diff --git a/services/imajin-identity/service/src/api/routes/identities.py b/services/imajin-identity/service/src/api/routes/identities.py
index 7ee2003d..d052bae5 100644
--- a/services/imajin-identity/service/src/api/routes/identities.py
+++ b/services/imajin-identity/service/src/api/routes/identities.py
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ async def create_identity(
             image_count=identity.image_count,
             created_at=identity.created_at,
             updated_at=identity.updated_at,
+            gender=identity.gender,
         )
 
     except ValueError as e:
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@ async def list_identities(request: Request) -> IdentityListResponse:
                     image_count=identity.image_count,
                     created_at=identity.created_at,
                     updated_at=identity.updated_at,
+                    gender=identity.gender,
                 )
                 for identity in identities
             ],
@@ -199,6 +201,7 @@ async def get_identity(identity_id: str, request: Request) -> IdentityResponse:
         source_paths=identity.source_paths,
         created_at=identity.created_at,
         updated_at=identity.updated_at,
+        gender=identity.gender,
     )
 
 
@@ -306,6 +309,7 @@ async def update_identity(
             image_count=identity.image_count,
             created_at=identity.created_at,
             updated_at=identity.updated_at,
+            gender=identity.gender,
         )
 
     except Exception as e:
@@ -659,6 +663,66 @@ async def get_identity_photos(identity_id: str, request: Request) -> dict:
     return {"identity_id": identity_id, "photos": photos}
 
 
+@router.get("/{identity_id}/photos/{photo_id}/source")
+async def get_identity_photo_source(identity_id: str, photo_id: str, request: Request) -> dict:
+    """Get the full-resolution source image for a specific identity photo.
+
+    The photo_id is the 8-char MD5 hash of the source path (same as returned
+    by the /photos endpoint). Returns the full image as base64 so the frontend
+    can use it as input for background repaint or other tools.
+
+    Args:
+        identity_id: Identity ID (lowercase, underscores)
+        photo_id: 8-char photo ID from /photos endpoint
+
+    Returns:
+        Dict with source_base64, width, height, format
+    """
+    import base64
+    import hashlib
+    import io
+
+    from PIL import Image
+
+    store = get_store(request)
+
+    identity = await store.get(identity_id)
+    if identity is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=f"Identity '{identity_id}' not found")
+
+    # Find the source_path whose MD5 prefix matches photo_id
+    source_path_str = None
+    for path_str in identity.source_paths:
+        if hashlib.md5(path_str.encode()).hexdigest()[:8] == photo_id:
+            source_path_str = path_str
+            break
+
+    if source_path_str is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=f"Photo '{photo_id}' not found in identity '{identity_id}'")
+
+    source_path = Path(source_path_str)
+    if not source_path.exists():
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=f"Source file no longer exists: {source_path_str}")
+
+    img = Image.open(source_path)
+    if img.mode not in ("RGB", "RGBA"):
+        img = img.convert("RGB")
+
+    img_format = img.format or "JPEG"
+    buf = io.BytesIO()
+    save_format = "JPEG" if img_format.upper() in ("JPEG", "JPG") else "PNG"
+    img.save(buf, format=save_format)
+    source_base64 = base64.b64encode(buf.getvalue()).decode("utf-8")
+
+    return {
+        "photo_id": photo_id,
+        "source_base64": source_base64,
+        "width": img.width,
+        "height": img.height,
+        "format": save_format.lower(),
+    }
+
+
 @router.post("/search-in-namespace", response_model=NamespacedSearchResponse)
 async def search_in_namespace(
     request_body: NamespacedSearchRequest,