diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 70ccc5e..c08e1ad 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ rustls-channel-resolver = "0.2.0"
 rustls-pemfile = "2.0.0"
 rusty-s3 = "0.5.0"
 serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
-serde-tuple-vec-map = "1.0.1"
 serde_json = "1.0"
+serde-tuple-vec-map = "1.0.1"
 serde_urlencoded = "0.7.1"
 sha2 = "0.10.0"
 sled = { version = "0.34.7" }
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 9224cf2..f475255 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -33,11 +33,13 @@
             cargo-outdated
             certstrap
             clippy
+            curl
             diesel-cli
             exiftool
             ffmpeg_6-full
             garage
             imagemagick
+            jq
             minio-client
             rust-analyzer
             rustc
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index b6cb1cc..d5731c9 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -111,8 +111,11 @@ pub(crate) enum UploadError {
     #[error("Invalid job popped from job queue: {1}")]
     InvalidJob(#[source] serde_json::Error, String),
 
-    #[error("Error parsing upload query")]
-    InvalidUploadQuery(#[source] actix_web::error::QueryPayloadError),
+    #[error("Invalid query supplied")]
+    InvalidQuery(#[source] actix_web::error::QueryPayloadError),
+
+    #[error("Invalid json supplied")]
+    InvalidJson(#[source] actix_web::error::JsonPayloadError),
 
     #[error("pict-rs is in read-only mode")]
     ReadOnly,
@@ -212,7 +215,8 @@ impl UploadError {
             Self::ProcessTimeout => ErrorCode::COMMAND_TIMEOUT,
             Self::FailedExternalValidation => ErrorCode::FAILED_EXTERNAL_VALIDATION,
             Self::InvalidJob(_, _) => ErrorCode::INVALID_JOB,
-            Self::InvalidUploadQuery(_) => ErrorCode::INVALID_UPLOAD_QUERY,
+            Self::InvalidQuery(_) => ErrorCode::INVALID_QUERY,
+            Self::InvalidJson(_) => ErrorCode::INVALID_JSON,
             #[cfg(feature = "random-errors")]
             Self::RandomError => ErrorCode::RANDOM_ERROR,
         }
@@ -265,7 +269,8 @@ impl ResponseError for Error {
                 ))
                 | UploadError::Repo(crate::repo::RepoError::AlreadyClaimed)
                 | UploadError::Validation(_)
-                | UploadError::InvalidUploadQuery(_)
+                | UploadError::InvalidQuery(_)
+                | UploadError::InvalidJson(_)
                 | UploadError::UnsupportedProcessExtension
                 | UploadError::ReadOnly
                 | UploadError::FailedExternalValidation
diff --git a/src/error_code.rs b/src/error_code.rs
index 46a7652..5e3f2ef 100644
--- a/src/error_code.rs
+++ b/src/error_code.rs
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ impl ErrorCode {
     pub(crate) const VIDEO_DISABLED: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
         code: "video-disabled",
     };
+    pub(crate) const MEDIA_DISALLOWED: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
+        code: "media-disallowed",
+    };
     pub(crate) const HTTP_CLIENT_ERROR: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
         code: "http-client-error",
     };
@@ -147,8 +150,11 @@ impl ErrorCode {
     pub(crate) const INVALID_JOB: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
         code: "invalid-job",
     };
-    pub(crate) const INVALID_UPLOAD_QUERY: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
-        code: "invalid-upload-query",
+    pub(crate) const INVALID_QUERY: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
+        code: "invalid-query",
+    };
+    pub(crate) const INVALID_JSON: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
+        code: "invalid-json",
     };
     #[cfg(feature = "random-errors")]
     pub(crate) const RANDOM_ERROR: ErrorCode = ErrorCode {
diff --git a/src/ingest.rs b/src/ingest.rs
index 983b1d8..d8fb592 100644
--- a/src/ingest.rs
+++ b/src/ingest.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,13 @@ where
             .with_poll_timer("validate-bytes-stream")
             .await?;
 
-    let process_read = if let Some(operations) = state.config.media.preprocess_steps() {
+    let operations = if upload_query.operations.is_empty() {
+        state.config.media.preprocess_steps()
+    } else {
+        Some(upload_query.operations.as_ref())
+    };
+
+    let process_read = if let Some(operations) = operations {
         if let Some(format) = input_type.processable_format() {
             let (_, magick_args) =
                 crate::processor::build_chain(operations, format.file_extension())?;
diff --git a/src/ingest/validate.rs b/src/ingest/validate.rs
index 4d23bb2..10fc8d2 100644
--- a/src/ingest/validate.rs
+++ b/src/ingest/validate.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ pub(crate) enum ValidationError {
 
     #[error("Video is disabled")]
     VideoDisabled,
+
+    #[error("Media type wasn't allowed for this upload")]
+    MediaDisallowed,
 }
 
 impl ValidationError {
@@ -51,6 +54,7 @@ impl ValidationError {
             Self::Empty => ErrorCode::VALIDATE_FILE_EMPTY,
             Self::Filesize => ErrorCode::VALIDATE_FILE_SIZE,
             Self::VideoDisabled => ErrorCode::VIDEO_DISABLED,
+            Self::MediaDisallowed => ErrorCode::MEDIA_DISALLOWED,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -76,14 +80,16 @@ pub(crate) async fn validate_bytes_stream<S>(
         .with_poll_timer("discover-bytes-stream")
         .await?;
 
+    validate_upload(bytes.len(), width, height, frames, upload_limits)?;
+
     match &input {
-        InputFile::Image(input) => {
+        InputFile::Image(input) if *upload_limits.allow_image => {
             let (format, process) =
                 process_image_command(state, *input, bytes.len(), width, height).await?;
 
             Ok((format, process.drive_with_stream(bytes.into_io_stream())))
         }
-        InputFile::Animation(input) => {
+        InputFile::Animation(input) if *upload_limits.allow_animation => {
             let (format, process) = process_animation_command(
                 state,
                 *input,
@@ -96,20 +102,67 @@ pub(crate) async fn validate_bytes_stream<S>(
 
             Ok((format, process.drive_with_stream(bytes.into_io_stream())))
         }
-        InputFile::Video(input) => {
+        InputFile::Video(input) if *upload_limits.allow_video => {
             let (format, process_read) =
                 process_video(state, bytes, *input, width, height, frames.unwrap_or(1)).await?;
 
             Ok((format, process_read))
         }
+        _ => Err(ValidationError::MediaDisallowed.into()),
     }
 }
 
+fn validate_upload(
+    size: usize,
+    width: u16,
+    height: u16,
+    frames: Option<u32>,
+    upload_limits: &UploadLimits,
+) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
+    if upload_limits
+        .max_width
+        .is_some_and(|max_width| width > *max_width)
+    {
+        return Err(ValidationError::Width);
+    }
+
+    if upload_limits
+        .max_height
+        .is_some_and(|max_height| height > *max_height)
+    {
+        return Err(ValidationError::Height);
+    }
+
+    if upload_limits
+        .max_frame_count
+        .zip(frames)
+        .is_some_and(|(max_frame_count, frames)| frames > *max_frame_count)
+    {
+        return Err(ValidationError::Frames);
+    }
+
+    if upload_limits
+        .max_area
+        .is_some_and(|max_area| u32::from(width) * u32::from(height) > *max_area)
+    {
+        return Err(ValidationError::Area);
+    }
+
+    if upload_limits
+        .max_file_size
+        .is_some_and(|max_file_size| size > *max_file_size * MEGABYTES)
+    {
+        return Err(ValidationError::Filesize);
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[tracing::instrument(skip(state))]
 async fn process_image_command<S>(
     state: &State<S>,
     input: ImageInput,
-    length: usize,
+    size: usize,
     width: u16,
     height: u16,
 ) -> Result<(InternalFormat, Process), Error> {
@@ -124,7 +177,7 @@ async fn process_image_command<S>(
     if u32::from(width) * u32::from(height) > validations.max_area {
         return Err(ValidationError::Area.into());
     }
-    if length > validations.max_file_size * MEGABYTES {
+    if size > validations.max_file_size * MEGABYTES {
         return Err(ValidationError::Filesize.into());
     }
 
@@ -174,14 +227,14 @@ fn validate_animation(
 async fn process_animation_command<S>(
     state: &State<S>,
     input: AnimationFormat,
-    length: usize,
+    size: usize,
     width: u16,
     height: u16,
     frames: u32,
 ) -> Result<(InternalFormat, Process), Error> {
     let validations = &state.config.media.animation;
 
-    validate_animation(length, width, height, frames, validations)?;
+    validate_animation(size, width, height, frames, validations)?;
 
     let AnimationOutput {
         format,
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index eed4d54..8120625 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -150,14 +150,14 @@ async fn ensure_details_identifier<S: Store + 'static>(
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize)]
 #[serde(default)]
 struct UploadLimits {
-    max_width: Option<u16>,
-    max_height: Option<u16>,
-    max_area: Option<u32>,
-    max_frame_count: Option<u32>,
-    max_file_size: Option<usize>,
-    allow_image: bool,
-    allow_animation: bool,
-    allow_video: bool,
+    max_width: Option<Serde<u16>>,
+    max_height: Option<Serde<u16>>,
+    max_area: Option<Serde<u32>>,
+    max_frame_count: Option<Serde<u32>>,
+    max_file_size: Option<Serde<usize>>,
+    allow_image: Serde<bool>,
+    allow_animation: Serde<bool>,
+    allow_video: Serde<bool>,
 }
 
 impl Default for UploadLimits {
@@ -168,9 +168,9 @@ impl Default for UploadLimits {
             max_area: None,
             max_frame_count: None,
             max_file_size: None,
-            allow_image: true,
-            allow_animation: true,
-            allow_video: true,
+            allow_image: Serde::new(true),
+            allow_animation: Serde::new(true),
+            allow_video: Serde::new(true),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ impl<S: Store + 'static> FormData for Upload<S> {
             .clone();
 
         let web::Query(upload_query) = web::Query::<UploadQuery>::from_query(req.query_string())
-            .map_err(UploadError::InvalidUploadQuery)?;
+            .map_err(UploadError::InvalidQuery)?;
 
         let upload_query = Rc::new(upload_query);
 
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ impl<S: Store + 'static> FormData for Import<S> {
             .clone();
 
         let web::Query(upload_query) = web::Query::<UploadQuery>::from_query(req.query_string())
-            .map_err(UploadError::InvalidUploadQuery)?;
+            .map_err(UploadError::InvalidQuery)?;
 
         let upload_query = Rc::new(upload_query);
 
@@ -426,8 +426,10 @@ impl<S: Store + 'static> FormData for BackgroundedUpload<S> {
 async fn upload_backgrounded<S: Store>(
     Multipart(BackgroundedUpload(value, _)): Multipart<BackgroundedUpload<S>>,
     state: web::Data<State<S>>,
-    web::Query(upload_query): web::Query<UploadQuery>,
+    upload_query: web::Query<UploadQuery>,
 ) -> Result<HttpResponse, Error> {
+    let upload_query = upload_query.into_inner();
+
     let images = value
         .map()
         .and_then(|mut m| m.remove("images"))
@@ -552,12 +554,14 @@ async fn ingest_inline<S: Store + 'static>(
 /// download an image from a URL
 #[tracing::instrument(name = "Downloading file", skip(state))]
 async fn download<S: Store + 'static>(
-    web::Query(DownloadQuery {
-        url_query,
-        upload_query,
-    }): web::Query<DownloadQuery>,
+    download_query: web::Query<DownloadQuery>,
     state: web::Data<State<S>>,
 ) -> Result<HttpResponse, Error> {
+    let DownloadQuery {
+        url_query,
+        upload_query,
+    } = download_query.into_inner();
+
     let stream = download_stream(&url_query.url, &state).await?;
 
     if url_query.backgrounded {
@@ -1574,6 +1578,16 @@ fn build_client() -> Result<ClientWithMiddleware, Error> {
         .build())
 }
 
+fn query_config() -> web::QueryConfig {
+    web::QueryConfig::default()
+        .error_handler(|err, _| Error::from(UploadError::InvalidQuery(err)).into())
+}
+
+fn json_config() -> web::JsonConfig {
+    web::JsonConfig::default()
+        .error_handler(|err, _| Error::from(UploadError::InvalidJson(err)).into())
+}
+
 fn configure_endpoints<S: Store + 'static, F: Fn(&mut web::ServiceConfig)>(
     config: &mut web::ServiceConfig,
     state: State<S>,
@@ -1581,6 +1595,8 @@ fn configure_endpoints<S: Store + 'static, F: Fn(&mut web::ServiceConfig)>(
     extra_config: F,
 ) {
     config
+        .app_data(query_config())
+        .app_data(json_config())
         .app_data(web::Data::new(state.clone()))
         .app_data(web::Data::new(process_map.clone()))
         .route("/healthz", web::get().to(healthz::<S>))
diff --git a/src/serde_str.rs b/src/serde_str.rs
index 6b7962f..21e3344 100644
--- a/src/serde_str.rs
+++ b/src/serde_str.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::{
     str::FromStr,
 };
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
 pub(crate) struct Serde<T> {
     inner: T,
 }
@@ -44,6 +44,17 @@ impl<T> DerefMut for Serde<T> {
     }
 }
 
+impl<T> Default for Serde<T>
+where
+    T: Default,
+{
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Serde {
+            inner: T::default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl<T> FromStr for Serde<T>
 where
     T: FromStr,