<EventsTabProps> = ({
   eventSettings,
   setEventSettings,
@@ -188,6 +208,79 @@ export const EventsTab: React.FC<EventsTabProps> = ({
             </label>
           </div>
 
+          {/* Per-type guest-feedback defaults (#1044). Defaults for NEW
+              galleries — existing galleries keep whatever they were created
+              with, so flipping one here can never change a gallery a client
+              is in the middle of. Greyed out rather than hidden while the
+              master default is off, so the options stay discoverable. */}
+          <div
+            className={`ml-7 pl-4 border-l border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 space-y-3 ${
+              eventSettings.event_default_feedback_enabled ? '' : 'opacity-50'
+            }`}
+          >
+            <p className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+              {t(
+                'settings.events.feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp',
+                'Which feedback types new galleries start with. Existing galleries are not affected — each gallery can still be changed individually.'
+              )}
+            </p>
+
+            {FEEDBACK_TYPE_DEFAULTS.map(({ key, label, fallback }) => (
+              <label key={key} className="flex items-start gap-3">
+                <input
+                  type="checkbox"
+                  disabled={!eventSettings.event_default_feedback_enabled}
+                  checked={eventSettings[key]}
+                  onChange={(e) => setEventSettings(prev => ({ ...prev, [key]: e.target.checked }))}
+                  className="mt-1 w-4 h-4 text-primary-600 rounded focus:ring-primary-500"
+                />
+                <span className="text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 flex items-center gap-2">
+                  {t(label, fallback)}
+                  {key === 'event_default_allow_color_labels' && (
+                    <span className="flex items-center gap-1" aria-hidden="true">
+                      {COLOR_LABELS.map((color) => (
+                        <span
+                          key={color}
+                          className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full border"
+                          style={{
+                            backgroundColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color].fill,
+                            borderColor: COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES[color].ring,
+                          }}
+                        />
+                      ))}
+                    </span>
+                  )}
+                </span>
+              </label>
+            ))}
+
+            <div>
+              <label
+                className="block text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 mb-1"
+                htmlFor="event_default_keybind_mode"
+              >
+                {t('settings.events.defaultKeybindMode', 'Default lightbox shortcuts')}
+              </label>
+              <select
+                id="event_default_keybind_mode"
+                disabled={!eventSettings.event_default_feedback_enabled}
+                value={eventSettings.event_default_keybind_mode}
+                onChange={(e) => setEventSettings(prev => ({
+                  ...prev,
+                  event_default_keybind_mode: e.target.value === 'lightroom' ? 'lightroom' : 'colors',
+                }))}
+                className="w-full max-w-sm px-3 py-2 border border-neutral-300 dark:border-neutral-600 rounded-lg bg-white dark:bg-neutral-800 text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100 text-sm"
+              >
+                <option value="colors">
+                  {t('settings.events.keybindColors', 'Colors only — 1 green, 2 yellow, 3 red')}
+                </option>
+                <option value="lightroom">
+                  {t('settings.events.keybindLightroom', 'Lightroom — 1-5 stars, 6-9 colors')}
+                </option>
+              </select>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           <div>
             <label className="flex items-start gap-3">
               <input
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json
index 55623955..fa8c4711 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json
@@ -1084,7 +1084,9 @@
       "privacyNote": "Personen werden automatisch innerhalb dieser Galerie erkannt. Es werden keine Daten an externe Dienste gesendet.",
       "inThisPhoto": "Auf diesem Foto:",
       "downloadThese": "Diese {{count}} herunterladen"
-    }
+    },
+    "colorFilter": "Farbe",
+    "filterByColor": "Nur {{color}} anzeigen"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Fotokategorien",
@@ -1659,7 +1661,17 @@
       "enablePhoneField": "Telefonnummer-Feld aktivieren",
       "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Fügt ein optionales Telefonnummer-Eingabefeld zum Veranstaltungsformular hinzu. Nützlich für Folgeautomatisierungen wie WhatsApp-Zustellung via n8n. Immer optional, auch wenn aktiviert.",
       "defaultFeedbackEnabled": "Gäste-Feedback standardmäßig aktivieren",
-      "defaultFeedbackEnabledHelp": "Vorbelegt \"Gäste-Feedback\" beim Erstellen neuer Events. Einzelne Feedback-Optionen (Likes, Bewertungen, Kommentare) bleiben pro Event anpassbar."
+      "defaultFeedbackEnabledHelp": "Vorbelegt \"Gäste-Feedback\" beim Erstellen neuer Events. Einzelne Feedback-Optionen (Likes, Bewertungen, Kommentare) bleiben pro Event anpassbar.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "Welche Feedback-Typen neue Galerien standardmäßig erhalten. Bestehende Galerien bleiben unverändert – jede Galerie lässt sich weiterhin einzeln anpassen.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Sternebewertung",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Likes",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Favoriten",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Kommentare",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Emoji-Reaktionen",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Farbmarkierungen",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Standard-Tastenkürzel in der Großansicht",
+      "keybindColors": "Nur Farben – 1 Grün, 2 Gelb, 3 Rot",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom – 1–5 Sterne, 6–9 Farben"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Bildschutz",
@@ -2881,7 +2893,15 @@
         "views": "Aufrufe",
         "downloads": "Downloads",
         "likes": "Likes"
-      }
+      },
+      "myMarks": "Deine Markierungen",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Nur für dich sichtbar. Sie erscheinen nie in der Kundengalerie und werden als XMP nach Lightroom exportiert.",
+      "myRating": "Deine Bewertung",
+      "clearRating": "Deine Bewertung entfernen",
+      "rateStars": "Mit {{count}} Sternen bewerten",
+      "markError": "Markierung konnte nicht gespeichert werden",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Deine Markierung: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Deine Bewertung: {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -2937,7 +2957,8 @@
         "comments": "Kommentare",
         "ratings": "Bewertungen",
         "reactions": "Reaktionen",
-        "lastSeen": "Zuletzt gesehen"
+        "lastSeen": "Zuletzt gesehen",
+        "colorLabels": "Farbmarkierungen"
       },
       "view": "Details anzeigen",
       "export": "Exportieren",
@@ -2951,7 +2972,8 @@
         "favorited": "Favorisiert",
         "rated": "Bewertet",
         "reacted": "Reagiert",
-        "commented": "Kommentiert"
+        "commented": "Kommentiert",
+        "labeled": "Farbmarkierungen"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "Ausstehend",
@@ -3682,7 +3704,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Ratenbegrenzung aktivieren",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Spam durch Begrenzung der Feedback-Häufigkeit verhindern",
       "timeWindow": "Zeitfenster (Minuten)",
-      "maxRequests": "Maximale Anfragen"
+      "maxRequests": "Maximale Anfragen",
+      "colorLabels": "Farbmarkierungen",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Eine Farbe pro Gast und Foto – im Farbschema von Lightroom, damit die Auswahl per XMP übernommen werden kann",
+      "keybindMode": "Tastenkürzel",
+      "keybindColors": "Nur Farben (am einfachsten)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = Grün (1. Wahl), 2 = Gelb (2. Wahl), 3 = Rot (aussortiert)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom-Standard",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1–5 vergeben Sterne, 6–9 setzen Rot / Gelb / Grün / Blau"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Feedback-Einstellungen aktualisiert",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Einstellungen konnten nicht aktualisiert werden",
@@ -3768,7 +3797,20 @@
     "viewAllFeedback": "Gesamtes Feedback & Einstellungen anzeigen",
     "exportShapeLabel": "Form",
     "exportShapeLong": "Pro Aktion (lang)",
-    "exportShapePivot": "Pro Gast (pivot)"
+    "exportShapePivot": "Pro Gast (pivot)",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Rot",
+      "yellow": "Gelb",
+      "green": "Grün",
+      "blue": "Blau",
+      "purple": "Violett"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "Farbmarkierung",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Farbmarkierungen",
+    "colorLabelError": "Farbmarkierung konnte nicht gespeichert werden",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Markierung {{color}} entfernen",
+    "setColorLabel": "Als {{color}} markieren",
+    "markedAs": "Markiert als {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Feedback-Filter",
@@ -3786,7 +3828,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ Sterne",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ Sterne",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ Sterne",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "Nur 5 Sterne"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "Nur 5 Sterne",
+    "colorLabels": "Farbmarkierungen",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Nur {{color}} anzeigen",
+    "myColorLabels": "Deine Markierungen",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Nur meine Markierungen in {{color}} anzeigen"
   },
   "export": {
     "button": "Exportieren",
@@ -3806,7 +3852,10 @@
       "copied": "In die Zwischenablage kopiert.",
       "copyFailed": "Zugriff auf die Zwischenablage blockiert. Bitte den Text markieren und manuell kopieren.",
       "download": "Als Datei herunterladen"
-    }
+    },
+    "markSource": "XMP-Sterne & -Farbe aus",
+    "markSourceClient": "Kundenauswahl",
+    "markSourceMine": "Deine Markierungen"
   },
   "slideshow": {
     "adminTitle": "Live-Diashow",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 0f36b611..05f545ee 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -625,7 +625,9 @@
       "privacyNote": "People are detected automatically inside this gallery. Nothing is sent to any external service.",
       "inThisPhoto": "In this photo:",
       "downloadThese": "Download these {{count}}"
-    }
+    },
+    "colorFilter": "Color",
+    "filterByColor": "Show only {{color}}"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Photo Categories",
@@ -1263,7 +1265,17 @@
       "enablePhoneField": "Enable phone number field",
       "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Adds an optional phone number input to the event form. Useful for downstream automations like WhatsApp delivery via n8n. Always optional even when enabled.",
       "defaultFeedbackEnabled": "Enable Guest Feedback by default",
-      "defaultFeedbackEnabledHelp": "Pre-check \"Guest Feedback\" when creating new events. Individual feedback options (likes, ratings, comments) can still be customised per event."
+      "defaultFeedbackEnabledHelp": "Pre-check \"Guest Feedback\" when creating new events. Individual feedback options (likes, ratings, comments) can still be customised per event.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "Which feedback types new galleries start with. Existing galleries are not affected — each gallery can still be changed individually.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Star ratings",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Likes",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Favorites",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Comments",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Emoji reactions",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Color labels",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Default lightbox shortcuts",
+      "keybindColors": "Colors only — 1 green, 2 yellow, 3 red",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom — 1-5 stars, 6-9 colors"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Image Protection",
@@ -2453,7 +2465,15 @@
         "views": "Views",
         "downloads": "Downloads",
         "likes": "Likes"
-      }
+      },
+      "myMarks": "Your marks",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Only you see these. They never appear in the client gallery, and they export to Lightroom as XMP.",
+      "myRating": "Your rating",
+      "clearRating": "Clear your rating",
+      "rateStars": "Rate {{count}} stars",
+      "markError": "Failed to save your mark",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Your mark: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Your rating: {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -2509,7 +2529,8 @@
         "comments": "Comments",
         "ratings": "Ratings",
         "reactions": "Reactions",
-        "lastSeen": "Last seen"
+        "lastSeen": "Last seen",
+        "colorLabels": "Color labels"
       },
       "view": "View details",
       "export": "Export",
@@ -2523,7 +2544,8 @@
         "favorited": "Favorited",
         "rated": "Rated",
         "reacted": "Reacted",
-        "commented": "Commented"
+        "commented": "Commented",
+        "labeled": "Color labels"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "Pending",
@@ -3703,7 +3725,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Enable Rate Limiting",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Prevent spam by limiting feedback frequency",
       "timeWindow": "Time Window (minutes)",
-      "maxRequests": "Max Requests"
+      "maxRequests": "Max Requests",
+      "colorLabels": "Color Labels",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "One color per guest per photo, using Lightroom's color set so selections carry over via XMP",
+      "keybindMode": "Keyboard shortcuts",
+      "keybindColors": "Colors only (simplest)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = green (1st choice), 2 = yellow (2nd choice), 3 = red (rejected)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom defaults",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1-5 set the star rating, 6-9 set red / yellow / green / blue"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Feedback settings updated",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Failed to update settings",
@@ -3789,7 +3818,20 @@
     "viewAllFeedback": "View all feedback & settings",
     "exportShapeLabel": "Shape",
     "exportShapeLong": "Per-action (long)",
-    "exportShapePivot": "Per-guest (pivot)"
+    "exportShapePivot": "Per-guest (pivot)",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Red",
+      "yellow": "Yellow",
+      "green": "Green",
+      "blue": "Blue",
+      "purple": "Purple"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "color label",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Color labels",
+    "colorLabelError": "Failed to update color label",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Remove {{color}} label",
+    "setColorLabel": "Mark as {{color}}",
+    "markedAs": "Marked as {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Feedback Filters",
@@ -3807,7 +3849,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ Stars",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ Stars",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ Stars",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "5 Stars Only"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "5 Stars Only",
+    "colorLabels": "Color labels",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Show only {{color}}",
+    "myColorLabels": "Your marks",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Show only my {{color}} marks"
   },
   "setup": {
     "title": "Welcome to PicPeak",
@@ -4102,7 +4148,10 @@
       "copied": "Copied to clipboard.",
       "copyFailed": "Clipboard write blocked. Select the text and copy manually.",
       "download": "Download as file"
-    }
+    },
+    "markSource": "XMP stars & colour from",
+    "markSourceClient": "Client selections",
+    "markSourceMine": "Your marks"
   },
   "photoSort": {
     "defaultSort": "Default Photo Sort",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/es.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/es.json
index 5a33a09d..3e467f4c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/es.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/es.json
@@ -318,7 +318,9 @@
       "anonymous": "Anónimo"
     },
     "rated": "Valorado",
-    "commented": "Comentado"
+    "commented": "Comentado",
+    "colorFilter": "Color",
+    "filterByColor": "Mostrar solo {{color}}"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Categorías de fotos",
@@ -923,7 +925,17 @@
       "expirationWarning": "Las galerías sin expiración permanecerán activas hasta ser archivadas manualmente",
       "saveSettings": "Guardar ajustes de eventos",
       "noteTitle": "Nota",
-      "noteText": "Estos ajustes solo afectan a la creación de nuevos eventos. Los eventos existentes no se ven afectados. El comportamiento por defecto requiere todos los campos."
+      "noteText": "Estos ajustes solo afectan a la creación de nuevos eventos. Los eventos existentes no se ven afectados. El comportamiento por defecto requiere todos los campos.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "Qué tipos de valoración traen las galerías nuevas. Las galerías existentes no cambian: cada una se puede ajustar por separado.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Valoración con estrellas",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Me gusta",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Favoritos",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Comentarios",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Reacciones emoji",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Etiquetas de color",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Atajos predeterminados del visor",
+      "keybindColors": "Solo colores — 1 verde, 2 amarillo, 3 rojo",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom — 1-5 estrellas, 6-9 colores"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Proteger Imagen",
@@ -1569,7 +1581,23 @@
       "hideSelected": "Ocultar",
       "showSelected": "Mostrar",
       "hiddenSuccess": "Fotos ocultas a los invitados",
-      "visibleSuccess": "Fotos ahora visibles para invitados"
+      "visibleSuccess": "Fotos ahora visibles para invitados",
+      "myMarks": "Tus marcas",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Solo tú las ves. Nunca aparecen en la galería del cliente y se exportan a Lightroom como XMP.",
+      "myRating": "Tu valoración",
+      "clearRating": "Quitar tu valoración",
+      "rateStars": "Valorar con {{count}} estrellas",
+      "markError": "No se pudo guardar tu marca",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Tu marca: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Tu valoración: {{count}}"
+    },
+    "guests": {
+      "columns": {
+        "colorLabels": "Etiquetas de color"
+      },
+      "detail": {
+        "labeled": "Etiquetas de color"
+      }
     }
   },
   "permissions": {
@@ -2418,8 +2446,28 @@
       "identityModeSimple": "Feedback simple",
       "identityModeSimpleDesc": "Anónimo, basado en dispositivo. Visitantes del mismo dispositivo comparten estado.",
       "identityModeGuest": "Por invitado",
-      "identityModeGuestDesc": "Cada visitante introduce su nombre. Habilita rastreo por invitado e insights admin."
-    }
+      "identityModeGuestDesc": "Cada visitante introduce su nombre. Habilita rastreo por invitado e insights admin.",
+      "colorLabels": "Etiquetas de color",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Un color por invitado y foto, con el conjunto de colores de Lightroom para que la selección se traslade mediante XMP",
+      "keybindMode": "Atajos de teclado",
+      "keybindColors": "Solo colores (lo más sencillo)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = verde (1.ª opción), 2 = amarillo (2.ª opción), 3 = rojo (descartada)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Valores por defecto de Lightroom",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1-5 asignan estrellas, 6-9 asignan rojo / amarillo / verde / azul"
+    },
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Rojo",
+      "yellow": "Amarillo",
+      "green": "Verde",
+      "blue": "Azul",
+      "purple": "Morado"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "etiqueta de color",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Etiquetas de color",
+    "colorLabelError": "No se pudo actualizar la etiqueta de color",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Quitar la etiqueta {{color}}",
+    "setColorLabel": "Marcar como {{color}}",
+    "markedAs": "Marcado como {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Filtros de feedback",
@@ -2436,7 +2484,11 @@
     "hasFavorites": "Con favoritos",
     "hasComments": "Con comentarios",
     "showingPhotos": "Fotos totales",
-    "withRatings": "Con valoraciones"
+    "withRatings": "Con valoraciones",
+    "colorLabels": "Etiquetas de color",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Mostrar solo {{color}}",
+    "myColorLabels": "Tus marcas",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Mostrar solo mis marcas en {{color}}"
   },
   "adminLogin": {
     "title": "Acceso admin",
@@ -2492,7 +2544,10 @@
     "error": "Error en la exportación: ",
     "exportSelected": "Exportar {{count}} seleccionadas",
     "exportFiltered": "Exportar fotos filtradas",
-    "hint": "Selecciona fotos o aplica filtros para exportar"
+    "hint": "Selecciona fotos o aplica filtros para exportar",
+    "markSource": "Estrellas y color XMP desde",
+    "markSourceClient": "Selecciones del cliente",
+    "markSourceMine": "Tus marcas"
   },
   "photoSort": {
     "defaultSort": "Orden por defecto",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/fr.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
index 4f1dbdfe..1d9a7baf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
@@ -338,7 +338,9 @@
     "photosSelected_one": "{{count}} photo sélectionnée",
     "photosSelected_other": "{{count}} photos sélectionnées",
     "downloadSelected_one": "Télécharger {{count}} photo",
-    "downloadSelected_other": "Télécharger {{count}} photos"
+    "downloadSelected_other": "Télécharger {{count}} photos",
+    "colorFilter": "Couleur",
+    "filterByColor": "Afficher uniquement {{color}}"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Catégories de photos",
@@ -892,7 +894,17 @@
       "showGalleryFilterBar": "Afficher la barre de filtre dans les galeries",
       "showGalleryFilterBarHelp": "Afficher la recherche par nom de fichier et les contrôles de tri au-dessus des galeries en disposition grille. Désactivez pour une disposition plus épurée.",
       "enablePhoneField": "Activer le champ de numéro de téléphone",
-      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Ajoute une entrée de numéro de téléphone optionnelle dans le formulaire d'événement. Utile pour les automatisations en aval comme la livraison WhatsApp via n8n. Toujours optionnel même lorsqu'il est activé."
+      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Ajoute une entrée de numéro de téléphone optionnelle dans le formulaire d'événement. Utile pour les automatisations en aval comme la livraison WhatsApp via n8n. Toujours optionnel même lorsqu'il est activé.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "Types de retours activés par défaut pour les nouvelles galeries. Les galeries existantes ne sont pas modifiées — chaque galerie reste réglable individuellement.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Notes en étoiles",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "J'aime",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Favoris",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Commentaires",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Réactions emoji",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Étiquettes de couleur",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Raccourcis par défaut de la visionneuse",
+      "keybindColors": "Couleurs uniquement — 1 vert, 2 jaune, 3 rouge",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom — 1-5 étoiles, 6-9 couleurs"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Protection des images",
@@ -1659,7 +1671,15 @@
       "visibleSuccess": "Photos maintenant visibles pour les invités",
       "processingStatus": "Traitement en cours…",
       "processingFailed": "Échec du traitement",
-      "retryQueued": "Nouvelle tentative en file d'attente"
+      "retryQueued": "Nouvelle tentative en file d'attente",
+      "myMarks": "Vos marques",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Vous seul les voyez. Elles n'apparaissent jamais dans la galerie client et s'exportent vers Lightroom en XMP.",
+      "myRating": "Votre note",
+      "clearRating": "Effacer votre note",
+      "rateStars": "Noter {{count}} étoiles",
+      "markError": "Impossible d'enregistrer votre marque",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Votre marque : {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Votre note : {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -1715,7 +1735,8 @@
         "comments": "Commentaires",
         "ratings": "Notes",
         "reactions": "Réactions",
-        "lastSeen": "Dernière visite"
+        "lastSeen": "Dernière visite",
+        "colorLabels": "Étiquettes de couleur"
       },
       "view": "Voir les détails",
       "export": "Exporter",
@@ -1729,7 +1750,8 @@
         "favorited": "Favoris",
         "rated": "Notés",
         "reacted": "A réagi",
-        "commented": "Commentés"
+        "commented": "Commentés",
+        "labeled": "Étiquettes de couleur"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "En attente",
@@ -2567,7 +2589,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Activer la limitation de débit",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Empêcher le spam en limitant la fréquence des commentaires",
       "timeWindow": "Fenêtre de temps (minutes)",
-      "maxRequests": "Nombre maximal de requêtes"
+      "maxRequests": "Nombre maximal de requêtes",
+      "colorLabels": "Étiquettes de couleur",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Une couleur par invité et par photo, avec le jeu de couleurs de Lightroom pour que la sélection soit reprise via XMP",
+      "keybindMode": "Raccourcis clavier",
+      "keybindColors": "Couleurs uniquement (le plus simple)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = vert (1er choix), 2 = jaune (2e choix), 3 = rouge (rejeté)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Valeurs par défaut de Lightroom",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1-5 attribuent les étoiles, 6-9 les couleurs rouge / jaune / vert / bleu"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Paramètres de commentaires mis à jour",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Échec de la mise à jour des paramètres",
@@ -2642,7 +2671,20 @@
     "onPhoto": "Sur la photo",
     "showAll_one": "Afficher tous les {{count}} commentaire en attente",
     "showAll_other": "Afficher tous les {{count}} commentaires en attente",
-    "viewAllFeedback": "Voir tous les commentaires et paramètres"
+    "viewAllFeedback": "Voir tous les commentaires et paramètres",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Rouge",
+      "yellow": "Jaune",
+      "green": "Vert",
+      "blue": "Bleu",
+      "purple": "Violet"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "étiquette de couleur",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Étiquettes de couleur",
+    "colorLabelError": "Échec de la mise à jour de l'étiquette de couleur",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Retirer l'étiquette {{color}}",
+    "setColorLabel": "Marquer comme {{color}}",
+    "markedAs": "Marqué comme {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Filtres de commentaires",
@@ -2660,7 +2702,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ étoiles",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ étoiles",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ étoiles",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "5 étoiles uniquement"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "5 étoiles uniquement",
+    "colorLabels": "Étiquettes de couleur",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Afficher uniquement {{color}}",
+    "myColorLabels": "Vos marques",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Afficher uniquement mes marques {{color}}"
   },
   "adminLogin": {
     "title": "Connexion administrateur",
@@ -2716,7 +2762,10 @@
     "exportFiltered": "Exporter les photos filtrées",
     "hint": "Sélectionnez des photos ou appliquez des filtres pour exporter",
     "exportSelected_one": "Exporter {{count}} sélectionné",
-    "exportSelected_other": "Exporter {{count}} sélectionnés"
+    "exportSelected_other": "Exporter {{count}} sélectionnés",
+    "markSource": "Étoiles et couleur XMP depuis",
+    "markSourceClient": "Sélections du client",
+    "markSourceMine": "Vos marques"
   },
   "photoSort": {
     "defaultSort": "Tri par défaut des photos",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/nl.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/nl.json
index 28ac697b..6c08f5c8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/nl.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/nl.json
@@ -338,7 +338,9 @@
       "socials": "Sociale media"
     },
     "photosCount_one": "{{count}} foto",
-    "photosCount_other": "{{count}} foto's"
+    "photosCount_other": "{{count}} foto's",
+    "colorFilter": "Kleur",
+    "filterByColor": "Alleen {{color}} tonen"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Fotocategorieen",
@@ -888,7 +890,17 @@
       "showGalleryFilterBar": "Filterbalk in galerijen tonen",
       "showGalleryFilterBarHelp": "Toont de zoek-op-bestandsnaam en sorteerbediening boven rasterindelingsgalerijen. Uitschakelen voor een cleaner lay-out.",
       "enablePhoneField": "Telefoonnummerveld inschakelen",
-      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Voegt een optioneel telefoonnumerinvoerveld toe aan het evenementformulier. Handig voor automatisering zoals WhatsApp-levering via n8n. Altijd optioneel, ook als ingeschakeld."
+      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Voegt een optioneel telefoonnumerinvoerveld toe aan het evenementformulier. Handig voor automatisering zoals WhatsApp-levering via n8n. Altijd optioneel, ook als ingeschakeld.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "Met welke feedbacktypen nieuwe galerijen starten. Bestaande galerijen veranderen niet — elke galerij blijft afzonderlijk instelbaar.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Sterbeoordelingen",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Likes",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Favorieten",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Reacties",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Emoji-reacties",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Kleurlabels",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Standaard sneltoetsen in de weergave",
+      "keybindColors": "Alleen kleuren — 1 groen, 2 geel, 3 rood",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom — 1-5 sterren, 6-9 kleuren"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Afbeeldingsbeveiliging",
@@ -1648,7 +1660,15 @@
       "visibleSuccess": "Foto's nu zichtbaar voor gasten",
       "processingStatus": "Verwerken…",
       "processingFailed": "Mislukt",
-      "retryQueued": "Nieuwe poging in wachtrij"
+      "retryQueued": "Nieuwe poging in wachtrij",
+      "myMarks": "Jouw markeringen",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Alleen jij ziet deze. Ze verschijnen nooit in de klantgalerij en gaan als XMP naar Lightroom.",
+      "myRating": "Jouw beoordeling",
+      "clearRating": "Jouw beoordeling wissen",
+      "rateStars": "{{count}} sterren geven",
+      "markError": "Markering opslaan mislukt",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Jouw markering: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Jouw beoordeling: {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -1704,7 +1724,8 @@
         "comments": "Opmerkingen",
         "ratings": "Beoordelingen",
         "reactions": "Reacties",
-        "lastSeen": "Laatste bezoek"
+        "lastSeen": "Laatste bezoek",
+        "colorLabels": "Kleurlabels"
       },
       "view": "Details bekijken",
       "export": "Exporteren",
@@ -1718,7 +1739,8 @@
         "favorited": "Favoriet",
         "rated": "Beoordeeld",
         "reacted": "Gereageerd",
-        "commented": "Becommentarieerd"
+        "commented": "Becommentarieerd",
+        "labeled": "Kleurlabels"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "In behandeling",
@@ -2556,7 +2578,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Snelheidsbeperking inschakelen",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Voorkom spam door de feedbackfrequentie te beperken",
       "timeWindow": "Tijdvenster (minuten)",
-      "maxRequests": "Max. verzoeken"
+      "maxRequests": "Max. verzoeken",
+      "colorLabels": "Kleurlabels",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Eén kleur per gast per foto, met de kleurenset van Lightroom zodat de selectie via XMP meegaat",
+      "keybindMode": "Sneltoetsen",
+      "keybindColors": "Alleen kleuren (eenvoudigst)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = groen (1e keuze), 2 = geel (2e keuze), 3 = rood (afgewezen)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom-standaard",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1-5 geven sterren, 6-9 geven rood / geel / groen / blauw"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Feedbackinstellingen bijgewerkt",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Bijwerken instellingen mislukt",
@@ -2631,7 +2660,20 @@
     "onPhoto": "Op foto",
     "showAll_one": "Alle {{count}} openstaande opmerking tonen",
     "showAll_other": "Alle {{count}} openstaande opmerkingen tonen",
-    "viewAllFeedback": "Alle feedback en instellingen bekijken"
+    "viewAllFeedback": "Alle feedback en instellingen bekijken",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Rood",
+      "yellow": "Geel",
+      "green": "Groen",
+      "blue": "Blauw",
+      "purple": "Paars"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "kleurlabel",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Kleurlabels",
+    "colorLabelError": "Bijwerken van kleurlabel mislukt",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Label {{color}} verwijderen",
+    "setColorLabel": "Markeren als {{color}}",
+    "markedAs": "Gemarkeerd als {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Feedbackfilters",
@@ -2649,7 +2691,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ sterren",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ sterren",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ sterren",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "Alleen 5 sterren"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "Alleen 5 sterren",
+    "colorLabels": "Kleurlabels",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Alleen {{color}} tonen",
+    "myColorLabels": "Jouw markeringen",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Alleen mijn {{color}} markeringen tonen"
   },
   "export": {
     "button": "Exporteren",
@@ -2658,7 +2704,10 @@
     "exportFiltered": "Gefilterde foto's exporteren",
     "hint": "Selecteer foto's of pas filters toe om te exporteren",
     "exportSelected_one": "{{count}} geselecteerde exporteren",
-    "exportSelected_other": "{{count}} geselecteerde exporteren"
+    "exportSelected_other": "{{count}} geselecteerde exporteren",
+    "markSource": "XMP-sterren & -kleur van",
+    "markSourceClient": "Klantselectie",
+    "markSourceMine": "Jouw markeringen"
   },
   "adminLogin": {
     "title": "Beheerder login",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/pt.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
index 43e3c302..de176fa7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
@@ -346,7 +346,9 @@
     },
     "photosCount_many": "{{count}} fotos",
     "photosCount_one": "{{count}} foto",
-    "photosCount_other": "{{count}} fotos"
+    "photosCount_other": "{{count}} fotos",
+    "colorFilter": "Cor",
+    "filterByColor": "Mostrar apenas {{color}}"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Categorias de Fotos",
@@ -905,7 +907,17 @@
       "showGalleryFilterBar": "Mostrar barra de filtros nas galerias",
       "showGalleryFilterBarHelp": "Exibe a pesquisa por nome de ficheiro e os controlos de ordenação acima das galerias em grelha. Desative para um layout mais limpo.",
       "enablePhoneField": "Ativar campo de número de telefone",
-      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Adiciona um campo opcional de número de telefone ao formulário de evento. Útil para automatizações como entrega via WhatsApp com n8n. Sempre opcional mesmo quando ativado."
+      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Adiciona um campo opcional de número de telefone ao formulário de evento. Útil para automatizações como entrega via WhatsApp com n8n. Sempre opcional mesmo quando ativado.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "Que tipos de feedback as novas galerias trazem. As galerias existentes não são alteradas — cada galeria continua a poder ser ajustada individualmente.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Classificação por estrelas",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Gostos",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Favoritos",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Comentários",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Reações emoji",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Etiquetas de cor",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Atalhos predefinidos do visualizador",
+      "keybindColors": "Apenas cores — 1 verde, 2 amarelo, 3 vermelho",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom — 1-5 estrelas, 6-9 cores"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Proteção de Imagem",
@@ -1669,7 +1681,15 @@
       "visibleSuccess": "Fotos agora visíveis aos visitantes",
       "processingStatus": "A processar…",
       "processingFailed": "Falhado",
-      "retryQueued": "Nova tentativa em fila"
+      "retryQueued": "Nova tentativa em fila",
+      "myMarks": "As suas marcas",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Só você as vê. Nunca aparecem na galeria do cliente e são exportadas para o Lightroom como XMP.",
+      "myRating": "A sua classificação",
+      "clearRating": "Remover a sua classificação",
+      "rateStars": "Classificar com {{count}} estrelas",
+      "markError": "Não foi possível guardar a sua marca",
+      "yourMarkColor": "A sua marca: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "A sua classificação: {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -1729,7 +1749,8 @@
         "comments": "Comentários",
         "ratings": "Avaliações",
         "reactions": "Reações",
-        "lastSeen": "Última visita"
+        "lastSeen": "Última visita",
+        "colorLabels": "Etiquetas de cor"
       },
       "view": "Ver detalhes",
       "export": "Exportar",
@@ -1743,7 +1764,8 @@
         "favorited": "Favorito",
         "rated": "Avaliado",
         "reacted": "Reagiu",
-        "commented": "Comentado"
+        "commented": "Comentado",
+        "labeled": "Etiquetas de cor"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "Pendente",
@@ -2581,7 +2603,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Ativar limitação de taxa",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Previne spam limitando a frequência de feedback",
       "timeWindow": "Janela de tempo (minutos)",
-      "maxRequests": "Pedidos máx."
+      "maxRequests": "Pedidos máx.",
+      "colorLabels": "Etiquetas de cor",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Uma cor por convidado e por foto, com o conjunto de cores do Lightroom para que a seleção seja transferida via XMP",
+      "keybindMode": "Atalhos de teclado",
+      "keybindColors": "Apenas cores (mais simples)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = verde (1.ª escolha), 2 = amarelo (2.ª escolha), 3 = vermelho (rejeitada)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Predefinições do Lightroom",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1-5 atribuem estrelas, 6-9 atribuem vermelho / amarelo / verde / azul"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Definições de feedback atualizadas",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Falha ao atualizar definições",
@@ -2661,7 +2690,20 @@
     "showAll_many": "Mostrar todos os {{count}} comentários pendentes",
     "showAll_one": "Mostrar o {{count}} comentário pendente",
     "showAll_other": "Mostrar todos os {{count}} comentários pendentes",
-    "viewAllFeedback": "Ver todo o feedback e definições"
+    "viewAllFeedback": "Ver todo o feedback e definições",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Vermelho",
+      "yellow": "Amarelo",
+      "green": "Verde",
+      "blue": "Azul",
+      "purple": "Roxo"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "etiqueta de cor",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Etiquetas de cor",
+    "colorLabelError": "Não foi possível atualizar a etiqueta de cor",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Remover a etiqueta {{color}}",
+    "setColorLabel": "Marcar como {{color}}",
+    "markedAs": "Marcado como {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Filtros de Feedback",
@@ -2679,7 +2721,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ estrelas",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ estrelas",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ estrelas",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "Apenas 5 estrelas"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "Apenas 5 estrelas",
+    "colorLabels": "Etiquetas de cor",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Mostrar apenas {{color}}",
+    "myColorLabels": "As suas marcas",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Mostrar apenas as minhas marcas {{color}}"
   },
   "adminLogin": {
     "title": "Login Administrativo",
@@ -2736,7 +2782,10 @@
     "hint": "Selecione fotos ou aplique filtros para exportar",
     "exportSelected_many": "Exportar {{count}} selecionados",
     "exportSelected_one": "Exportar {{count}} selecionado",
-    "exportSelected_other": "Exportar {{count}} selecionados"
+    "exportSelected_other": "Exportar {{count}} selecionados",
+    "markSource": "Estrelas e cor XMP a partir de",
+    "markSourceClient": "Seleções do cliente",
+    "markSourceMine": "As suas marcas"
   },
   "photoSort": {
     "defaultSort": "Ordenação padrão das fotos",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/ru.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/ru.json
index 81d5fa65..1a7042ef 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/ru.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/ru.json
@@ -354,7 +354,9 @@
     "photosCount_few": "{{count}} фото",
     "photosCount_many": "{{count}} фото",
     "photosCount_one": "{{count}} фото",
-    "photosCount_other": "{{count}} фото"
+    "photosCount_other": "{{count}} фото",
+    "colorFilter": "Цвет",
+    "filterByColor": "Показать только «{{color}}»"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Категории фото",
@@ -911,7 +913,17 @@
       "showGalleryFilterBar": "Показывать панель фильтров в галереях",
       "showGalleryFilterBarHelp": "Отображает поиск по имени файла и элементы управления сортировкой над галереями с сеткой. Отключите для более чистого интерфейса.",
       "enablePhoneField": "Включить поле номера телефона",
-      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Добавляет необязательное поле ввода номера телефона в форму события. Полезно для автоматизаций, таких как доставка в WhatsApp через n8n. Всегда необязательно, даже если включено."
+      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Добавляет необязательное поле ввода номера телефона в форму события. Полезно для автоматизаций, таких как доставка в WhatsApp через n8n. Всегда необязательно, даже если включено.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "С какими типами отзывов создаются новые галереи. Существующие галереи не меняются — каждую можно настроить отдельно.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Оценка звёздами",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Лайки",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Избранное",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Комментарии",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Эмодзи-реакции",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Цветовые метки",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Горячие клавиши просмотра по умолчанию",
+      "keybindColors": "Только цвета — 1 зелёный, 2 жёлтый, 3 красный",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom — 1–5 звёзды, 6–9 цвета"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Защита изображений",
@@ -1690,7 +1702,15 @@
       "visibleSuccess": "Фотографии теперь видны гостям",
       "processingStatus": "Обработка…",
       "processingFailed": "Ошибка",
-      "retryQueued": "Повтор в очереди"
+      "retryQueued": "Повтор в очереди",
+      "myMarks": "Ваши отметки",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Видны только вам. Они никогда не появляются в клиентской галерее и экспортируются в Lightroom через XMP.",
+      "myRating": "Ваша оценка",
+      "clearRating": "Убрать вашу оценку",
+      "rateStars": "Оценить на {{count}}",
+      "markError": "Не удалось сохранить отметку",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Ваша отметка: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Ваша оценка: {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -1754,7 +1774,8 @@
         "comments": "Комментарии",
         "ratings": "Оценки",
         "reactions": "Реакции",
-        "lastSeen": "Последний визит"
+        "lastSeen": "Последний визит",
+        "colorLabels": "Цветовые метки"
       },
       "view": "Подробнее",
       "export": "Экспортировать",
@@ -1768,7 +1789,8 @@
         "favorited": "В избранном",
         "rated": "Оценено",
         "reacted": "Отреагировал",
-        "commented": "Прокомментировано"
+        "commented": "Прокомментировано",
+        "labeled": "Цветовые метки"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "Ожидает",
@@ -2606,7 +2628,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Включить ограничение частоты",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Предотвращает спам, ограничивая частоту отзывов",
       "timeWindow": "Временное окно (минуты)",
-      "maxRequests": "Макс. запросов"
+      "maxRequests": "Макс. запросов",
+      "colorLabels": "Цветовые метки",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Одна метка на гостя и фотографию, в цветовой схеме Lightroom — выбор переносится через XMP",
+      "keybindMode": "Горячие клавиши",
+      "keybindColors": "Только цвета (самый простой вариант)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 — зелёный (1-й выбор), 2 — жёлтый (2-й выбор), 3 — красный (отклонено)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Как в Lightroom",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1–5 ставят звёзды, 6–9 — красный / жёлтый / зелёный / синий"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Настройки отзывов обновлены",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Не удалось обновить настройки",
@@ -2691,7 +2720,20 @@
     "showAll_many": "Показать все {{count}} ожидающих комментариев",
     "showAll_one": "Показать {{count}} ожидающий комментарий",
     "showAll_other": "Показать все {{count}} ожидающих комментариев",
-    "viewAllFeedback": "Просмотреть все отзывы и настройки"
+    "viewAllFeedback": "Просмотреть все отзывы и настройки",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Красный",
+      "yellow": "Жёлтый",
+      "green": "Зелёный",
+      "blue": "Синий",
+      "purple": "Фиолетовый"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "цветовая метка",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Цветовые метки",
+    "colorLabelError": "Не удалось обновить цветовую метку",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Убрать метку «{{color}}»",
+    "setColorLabel": "Отметить как «{{color}}»",
+    "markedAs": "Отмечено как «{{color}}»"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Фильтры отзывов",
@@ -2709,7 +2751,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ звезды",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ звезды",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ звезды",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "Только 5 звёзд"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "Только 5 звёзд",
+    "colorLabels": "Цветовые метки",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Показать только «{{color}}»",
+    "myColorLabels": "Ваши отметки",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Показать только мои отметки «{{color}}»"
   },
   "adminLogin": {
     "title": "Вход для администратора",
@@ -2767,7 +2813,10 @@
     "exportSelected_few": "Экспортировать {{count}} выбранных",
     "exportSelected_many": "Экспортировать {{count}} выбранных",
     "exportSelected_one": "Экспортировать {{count}} выбранный",
-    "exportSelected_other": "Экспортировать {{count}} выбранных"
+    "exportSelected_other": "Экспортировать {{count}} выбранных",
+    "markSource": "Звёзды и цвет для XMP из",
+    "markSourceClient": "Выбор клиента",
+    "markSourceMine": "Ваши отметки"
   },
   "photoSort": {
     "defaultSort": "Сортировка фото по умолчанию",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/sl.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/sl.json
index a6de41f9..1f441de2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/sl.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/sl.json
@@ -338,7 +338,9 @@
     "photosSelected_one": "Izbrana {{count}} fotografija",
     "photosSelected_other": "Izbranih {{count}} fotografij",
     "downloadSelected_one": "Prenesi {{count}} fotografijo",
-    "downloadSelected_other": "Prenesi {{count}} fotografij"
+    "downloadSelected_other": "Prenesi {{count}} fotografij",
+    "colorFilter": "Barva",
+    "filterByColor": "Prikaži samo {{color}}"
   },
   "categories": {
     "title": "Kategorije fotografij",
@@ -892,7 +894,17 @@
       "showGalleryFilterBar": "Prikaži vrstico filtrov v galerijah",
       "showGalleryFilterBarHelp": "Prikaže iskanje po imenu datoteke in razvrščanje nad galerijami z mrežno postavitvijo. Izklopite za čistejšo postavitev.",
       "enablePhoneField": "Omogoči polje za telefonsko številko",
-      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Doda neobvezno polje za telefonsko številko v obrazec dogodka. Uporabno za nadaljnje avtomatizacije, kot je dostava prek WhatsAppa z n8n. Vedno je neobvezno, tudi ko je omogočeno."
+      "enablePhoneFieldHelp": "Doda neobvezno polje za telefonsko številko v obrazec dogodka. Uporabno za nadaljnje avtomatizacije, kot je dostava prek WhatsAppa z n8n. Vedno je neobvezno, tudi ko je omogočeno.",
+      "feedbackTypeDefaultsHelp": "S katerimi vrstami odzivov se ustvarijo nove galerije. Obstoječe galerije ostanejo nespremenjene – vsako galerijo je še vedno mogoče nastaviti posebej.",
+      "defaultAllowRatings": "Ocene z zvezdicami",
+      "defaultAllowLikes": "Všečki",
+      "defaultAllowFavorites": "Priljubljene",
+      "defaultAllowComments": "Komentarji",
+      "defaultAllowReactions": "Odzivi z emoji",
+      "defaultAllowColorLabels": "Barvne oznake",
+      "defaultKeybindMode": "Privzete bližnjice v pregledovalniku",
+      "keybindColors": "Samo barve – 1 zelena, 2 rumena, 3 rdeča",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Lightroom – 1–5 zvezdice, 6–9 barve"
     },
     "imageSecurity": {
       "title": "Zaščita slik",
@@ -1648,7 +1660,15 @@
       "visibleSuccess": "Fotografije so zdaj vidne gostom",
       "processingStatus": "Obdelava…",
       "processingFailed": "Neuspešno",
-      "retryQueued": "Ponovni poskus v čakalni vrsti"
+      "retryQueued": "Ponovni poskus v čakalni vrsti",
+      "myMarks": "Vaše oznake",
+      "myMarksHelp": "Vidite jih samo vi. V galeriji stranke se nikoli ne prikažejo, izvozijo pa se v Lightroom kot XMP.",
+      "myRating": "Vaša ocena",
+      "clearRating": "Odstrani vašo oceno",
+      "rateStars": "Oceni z {{count}} zvezdicami",
+      "markError": "Oznake ni bilo mogoče shraniti",
+      "yourMarkColor": "Vaša oznaka: {{color}}",
+      "yourMarkRating": "Vaša ocena: {{count}}"
     },
     "events": {
       "tabs": {
@@ -1704,7 +1724,8 @@
         "comments": "Komentarji",
         "ratings": "Ocene",
         "reactions": "Odzivi",
-        "lastSeen": "Nazadnje viden"
+        "lastSeen": "Nazadnje viden",
+        "colorLabels": "Barvne oznake"
       },
       "view": "Ogled podrobnosti",
       "export": "Izvozi",
@@ -1718,7 +1739,8 @@
         "favorited": "Dodano med priljubljene",
         "rated": "Ocenjeno",
         "reacted": "Odzval se",
-        "commented": "Komentirano"
+        "commented": "Komentirano",
+        "labeled": "Barvne oznake"
       },
       "inviteStatus": {
         "pending": "Čaka",
@@ -2556,7 +2578,14 @@
       "enableRateLimiting": "Omogoči omejevanje hitrosti",
       "rateLimitingDesc": "Preprečite spam z omejitvijo pogostosti povratnih informacij",
       "timeWindow": "Časovno okno (minute)",
-      "maxRequests": "Največ zahtev"
+      "maxRequests": "Največ zahtev",
+      "colorLabels": "Barvne oznake",
+      "colorLabelsDesc": "Ena barva na gosta in fotografijo, v barvnem naboru Lightrooma, da se izbor prenese prek XMP",
+      "keybindMode": "Bližnjice na tipkovnici",
+      "keybindColors": "Samo barve (najpreprostejše)",
+      "keybindColorsDesc": "1 = zelena (1. izbira), 2 = rumena (2. izbira), 3 = rdeča (zavrnjeno)",
+      "keybindLightroom": "Privzeto kot v Lightroomu",
+      "keybindLightroomDesc": "1–5 določijo zvezdice, 6–9 rdečo / rumeno / zeleno / modro"
     },
     "settingsUpdated": "Nastavitve povratnih informacij posodobljene",
     "settingsUpdateError": "Nastavitev ni bilo mogoče posodobiti",
@@ -2631,7 +2660,20 @@
     "onPhoto": "Na fotografiji",
     "showAll_one": "Prikaži vseh {{count}} čakajočih komentarjev",
     "showAll_other": "Prikaži vseh {{count}} čakajočih komentarjev",
-    "viewAllFeedback": "Ogled vseh povratnih informacij in nastavitev"
+    "viewAllFeedback": "Ogled vseh povratnih informacij in nastavitev",
+    "colorLabels": {
+      "red": "Rdeča",
+      "yellow": "Rumena",
+      "green": "Zelena",
+      "blue": "Modra",
+      "purple": "Vijolična"
+    },
+    "colorLabel": "barvna oznaka",
+    "colorLabelsTitle": "Barvne oznake",
+    "colorLabelError": "Barvne oznake ni bilo mogoče posodobiti",
+    "removeColorLabel": "Odstrani oznako {{color}}",
+    "setColorLabel": "Označi kot {{color}}",
+    "markedAs": "Označeno kot {{color}}"
   },
   "filter": {
     "feedbackFilters": "Filtri povratnih informacij",
@@ -2649,7 +2691,11 @@
     "twoStarsPlus": "2+ zvezdici",
     "threeStarsPlus": "3+ zvezdice",
     "fourStarsPlus": "4+ zvezdice",
-    "fiveStarsOnly": "Samo 5 zvezdic"
+    "fiveStarsOnly": "Samo 5 zvezdic",
+    "colorLabels": "Barvne oznake",
+    "showOnlyColor": "Prikaži samo {{color}}",
+    "myColorLabels": "Vaše oznake",
+    "showOnlyMyColor": "Prikaži samo moje oznake {{color}}"
   },
   "adminLogin": {
     "title": "Prijava administratorja",
@@ -2705,7 +2751,10 @@
     "exportFiltered": "Izvozi filtrirane fotografije",
     "hint": "Izberite fotografije ali uporabite filtre za izvoz",
     "exportSelected_one": "Izvozi {{count}} izbrano",
-    "exportSelected_other": "Izvozi {{count}} izbranih"
+    "exportSelected_other": "Izvozi {{count}} izbranih",
+    "markSource": "Zvezdice in barva XMP iz",
+    "markSourceClient": "Izbor stranke",
+    "markSourceMine": "Vaše oznake"
   },
   "photoSort": {
     "defaultSort": "Privzeto razvrščanje fotografij",
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/admin/CreateEventPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/admin/CreateEventPage.tsx
index af9d2fd9..4b8b1eaf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/admin/CreateEventPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/admin/CreateEventPage.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ interface FormData {
     allow_comments: boolean;
     allow_favorites: boolean;
     allow_reactions: boolean;
+    allow_color_labels: boolean;
+    keybind_mode: 'colors' | 'lightroom';
     require_name_email: boolean;
     moderate_comments: boolean;
     show_feedback_to_guests: boolean;
@@ -134,6 +136,8 @@ export const CreateEventPage: React.FC = () => {
       allow_comments: true,
       allow_favorites: true,
       allow_reactions: true,
+      allow_color_labels: false,
+      keybind_mode: 'colors',
       require_name_email: false,
       moderate_comments: true,
       show_feedback_to_guests: true,
@@ -270,11 +274,12 @@ export const CreateEventPage: React.FC = () => {
     }));
   }, [publicSettings]);
 
-  // Honour the global "Enable Guest Feedback by default" admin setting (#520).
-  // Same one-shot apply pattern as require_password above — only seeds the
-  // master toggle. The sub-toggles (likes / ratings / comments) keep their
-  // hard-coded true defaults so a flipped master immediately gives sensible
-  // behaviour without a second admin setting to manage.
+  // Honour the global guest-feedback defaults (#520 for the master toggle,
+  // #1044 for the per-type ones). Same one-shot apply pattern as
+  // require_password above. This form POSTs every sub-toggle explicitly, so
+  // seeding them here is what makes the Settings > Events defaults actually
+  // reach a gallery created through the UI — the server-side inheritance in
+  // feedbackDefaults.js only covers callers that omit them (the v1 API).
   const feedbackEnabledDefaultApplied = useRef(false);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (feedbackEnabledDefaultApplied.current) return;
@@ -284,7 +289,14 @@ export const CreateEventPage: React.FC = () => {
       ...prev,
       feedback_settings: {
         ...prev.feedback_settings,
-        feedback_enabled: publicSettings.event_default_feedback_enabled === true
+        feedback_enabled: publicSettings.event_default_feedback_enabled === true,
+        allow_ratings: publicSettings.event_default_allow_ratings !== false,
+        allow_likes: publicSettings.event_default_allow_likes !== false,
+        allow_favorites: publicSettings.event_default_allow_favorites !== false,
+        allow_comments: publicSettings.event_default_allow_comments !== false,
+        allow_reactions: publicSettings.event_default_allow_reactions !== false,
+        allow_color_labels: publicSettings.event_default_allow_color_labels === true,
+        keybind_mode: publicSettings.event_default_keybind_mode === 'lightroom' ? 'lightroom' : 'colors'
       }
     }));
   }, [publicSettings]);
@@ -485,6 +497,8 @@ export const CreateEventPage: React.FC = () => {
       allow_comments: feedbackSettings.allow_comments,
       allow_favorites: feedbackSettings.allow_favorites,
       allow_reactions: feedbackSettings.allow_reactions,
+      allow_color_labels: feedbackSettings.allow_color_labels,
+      keybind_mode: feedbackSettings.keybind_mode,
       require_name_email: feedbackSettings.require_name_email,
       moderate_comments: feedbackSettings.moderate_comments,
       show_feedback_to_guests: feedbackSettings.show_feedback_to_guests,
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/admin/EventDetailsPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/admin/EventDetailsPage.tsx
index 65bb078f..bff1bea1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/admin/EventDetailsPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/admin/EventDetailsPage.tsx
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ export const EventDetailsPage: React.FC = () => {
     allow_comments: true,
     allow_favorites: true,
     allow_reactions: true,
+    allow_color_labels: false,
+    keybind_mode: 'colors',
     require_name_email: false,
     moderate_comments: true,
     show_feedback_to_guests: true,
@@ -92,6 +94,8 @@ export const EventDetailsPage: React.FC = () => {
     hasLikes: false,
     hasFavorites: false,
     hasComments: false,
+    colorLabels: [],
+    myColorLabels: [],
     logic: 'AND'
   });
 
@@ -133,6 +137,8 @@ export const EventDetailsPage: React.FC = () => {
     hasFavorites: feedbackFilters.hasFavorites || undefined,
     hasComments: feedbackFilters.hasComments || undefined,
     minRating: feedbackFilters.minRating ?? undefined,
+    colorLabels: feedbackFilters.colorLabels?.length ? feedbackFilters.colorLabels : undefined,
+    myColorLabels: feedbackFilters.myColorLabels?.length ? feedbackFilters.myColorLabels : undefined,
     logic: feedbackFilters.logic,
   }), [photoFilters, feedbackFilters]);
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/feedback.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/feedback.service.ts
index e6c57ecc..d73b7c38 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/feedback.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/feedback.service.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,55 @@ export type IdentityMode = 'simple' | 'guest';
 export const REACTION_EMOJIS = ['❤️', '😂', '😍', '👏', '🎉'] as const;
 export type ReactionEmoji = (typeof REACTION_EMOJIS)[number];
 
+// Colour labels (#1044): Lightroom's colour set, so a client's proofing
+// selection round-trips into the photographer's catalogue through xmp:Label.
+// Mirrored in backend/src/constants/colorLabels.js — update both together.
+export const COLOR_LABELS = ['red', 'yellow', 'green', 'blue', 'purple'] as const;
+export type ColorLabel = (typeof COLOR_LABELS)[number];
+
+/** Which lightbox keyboard scheme a gallery uses. */
+export type KeybindMode = 'colors' | 'lightroom';
+
+/**
+ * The two keyboard schemes, as data — the gallery lightbox, the admin viewer
+ * and the settings preview all read these, so they cannot drift.
+ *
+ * 'colors'    three keys, no Lightroom knowledge needed (discussion #1027):
+ *             1 = 1st choice, 2 = 2nd choice, 3 = rejected.
+ * 'lightroom' Lightroom's own defaults: 1-5 stars, 6-9 colours. Lightroom has
+ *             no default shortcut for purple and neither do we.
+ *
+ * In both schemes the same key again clears the value.
+ */
+export const KEYBIND_SCHEMES: Record<KeybindMode, {
+  colors: Record<string, ColorLabel>;
+  ratings: Record<string, number>;
+}> = {
+  colors: {
+    colors: { '1': 'green', '2': 'yellow', '3': 'red' },
+    ratings: {},
+  },
+  lightroom: {
+    colors: { '6': 'red', '7': 'yellow', '8': 'green', '9': 'blue' },
+    ratings: { '1': 1, '2': 2, '3': 3, '4': 4, '5': 5 },
+  },
+};
+
+/**
+ * Swatch colours for the five labels. Deliberately literal hex rather than
+ * theme variables: these ARE Lightroom's colours, and a gallery theme must
+ * not repaint "green" into something the photographer can't match in their
+ * catalogue. Each pairs a fill with a border that stays visible on both a
+ * white and a black backdrop.
+ */
+export const COLOR_LABEL_SWATCHES: Record<ColorLabel, { fill: string; ring: string }> = {
+  red: { fill: '#e8493f', ring: '#b3251c' },
+  yellow: { fill: '#e8c33f', ring: '#a8871a' },
+  green: { fill: '#4caf50', ring: '#2e7d32' },
+  blue: { fill: '#3f7fe8', ring: '#1c4fb3' },
+  purple: { fill: '#9b59d0', ring: '#6a2f99' },
+};
+
 export interface FeedbackSettings {
   feedback_enabled: boolean;
   allow_ratings: boolean;
@@ -14,6 +63,9 @@ export interface FeedbackSettings {
   allow_comments: boolean;
   allow_favorites: boolean;
   allow_reactions: boolean;
+  allow_color_labels: boolean;
+  /** Which lightbox shortcut scheme this gallery uses (#1044). */
+  keybind_mode?: KeybindMode;
   require_name_email: boolean;
   moderate_comments: boolean;
   show_feedback_to_guests: boolean;
@@ -34,11 +86,12 @@ export interface PhotoFeedback {
   id: number;
   photo_id: number;
   event_id: number;
-  feedback_type: 'rating' | 'like' | 'comment' | 'favorite' | 'reaction';
+  feedback_type: 'rating' | 'like' | 'comment' | 'favorite' | 'reaction' | 'color_label';
   rating?: number;
   comment_text?: string;
   comment?: string;
   reaction?: string;
+  color_label?: ColorLabel | null;
   guest_name?: string;
   guest_email?: string;
   is_approved: boolean;
@@ -57,6 +110,7 @@ export interface FeedbackSummary {
   like_count: number;
   favorite_count: number;
   reaction_count?: number;
+  color_label_count?: number;
   comment_count: number;
 }
 
@@ -65,6 +119,7 @@ export interface MyFeedback {
   liked: boolean;
   favorited: boolean;
   reaction?: string | null;
+  color_label?: ColorLabel | null;
 }
 
 export interface FeedbackResponse {
@@ -72,6 +127,8 @@ export interface FeedbackResponse {
   summary: FeedbackSummary;
   /** Per-emoji tallies for the reaction bar (#839), e.g. { '❤️': 3 }. */
   reactions?: Record<string, number>;
+  /** Per-colour tallies (#1044), e.g. { green: 3 }. */
+  color_labels?: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, number>>;
   my_feedback: MyFeedback;
   pagination?: {
     page: number;
@@ -210,10 +267,11 @@ class FeedbackService {
   }
 
   async submitFeedback(slug: string, photoId: string, feedback: {
-    feedback_type: 'rating' | 'like' | 'comment' | 'favorite' | 'reaction';
+    feedback_type: 'rating' | 'like' | 'comment' | 'favorite' | 'reaction' | 'color_label';
     rating?: number;
     comment_text?: string;
     reaction?: string;
+    color_label?: ColorLabel;
     guest_name?: string;
     guest_email?: string;
   }) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/guests.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/guests.service.ts
index 95451f77..4b040b72 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/guests.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/guests.service.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export interface AdminGuestStats {
   comments: number;
   ratings: number;
   reactions: number;
+  color_labels: number;
   distinct_photos: number;
 }
 
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ export interface AdminGuestSelections {
   rated: Array<{ photo: AdminGuestPhoto; rating: number }>;
   commented: Array<{ photo: AdminGuestPhoto; comment: string; created_at: string }>;
   reacted: Array<{ photo: AdminGuestPhoto; reaction: string }>;
+  labeled: Array<{ photo: AdminGuestPhoto; color_label: string }>;
 }
 
 export interface AdminGuestDetail {
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/photos.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/photos.service.ts
index dad478ed..05c6db80 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/photos.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/photos.service.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,16 @@ export interface AdminPhoto {
   comment_count?: number;
   like_count?: number;
   favorite_count?: number;
+  // Colour labels (#1044). `color_labels` is the per-colour tally across all
+  // guests; `dominant_color_label` is the one the grid badge and the XMP
+  // export use when several guests disagreed.
+  color_label_count?: number;
+  color_labels?: Record<string, number>;
+  dominant_color_label?: string | null;
+  // The requesting admin's OWN triage mark (#1044 follow-up) — separate from
+  // the client's selections above, and never shown in the gallery.
+  my_rating?: number | null;
+  my_color_label?: string | null;
 }
 
 export interface PhotoFilters {
@@ -37,10 +47,27 @@ export interface PhotoFilters {
   hasFavorites?: boolean;
   hasComments?: boolean;
   minRating?: number | null;
+  /** Colour labels to keep, e.g. ['green'] (#1044). */
+  colorLabels?: string[];
+  /** Same, against the caller's own marks. */
+  myColorLabels?: string[];
   logic?: 'AND' | 'OR';
 }
 
 class PhotosService {
+  /**
+   * Set / change / clear the admin's own mark on a photo (#1044 follow-up).
+   * Omit a field to leave that half alone; pass null to clear it.
+   */
+  async setPhotoMark(
+    eventId: number,
+    photoId: number,
+    mark: { rating?: number | null; color_label?: string | null }
+  ): Promise<{ rating: number | null; color_label: string | null } | null> {
+    const response = await api.put(`/admin/photos/${eventId}/photos/${photoId}/mark`, mark);
+    return response.data.mark;
+  }
+
   async getEventPhotos(eventId: number, filters?: PhotoFilters): Promise<AdminPhoto[]> {
     const params = new URLSearchParams();
     
@@ -59,6 +86,12 @@ class PhotosService {
       if (filters.minRating !== undefined && filters.minRating !== null) {
         params.append('min_rating', filters.minRating.toString());
       }
+      if (filters.colorLabels && filters.colorLabels.length > 0) {
+        params.append('color_label', filters.colorLabels.join(','));
+      }
+      if (filters.myColorLabels && filters.myColorLabels.length > 0) {
+        params.append('my_color_label', filters.myColorLabels.join(','));
+      }
       if (filters.logic) params.append('logic', filters.logic);
     }
     
@@ -245,6 +278,12 @@ class PhotosService {
     if (filters.hasLikes) params.append('has_likes', 'true');
     if (filters.hasFavorites) params.append('has_favorites', 'true');
     if (filters.hasComments) params.append('has_comments', 'true');
+    if (filters.colorLabels && filters.colorLabels.length > 0) {
+      params.append('color_labels', filters.colorLabels.join(','));
+    }
+    if (filters.myColorLabels && filters.myColorLabels.length > 0) {
+      params.append('my_color_labels', filters.myColorLabels.join(','));
+    }
     if (filters.categoryId) params.append('category_id', filters.categoryId.toString());
     if (filters.logic) params.append('logic', filters.logic);
     if (filters.sort) params.append('sort', filters.sort);
@@ -339,6 +378,10 @@ export interface FeedbackFilters {
   hasFavorites?: boolean;
   minFavorites?: number;
   hasComments?: boolean;
+  /** Colour labels to keep, e.g. ['green'] (#1044). Empty = no filtering. */
+  colorLabels?: string[];
+  /** Same, against the caller's own marks. */
+  myColorLabels?: string[];
   categoryId?: number;
   logic?: 'AND' | 'OR';
   sort?: 'rating' | 'likes' | 'favorites' | 'date' | 'filename';
@@ -353,6 +396,11 @@ export interface FilterSummary {
   withLikes: number;
   withFavorites: number;
   withComments: number;
+  withColorLabels?: number;
+  /** Photos per colour (#1044), e.g. { green: 42 }. */
+  colorLabelCounts?: Record<string, number>;
+  /** Same, for the caller's own marks. */
+  myColorLabelCounts?: Record<string, number>;
 }
 
 export interface FilteredPhotosResponse {
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts
index c2a31874..b4fbb940 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,14 @@ export interface PublicSettings {
   event_require_expiration?: boolean;
   event_default_require_password?: boolean;
   event_default_feedback_enabled?: boolean;
+  // Per-type feedback defaults (#1044) — seed the create form's feedback panel.
+  event_default_allow_ratings?: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_likes?: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_favorites?: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_comments?: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_reactions?: boolean;
+  event_default_allow_color_labels?: boolean;
+  event_default_keybind_mode?: 'colors' | 'lightroom';
   gallery_show_filter_bar?: boolean;
   event_phone_field_enabled?: boolean;
   // SEO meta tags (consumed by RobotsMetaTags)
diff --git a/frontend/src/types/index.ts b/frontend/src/types/index.ts
index fa52bfe4..39a572c1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/types/index.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,12 @@ export interface Photo {
   // Used to seed the lifted likedPhotoIds Set in grid layouts on mount.
   is_liked?: boolean;
   favorite_count?: number;
+  // Colour labels (#1044). `color_label_count` is aggregate data and follows
+  // show_feedback_to_guests; `my_color_label` is the requesting viewer's own
+  // label and is always present, so the grid badge survives a refresh even in
+  // galleries where feedback isn't shared between guests.
+  color_label_count?: number;
+  my_color_label?: string | null;
 }
 
 // Download resolutions (#858).
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/__tests__/feedbackKeybinds.test.ts b/frontend/src/utils/__tests__/feedbackKeybinds.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a325ef96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/__tests__/feedbackKeybinds.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  resolveFeedbackKey,
+  colorShortcutHints,
+  isTypingTarget,
+} from '../feedbackKeybinds';
+
+/**
+ * Proofing shortcuts (#1044). Two schemes share the same digit keys, so the
+ * mapping is the whole feature — and the guards matter as much as the map:
+ * a bare digit must not relabel a photo while someone is typing into the
+ * filename search, and Cmd+1 must stay a browser tab switch.
+ */
+
+const key = (k: string, init: Partial<KeyboardEventInit> = {}) =>
+  new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: k, ...init });
+
+const ALL_ON = { allowColorLabels: true, allowRatings: true } as const;
+
+describe('resolveFeedbackKey — colours-only scheme', () => {
+  const opts = { mode: 'colors' as const, ...ALL_ON };
+
+  it('maps 1/2/3 to 1st choice / 2nd choice / rejected', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('1'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'green' });
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('2'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'yellow' });
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('3'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'red' });
+  });
+
+  it('leaves 4-9 unbound even when ratings are enabled', () => {
+    for (const k of ['4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9']) {
+      expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key(k), opts)).toBeNull();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('clears the colour with 0', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('0'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'clear' });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('resolveFeedbackKey — Lightroom scheme', () => {
+  const opts = { mode: 'lightroom' as const, ...ALL_ON };
+
+  it('maps 1-5 to star ratings', () => {
+    for (const n of [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]) {
+      expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key(String(n)), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'rating', value: n });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('maps 6-9 to red / yellow / green / blue', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('6'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'red' });
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('7'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'yellow' });
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('8'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'green' });
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('9'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'blue' });
+  });
+
+  it('clears the rating with 0, matching Lightroom', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('0'), opts)).toEqual({ type: 'rating', value: 0 });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('resolveFeedbackKey — gating', () => {
+  it('ignores colour keys when colour labels are off', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('1'), {
+      mode: 'colors', allowColorLabels: false, allowRatings: true,
+    })).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('ignores star keys when ratings are off', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('4'), {
+      mode: 'lightroom', allowColorLabels: true, allowRatings: false,
+    })).toBeNull();
+    // …but the colour keys of the same scheme still work.
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('8'), {
+      mode: 'lightroom', allowColorLabels: true, allowRatings: false,
+    })).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'green' });
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to the colours scheme for an unknown mode', () => {
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('1'), {
+      mode: 'nonsense' as unknown as 'colors', ...ALL_ON,
+    })).toEqual({ type: 'color', color: 'green' });
+  });
+
+  it('never fires with a modifier held — Cmd+1 stays a tab switch', () => {
+    const opts = { mode: 'colors' as const, ...ALL_ON };
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('1', { metaKey: true }), opts)).toBeNull();
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('1', { ctrlKey: true }), opts)).toBeNull();
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(key('1', { altKey: true }), opts)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('never fires while the user is typing', () => {
+    const opts = { mode: 'colors' as const, ...ALL_ON };
+    for (const tag of ['input', 'textarea', 'select']) {
+      const element = document.createElement(tag);
+      const event = key('1');
+      Object.defineProperty(event, 'target', { value: element });
+      expect(resolveFeedbackKey(event, opts)).toBeNull();
+    }
+
+    const editable = document.createElement('div');
+    editable.contentEditable = 'true';
+    // jsdom doesn't derive isContentEditable from the attribute.
+    Object.defineProperty(editable, 'isContentEditable', { value: true });
+    const event = key('1');
+    Object.defineProperty(event, 'target', { value: editable });
+    expect(resolveFeedbackKey(event, opts)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('isTypingTarget', () => {
+  it('is false for null and for ordinary elements', () => {
+    expect(isTypingTarget(null)).toBe(false);
+    expect(isTypingTarget(document.createElement('div'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('colorShortcutHints', () => {
+  it('reports the keys the active scheme actually binds', () => {
+    expect(colorShortcutHints('colors')).toEqual({ green: '1', yellow: '2', red: '3' });
+    expect(colorShortcutHints('lightroom')).toEqual({
+      red: '6', yellow: '7', green: '8', blue: '9',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('never claims a shortcut for purple — Lightroom has none either', () => {
+    expect(colorShortcutHints('colors').purple).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(colorShortcutHints('lightroom').purple).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/feedbackKeybinds.ts b/frontend/src/utils/feedbackKeybinds.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5cf041a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/feedbackKeybinds.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import { KEYBIND_SCHEMES, type ColorLabel, type KeybindMode } from '../services/feedback.service';
+
+/**
+ * Lightbox keyboard shortcuts for proofing (#1044).
+ *
+ * Shared by the gallery lightbox and the admin photo viewer — two components
+ * with independent key handlers that would otherwise drift the moment either
+ * one gained a shortcut.
+ */
+
+export type FeedbackKeyAction =
+  | { type: 'color'; color: ColorLabel }
+  | { type: 'rating'; value: number }
+  | { type: 'clear' };
+
+interface ResolveOptions {
+  mode: KeybindMode;
+  allowColorLabels: boolean;
+  allowRatings: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * True when the event came from somewhere a digit is real input — a search
+ * box, a comment field, a contenteditable. Without this, typing "2024" into
+ * the filename search would relabel the open photo.
+ */
+export function isTypingTarget(target: EventTarget | null): boolean {
+  const element = target as HTMLElement | null;
+  if (!element || typeof element.tagName !== 'string') return false;
+  const tag = element.tagName.toLowerCase();
+  if (tag === 'input' || tag === 'textarea' || tag === 'select') return true;
+  return element.isContentEditable === true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Map a keydown to a proofing action, or null when the key isn't bound in the
+ * active scheme (the caller's other shortcuts then get their turn).
+ *
+ * Modified keys are never bound: Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1 switch browser tabs, and Alt
+ * combinations are OS shortcuts.
+ */
+export function resolveFeedbackKey(
+  event: KeyboardEvent,
+  { mode, allowColorLabels, allowRatings }: ResolveOptions
+): FeedbackKeyAction | null {
+  if (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey || event.altKey) return null;
+  if (isTypingTarget(event.target)) return null;
+
+  const scheme = KEYBIND_SCHEMES[mode] || KEYBIND_SCHEMES.colors;
+  const key = event.key;
+
+  if (allowColorLabels) {
+    const color = scheme.colors[key];
+    if (color) return { type: 'color', color };
+  }
+
+  if (allowRatings) {
+    const rating = scheme.ratings[key];
+    if (rating !== undefined) return { type: 'rating', value: rating };
+  }
+
+  // '0' clears whichever value the scheme is primarily about: the star rating
+  // in Lightroom mode (matching Lightroom itself), the colour label in
+  // colour-only mode, where there are no stars to clear.
+  if (key === '0') {
+    if (mode === 'lightroom' && allowRatings) return { type: 'rating', value: 0 };
+    if (allowColorLabels) return { type: 'clear' };
+    if (allowRatings) return { type: 'rating', value: 0 };
+  }
+
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Which key sets which colour in the active scheme, for the hints rendered on
+ * the swatches — e.g. { green: '1', yellow: '2', red: '3' }.
+ */
+export function colorShortcutHints(mode: KeybindMode): Partial<Record<ColorLabel, string>> {
+  const scheme = KEYBIND_SCHEMES[mode] || KEYBIND_SCHEMES.colors;
+  const hints: Partial<Record<ColorLabel, string>> = {};
+  for (const [key, color] of Object.entries(scheme.colors)) {
+    hints[color] = key;
+  }
+  return hints;
+}