diff --git a/imaginate_api/app.py b/imaginate_api/app.py
index 0acbd5f..ca3ae47 100644
--- a/imaginate_api/app.py
+++ b/imaginate_api/app.py
@@ -8,11 +8,17 @@
 # Other
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from flask import Flask, abort, json, jsonify, make_response, render_template, request
+from base64 import b64encode
+from bson.objectid import ObjectId
+
 
 # MongoDB related
 from pymongo import MongoClient
 from werkzeug.exceptions import HTTPException
 
+# Constants
+from schemas.image_info import ImageStatus
+
 
 # Helper function to get boolean
 def str_to_bool(string: str):
@@ -186,31 +192,39 @@ def delete_image(id):
 
 #Image Verification Routes
 
+# GET /image/verification-portal: returns HTML page for image verification
 @app.route("/image/verification-portal", methods=["GET"])
 def verification_portal():
-    obj = list(db['fs.files'].aggregate([{ '$sample': { 'size': 1 } }]))[0] #TODO: MAKE IT BASED ON STATUS
-    print(obj)
+    obj = db['fs.files'].find_one({
+      '$or': [
+        { 'status':'unverified' },
+        { 'status': { '$exists': False } }
+      ]
+    })
     if obj:
-        grid_out = fs.find_one({"_id":obj['_id']})
+        grid_out = fs.find_one({ "_id": obj['_id'] })
         data = grid_out.read()
-        base64_data = base64.b64encode(data).decode('ascii');
-        return render_template('verification_portal.html', id=obj['_id'], img_found=True, img_src=base64_data, obj_data=obj)
+        base64_data = b64encode(data).decode('ascii');
+        return render_template('verification_portal.html', id=obj['_id'], img_found=True, img_src=base64_data)
     return render_template('verification_portal.html', img_found=False)
 
+# POST /image/update-status: used to mark images as verified / rejected
 @app.route("/image/update-status", methods=["POST"])
 def update_status():
     status = request.form['status']
     if status:
-        query_filter = { '_id':request.form['id'] }
+        query_filter = { '_id': ObjectId(request.form['id']) }
         update_operation = { "$set" : { "status" : status } }
-        db['fs.files'].find_one_and_update(query_filter, update_operation)
+        response = db['fs.files'].find_one_and_update(query_filter, update_operation)
+        return {"message": "Status updated"}
     else:
-        return "new status not recieved",400  
-    return "status updated",200
+        abort(400, description="New status not received")
+    
 
-@app.route("/image/delete_rejected", methods=["DELETE"])
+# DELETE /image/delete-rejected: used to delete all images marked as rejected, returns all deleted images
+@app.route("/image/delete-rejected", methods=["DELETE"])
 def delete_rejected():
-    filter = {"status":"rejected"}
+    filter = {"status": ImageStatus.REJECTED}
     results = db["fs.files"].delete_many(filter)
     return results, 200
 
diff --git a/imaginate_api/templates/verification_portal.html b/imaginate_api/templates/verification_portal.html
index 2b20c15..c6ea8ec 100644
--- a/imaginate_api/templates/verification_portal.html
+++ b/imaginate_api/templates/verification_portal.html
@@ -5,20 +5,20 @@
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
   <title>Imaginate Verification</title>
     <script>
-        function submitForm(event) {
-            event.preventDefault();
-            const form = event.target;
-            const formData = new FormData(form);
+      function submitForm(event) {
+        event.preventDefault();
+        const form = event.target;
+        const formData = new FormData(form);
 
-            fetch(form.action, {
-                method: form.method,
-                body: formData,
-            }).then(response => {
-                window.location.reload()
-            }).catch(error => {
-                console.error('Error:', error);
-            });
-        }
+        fetch(form.action, {
+          method: form.method,
+          body: formData,
+        }).then(response => {
+          window.location.reload()
+        }).catch(error => {
+          console.error('Error:', error);
+        });
+      }
     </script>
 </head>
 <body>
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
     </fieldset>    
     <button type="submit">Submit</button>
   </form>
-  <p>{{obj_data}}</p>
   {% else %}
   <p>no images needing verification found</p>
   {% endif %}