diff --git a/ome_zarr/writer.py b/ome_zarr/writer.py
index a8f0b79b..28c6d1b7 100644
--- a/ome_zarr/writer.py
+++ b/ome_zarr/writer.py
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ def _validate_well_images(images: List, fmt: Format = CurrentFormat()) -> None:
         if isinstance(image, str):
             images[index] = {"path": str(image)}
         elif isinstance(image, dict):
-            if not all(e in VALID_KEYS for e in image.keys()):
-                raise ValueError(f"{image} contains invalid keys")
+            if any(e not in VALID_KEYS for e in image.keys()):
+                LOGGER.debug("f{image} contains unspecified keys")
             if "path" not in image:
                 raise ValueError(f"{image} must contain a path key")
             if not isinstance(image["path"], str):
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ def _validate_plate_acquisitions(
     for acquisition in acquisitions:
         if not isinstance(acquisition, dict):
             raise ValueError(f"{acquisition} must be a dictionary")
-        if not all(e in VALID_KEYS for e in acquisition.keys()):
-            raise ValueError(f"{acquisition} contains invalid keys")
+        if not any(e not in VALID_KEYS for e in acquisition.keys()):
+            LOGGER.debug("f{acquisition} contains unspecified keys")
         if "id" not in acquisition:
             raise ValueError(f"{acquisition} must contain an id key")
         if not isinstance(acquisition["id"], int):
diff --git a/tests/test_writer.py b/tests/test_writer.py
index 1ef7b05d..2f0897ef 100644
--- a/tests/test_writer.py
+++ b/tests/test_writer.py
@@ -347,11 +347,10 @@ def test_acquisitions_maximal(self):
             [{"id": "0"}, {"id": "1"}],
         ),
     )
-    def test_invalid_acquisitions(self, acquisitions):
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-            write_plate_metadata(
-                self.root, ["A"], ["1"], ["A/1"], acquisitions=acquisitions
-            )
+    def test_unspecified_acquisition_keys(self, acquisitions):
+        a = [{"id": 0, "invalid_key": "0"}]
+        write_plate_metadata(self.root, ["A"], ["1"], ["A/1"], acquisitions=a)
+        assert "plate" in self.root.attrs
 
 
 class TestWellMetadata:
@@ -413,10 +412,20 @@ def test_multiple_acquisitions(self):
             [{"acquisition": 0}, {"acquisition": 1}],
             [{"path": "0", "acquisition": "0"}, {"path": "1", "acquisition": "1"}],
             [{"path": 0}, {"path": 1}],
-            [{"path": "0", "name": "0"}, {"path": "1", "name": "1"}],
             [0, 1],
         ),
     )
     def test_invalid_images(self, images):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             write_well_metadata(self.root, images)
+
+    def test_unspecified_images_keys(self):
+        images = [
+            {"path": "0", "acquisition": 1, "unspecified_key": "alpha"},
+            {"path": "1", "acquisition": 2, "unspecified_key": "beta"},
+            {"path": "2", "acquisition": 3, "unspecified_key": "gamma"},
+        ]
+        write_well_metadata(self.root, images)
+        assert "well" in self.root.attrs
+        assert self.root.attrs["well"]["images"] == images
+        assert self.root.attrs["well"]["version"] == CurrentFormat().version