diff --git a/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/add_photo_modal.py b/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/add_photo_modal.py
index 89181b2..7384fe0 100644
--- a/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/add_photo_modal.py
+++ b/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/add_photo_modal.py
@@ -15,12 +15,6 @@ class AddPhotoModal(Screen):
         self.result = None
         self.created_photo = None
 
-    def _generate_photo_hash(self, photo_data: dict) -> str:
-        """Generate a short, unique hash for a photo"""
-        # Use temporary data for hash generation
-        unique_string = f"{photo_data['name']}_{photo_data.get('photo_id', 0)}_new"
-        hash_object = hashlib.md5(unique_string.encode())
-        return hash_object.hexdigest()[:8]
 
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
         yield Container(
@@ -82,13 +76,9 @@ class AddPhotoModal(Screen):
 
             if new_photo:
                 self.created_photo = new_photo
-                # Generate hash for the new photo
-                photo_hash = self._generate_photo_hash({
-                    "name": new_photo.name,
-                    "photo_id": new_photo.id
-                })
+
                 
-                self.notify(f"Photo '{new_photo.name}' added successfully!\nHash: {photo_hash}\nReference: \\[\\[photo:{new_photo.name}:{photo_hash}\\]\\]", 
+                self.notify(f"Photo '{new_photo.name}' added successfully!\nHash: {new_photo.photo_hash[:8]}\nReference: \\[\\[photo:{new_photo.name}:{new_photo.photo_hash[:8]}\\]\\]",
                            severity="information", timeout=5)
                 
                 # Return the created photo data to the calling screen
@@ -97,7 +87,7 @@ class AddPhotoModal(Screen):
                     "name": photo_data["name"],
                     "caption": photo_data["caption"],
                     "photo_id": new_photo.id,
-                    "hash": photo_hash
+                    "hash": new_photo.photo_hash
                 }
                 self.dismiss(self.result)
             else:
diff --git a/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/edit_photo_modal.py b/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/edit_photo_modal.py
index 9a44d1d..b277164 100644
--- a/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/edit_photo_modal.py
+++ b/src/pilgrim/ui/screens/modals/edit_photo_modal.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from textual.screen import Screen
 from textual.widgets import Static, Input, Button
 from textual.containers import Container, Horizontal
 from pilgrim.models.photo import Photo
-import hashlib
+
 
 class EditPhotoModal(Screen):
     """Modal for editing an existing photo (name and caption only)"""
@@ -12,15 +12,11 @@ class EditPhotoModal(Screen):
         self.photo = photo
         self.result = None
 
-    def _generate_photo_hash(self, photo: Photo) -> str:
-        """Generate a short, unique hash for a photo"""
-        unique_string = f"{photo.name}_{photo.id}_{photo.addition_date}"
-        hash_object = hashlib.md5(unique_string.encode())
-        return hash_object.hexdigest()[:8]
+
 
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
         # Generate hash for this photo
-        photo_hash = self._generate_photo_hash(self.photo)
+
         
         yield Container(
             Static("✏️ Edit Photo", classes="EditPhotoModal-Title"),
@@ -45,10 +41,9 @@ class EditPhotoModal(Screen):
                 id="caption-input", 
                 classes="EditPhotoModal-Input"
             ),
-            Static(f"🔗 Photo Hash: {photo_hash}", classes="EditPhotoModal-Hash"),
+            Static(f"🔗 Photo Hash: {self.photo.photo_hash[:8]}", classes="EditPhotoModal-Hash"),
             Static("Reference formats:", classes="EditPhotoModal-Label"),
-            Static(f"\\[\\[photo:{self.photo.name}:{photo_hash}\\]\\]", classes="EditPhotoModal-Reference"),
-            Static(f"\\[\\[photo::{photo_hash}\\]\\]", classes="EditPhotoModal-Reference"),
+            Static(f"\\[\\[photo::{self.photo.photo_hash[:8]}\\]\\]", classes="EditPhotoModal-Reference"),
             Horizontal(
                 Button("Save Changes", id="save-button", classes="EditPhotoModal-Button"),
                 Button("Cancel", id="cancel-button", classes="EditPhotoModal-Button"),