diff --git a/app.json b/app.json
index 98dc98a..abbd6cf 100644
--- a/app.json
+++ b/app.json
@@ -36,7 +36,14 @@
         }
       ],
       "expo-font",
-      "expo-web-browser"
+      "expo-web-browser",
+      [
+        "expo-image-picker",
+        {
+          "photosPermission": "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your photos to upload receipt images for transaction extraction.",
+          "cameraPermission": "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your camera to take photos of receipts for transaction extraction."
+        }
+      ]
     ],
     "experiments": {
       "typedRoutes": true
diff --git a/components/receipt-form.tsx b/components/receipt-form.tsx
index 31f6b48..337e49d 100644
--- a/components/receipt-form.tsx
+++ b/components/receipt-form.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import {
   Image,
   ScrollView,
   ActivityIndicator,
-  Alert,
 } from "react-native";
 import { useState } from "react";
 import * as ImagePicker from "expo-image-picker";
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import { MaterialCommunityIcons } from "@expo/vector-icons";
 import { useTransactionExtraction } from "@/hooks/useTransactionExtraction";
 import { useRouter } from "expo-router";
 import { useTransactionStore } from "@/store/transactionStore";
+import { launchCamera, launchImageLibrary } from "@/utils/imagePicker";
 
 export default function ReceiptForm() {
   const [selectedImage, setSelectedImage] =
@@ -24,40 +24,16 @@ export default function ReceiptForm() {
   const { addBulkTransactions } = useTransactionStore();
 
   const handleImagePick = async () => {
-    const permissionResult =
-      await ImagePicker.requestMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync();
-
-    if (!permissionResult.granted) {
-      Alert.alert("Permission to access camera roll is required!");
-      return;
-    }
-
-    const result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync({
-      mediaTypes: ["images"],
-      quality: 1,
-      allowsEditing: false,
-      aspect: [16, 9],
-    });
-
-    if (!result.canceled) {
-      setSelectedImage(result.assets[0]);
+    const result = await launchImageLibrary();
+    if (result.success) {
+      setSelectedImage(result.asset);
     }
   };
 
   const handleCameraButtonPress = async () => {
-    const permissionResult = await ImagePicker.requestCameraPermissionsAsync();
-    if (!permissionResult.granted) {
-      Alert.alert("Permission to access camera is required!");
-      return;
-    }
-    const result = await ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync({
-      mediaTypes: ["images"],
-      quality: 1,
-      allowsEditing: false,
-      aspect: [16, 9],
-    });
-    if (!result.canceled) {
-      setSelectedImage(result.assets[0]);
+    const result = await launchCamera();
+    if (result.success) {
+      setSelectedImage(result.asset);
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/utils/imagePicker.ts b/utils/imagePicker.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..071e236
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/imagePicker.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+/**
+ * Image Picker Utilities
+ *
+ * Reusable functions for camera and gallery image selection with built-in
+ * permission handling and camera availability checks (iOS Simulator support).
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ * ```typescript
+ * import { launchCamera, launchImageLibrary } from "@/utils/imagePicker";
+ *
+ * // Pick from gallery
+ * const result = await launchImageLibrary();
+ * if (result.success) {
+ *   console.log(result.asset.uri);
+ * }
+ *
+ * // Capture with camera
+ * const result = await launchCamera();
+ * if (result.success) {
+ *   setImage(result.asset);
+ * }
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Note: Camera is not available on iOS Simulator. The `launchCamera` function
+ * will show an alert and return `{ success: false }` in that case.
+ */
+
+import * as ImagePicker from "expo-image-picker";
+import { Alert } from "react-native";
+
+export type ImagePickerResult = {
+  success: true;
+  asset: ImagePicker.ImagePickerAsset;
+} | {
+  success: false;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Check if camera is available and show alert if not.
+ * Returns true if camera is available, false otherwise.
+ */
+export async function checkCameraAvailability(): Promise<boolean> {
+  const cameraStatus = await ImagePicker.getCameraPermissionsAsync();
+
+  if (!cameraStatus.canAskAgain && !cameraStatus.granted) {
+    Alert.alert(
+      "Camera Not Available",
+      "Camera is not available on this device. Please use the gallery option instead, or test on a physical device.",
+      [{ text: "OK" }]
+    );
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Launch camera to capture an image.
+ * Handles permission requests and camera availability checks.
+ */
+export async function launchCamera(): Promise<ImagePickerResult> {
+  const isAvailable = await checkCameraAvailability();
+  if (!isAvailable) {
+    return { success: false };
+  }
+
+  const permissionResult = await ImagePicker.requestCameraPermissionsAsync();
+  if (!permissionResult.granted) {
+    Alert.alert("Permission to access camera is required!");
+    return { success: false };
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const result = await ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync({
+      mediaTypes: ["images"],
+      quality: 1,
+      allowsEditing: false,
+      aspect: [16, 9],
+    });
+
+    if (!result.canceled && result.assets[0]) {
+      return { success: true, asset: result.assets[0] };
+    }
+
+    return { success: false };
+  } catch (error) {
+    // Camera hardware not available (e.g., iOS Simulator)
+    Alert.alert(
+      "Camera Not Available",
+      "Camera is not available on this device. Please use the gallery option instead, or test on a physical device.",
+      [{ text: "OK" }]
+    );
+    return { success: false };
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Launch image library to pick an image.
+ * Handles permission requests.
+ */
+export async function launchImageLibrary(): Promise<ImagePickerResult> {
+  const permissionResult =
+    await ImagePicker.requestMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync();
+
+  if (!permissionResult.granted) {
+    Alert.alert("Permission to access camera roll is required!");
+    return { success: false };
+  }
+
+  const result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync({
+    mediaTypes: ["images"],
+    quality: 1,
+    allowsEditing: false,
+    aspect: [16, 9],
+  });
+
+  if (!result.canceled && result.assets[0]) {
+    return { success: true, asset: result.assets[0] };
+  }
+
+  return { success: false };
+}