diff --git a/src/app/global/components/post-update-modal/post-update-modal.vue b/src/app/global/components/post-update-modal/post-update-modal.vue
index 532d5b57..2000c4d2 100644
--- a/src/app/global/components/post-update-modal/post-update-modal.vue
+++ b/src/app/global/components/post-update-modal/post-update-modal.vue
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ export default {
       this.formPending = true
       this.$emit('update:pending', true)
 
-      try {  
+      try {
         const result = await updatePost(this.formData)
         if (!result.errors) {
           this.$emit('update:success', result.data.postUpdate.id)
diff --git a/src/app/services/updatePost.js b/src/app/services/updatePost.js
index de6dcf41..c6fadc66 100644
--- a/src/app/services/updatePost.js
+++ b/src/app/services/updatePost.js
@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
 import http from "@/app/http";
 
 export async function updatePost(formData, photo) {
-  //if post is coming in with an ID then remove that property.
-  const photoCopy = Object.assign({}, photo);
-  delete photoCopy.id;
-  photoCopy.post_id = formData.id;
+  const variables = {
+    id: formData.id,
+    post: formData.post
+  };
+  if (photo) {
+    // if post is coming in with an ID then remove that property.
+    const photoCopy = Object.assign({}, photo);
+    delete photoCopy.id;
+    photoCopy.post_id = formData.id;
+    variables.photo = photoCopy;
+    variables.photo_id = photo.id;
+  }
   return http
     .post("/graphql", {
       query: `
-      mutation ($id:ID!, $photo_id: ID!, $photo: PhotoInput!, $post: PostInput!) {
+      mutation ($id:ID!, ${photo ? "$photo_id: ID!, $photo: PhotoInput!, " : ''}$post: PostInput!) {
           postUpdate(id: $id, post:$post)  {
           id
           detail
@@ -24,17 +32,9 @@ export async function updatePost(formData, photo) {
             uid
           }
         }
-        photoUpdate(id: $photo_id, photo: $photo)
-          {
-            id
-          },
+        ${photo ?  "photoUpdate(id: $photo_id, photo: $photo) { id }," : '' }
       }`,
-      variables: {
-        id: formData.id,
-        post: formData.post,
-        photo: photoCopy,
-        photo_id: photo.id,
-      },
+      variables: variables,
     })
     .then((response) => {
       return response.data;
diff --git a/src/app/views/river-detail/components/media-upload-form.vue b/src/app/views/river-detail/components/media-upload-form.vue
index acbbf3d6..5c0eaa7d 100644
--- a/src/app/views/river-detail/components/media-upload-form.vue
+++ b/src/app/views/river-detail/components/media-upload-form.vue
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ export default {
     async submitPost () {
       this.formPending = true
       try {
-        //upload the details collected from the form, not just reach id etc.
+        // upload the details collected from the form, not just reach id etc.
         await updatePost(this.postFormData, { ...this.formData.photo, id: this.formData.id })
 
         this.$emit('form:success')