diff --git a/include/Photo.php b/include/Photo.php
index e418cde462..ca9ae0703c 100644
--- a/include/Photo.php
+++ b/include/Photo.php
@@ -208,3 +208,44 @@ class Photo {
 }}
 
 
+function import_profile_photo($photo,$uid,$cid) {
+
+	$a = get_app();
+
+	$photo_failure = false;
+
+	$filename = basename($photo);
+	$img_str = fetch_url($photo,true);
+	$img = new Photo($img_str);
+	if($img->is_valid()) {
+
+		$img->scaleImageSquare(175);
+					
+		$hash = photo_new_resource();
+
+		$r = $img->store($uid, $cid, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos'), 4 );
+
+		if($r === false)
+			$photo_failure = true;
+
+		$img->scaleImage(80);
+
+		$r = $img->store($uid, $cid, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos'), 5 );
+
+		if($r === false)
+			$photo_failure = true;
+
+		$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-4.jpg';
+		$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-5.jpg';
+	}
+	else
+		$photo_failure = true;
+
+	if($photo_failure) {
+		$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile.jpg';
+		$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile-sm.jpg';
+	}
+
+	return(array($photo,$thumb));
+
+}
diff --git a/mod/dfrn_confirm.php b/mod/dfrn_confirm.php
index cc1edea229..705f74f135 100644
--- a/mod/dfrn_confirm.php
+++ b/mod/dfrn_confirm.php
@@ -229,40 +229,7 @@ function dfrn_confirm_post(&$a,$handsfree = null) {
 
 		require_once("Photo.php");
 
-		$photo_failure = false;
-
-		$filename = basename($contact['photo']);
-		$img_str = fetch_url($contact['photo'],true);
-		$img = new Photo($img_str);
-		if($img->is_valid()) {
-
-			$img->scaleImageSquare(175);
-					
-			$hash = photo_new_resource();
-
-			$r = $img->store($uid, $contact_id, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos'), 4 );
-
-			if($r === false)
-				$photo_failure = true;
-
-			$img->scaleImage(80);
-
-			$r = $img->store($uid, $contact_id, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos'), 5 );
-
-			if($r === false)
-				$photo_failure = true;
-
-			$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-4.jpg';
-			$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-5.jpg';
-		}
-		else
-			$photo_failure = true;
-
-		if($photo_failure) {
-			$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile.jpg';
-			$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile-sm.jpg';
-		}
-
+		$photos = import_profile_photo($contact['photo'],$uid,$contact_id);
 
 		if($contact['network'] === 'dfrn') {
 
@@ -281,8 +248,8 @@ function dfrn_confirm_post(&$a,$handsfree = null) {
 				`duplex` = %d,
 				`network` = 'dfrn' WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1
 			",
-				dbesc($photo),
-				dbesc($thumb),
+				dbesc($photos[0]),
+				dbesc($photos[1]),
 				intval($new_relation),
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()),
@@ -324,8 +291,8 @@ function dfrn_confirm_post(&$a,$handsfree = null) {
 				`pending` = 0
 				WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1
 			",
-				dbesc($photo),
-				dbesc($thumb),
+				dbesc($photos[0]),
+				dbesc($photos[1]),
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()),
@@ -463,47 +430,19 @@ function dfrn_confirm_post(&$a,$handsfree = null) {
 
 		// We're good but now we have to scrape the profile photo and send notifications.
 
-		require_once("Photo.php");
 
-		$photo_failure = false;
 
 		$r = q("SELECT `photo` FROM `contact` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
 			intval($dfrn_record));
-		if(count($r)) {
 
-			$filename = basename($r[0]['photo']);
-			$img_str = fetch_url($r[0]['photo'],true);
-			$img = new Photo($img_str);
-			if($img->is_valid()) {
-
-				$img->scaleImageSquare(175);
-					
-				$hash = photo_new_resource();
-
-				$r = $img->store($local_uid, $dfrn_record, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos') , 4);
-
-				if($r === false)
-					$photo_failure = true;
-					
-				$img->scaleImage(80);
-				$r = $img->store($local_uid, $dfrn_record, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos') , 5);
-
-				if($r === false)
-					$photo_failure = true;
-
-				$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-4.jpg';
-				$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-5.jpg';	
-			}
-			else
-				$photo_failure = true;
-		}
+		if(count($r))
+			$photo = $r[0]['photo'];
 		else
-			$photo_failure = true;
-
-		if($photo_failure) {
 			$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile.jpg';
-			$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile-sm.jpg';
-		}
+				
+		require_once("Photo.php");
+
+		$photos = import_profile_photo($photo,$local_uid,$dfrn_record);
 
 		$new_relation = REL_FAN;
 		if(($relation == REL_VIP) || ($duplex))
@@ -521,8 +460,8 @@ function dfrn_confirm_post(&$a,$handsfree = null) {
 			`duplex` = %d, 
 			`network` = 'dfrn' WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1
 		",
-			dbesc($photo),
-			dbesc($thumb),
+			dbesc($photos[0]),
+			dbesc($photos[1]),
 			intval($new_relation),
 			dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 			dbesc(datetime_convert()),
diff --git a/mod/follow.php b/mod/follow.php
index 7ac9a50c31..29c5f42306 100644
--- a/mod/follow.php
+++ b/mod/follow.php
@@ -70,15 +70,17 @@ function follow_post(&$a) {
 		$vcard['photo'] = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile.jpg' ; 
 
 	// check if we already have a contact
+	// the poll url is more reliable than the profile url, as we may have
+	// indirect links or webfinger links
 
 	$r = q("SELECT * FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d AND `poll` = '%s' LIMIT 1",
 		intval(local_user()),
 		dbesc($poll)
 	);			
-	if($r) {
+	if(count($r)) {
 		// update contact
 		if($r[0]['rel'] == REL_VIP) {
-			q("UPDATE `contact` SET `rel` = %d WHERE `id` = %d AND `uid` = %d LIMIT 1",
+			q("UPDATE `contact` SET `rel` = %d , `readonly` = 0 WHERE `id` = %d AND `uid` = %d LIMIT 1",
 				intval(REL_BUD),
 				intval($r[0]['id']),
 				intval(local_user())
@@ -117,39 +119,7 @@ function follow_post(&$a) {
 
 	require_once("Photo.php");
 
-	$photo_failure = false;
-
-	$filename = basename($vcard['photo']);
-	$img_str = fetch_url($vcard['photo'],true);
-	$img = new Photo($img_str);
-	if($img->is_valid()) {
-
-		$img->scaleImageSquare(175);
-					
-		$hash = photo_new_resource();
-
-		$r = $img->store(local_user(), $contact_id, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos'), 4 );
-
-		if($r === false)
-			$photo_failure = true;
-
-		$img->scaleImage(80);
-
-		$r = $img->store(local_user(), $contact_id, $hash, $filename, t('Contact Photos'), 5 );
-
-		if($r === false)
-			$photo_failure = true;
-
-		$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-4.jpg';
-		$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-5.jpg';
-	}
-	else
-		$photo_failure = true;
-
-	if($photo_failure) {
-		$photo = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile.jpg';
-		$thumb = $a->get_baseurl() . '/images/default-profile-sm.jpg';
-	}
+	$photos = import_profile_photo($vcard['photo'],local_user(),$contact_id);
 
 	$r = q("UPDATE `contact` SET `photo` = '%s', 
 			`thumb` = '%s', 
@@ -158,8 +128,8 @@ function follow_post(&$a) {
 			`avatar-date` = '%s'
 			WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1
 		",
-			dbesc($photo),
-			dbesc($thumb),
+			dbesc($photos[0]),
+			dbesc($photos[1]),
 			dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 			dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 			dbesc(datetime_convert()),