diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d64ae04..a637cde 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ visionLabs Roku is a private Roku app scaffold for viewing home security cameras
 
 The current starter path is Frigate-backed, with Roku reading a static inventory of cameras that are managed by Frigate instead of embedding raw camera credentials in the app.
 
+The first playback strategy is `snapshotFirst`, which lets the Roku app render a useful camera wall before the direct live stream endpoint shape is finalized.
+
 ## Product direction
 
 - Brand family follows the user's existing `Labs` naming pattern.
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ Roku is not a great target for raw RTSP feeds. With Frigate in the middle, the c
 
 1. Set the real Frigate base URL in `config/cameras.json`
 2. Map the four starter cameras in Frigate using the same IDs as the Roku config
-3. Load config into the UI
-4. Render a static multi-camera grid
-5. Add edit mode and persistence strategy
+3. Verify that Frigate snapshots load at `/api/<camera>/latest.jpg`
+4. Render the snapshot wall on Roku
+5. Choose the direct live stream path for full playback
+6. Add edit mode and persistence strategy
diff --git a/components/MainScene.brs b/components/MainScene.brs
index d6e8748..d2a4ec6 100644
--- a/components/MainScene.brs
+++ b/components/MainScene.brs
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@ sub init()
     m.top.setFocus(true)
     m.backend = m.top.findNode("backend")
     m.status = m.top.findNode("status")
+    m.cameraPosters = [
+        m.top.findNode("poster1"),
+        m.top.findNode("poster2"),
+        m.top.findNode("poster3"),
+        m.top.findNode("poster4")
+    ]
     m.cameraNodes = [
         m.top.findNode("cam1"),
         m.top.findNode("cam2"),
@@ -31,9 +37,10 @@ sub loadConfig()
     end if
 
     cameras = config.cameras
-    m.status.text = cameras.count().toStr() + " cameras loaded from static config"
+    m.status.text = cameras.count().toStr() + " cameras loaded, snapshot-first prototype"
 
     for i = 0 to m.cameraNodes.count() - 1
+        poster = m.cameraPosters[i]
         node = m.cameraNodes[i]
 
         if i < cameras.count() then
@@ -48,9 +55,36 @@ sub loadConfig()
                 label = label + chr(10) + "Frigate ID: " + camera.frigateCamera
             end if
 
+            poster.uri = buildSnapshotUrl(config, camera)
             node.text = label
         else
+            poster.uri = ""
             node.text = "Empty slot"
         end if
     end for
 end sub
+
+function buildSnapshotUrl(config as Object, camera as Object) as String
+    if not config.doesExist("backend") or not config.backend.doesExist("baseUrl") then
+        return ""
+    end if
+
+    baseUrl = config.backend.baseUrl
+    path = ""
+
+    if camera.doesExist("snapshotPath") then
+        path = camera.snapshotPath
+    else if camera.doesExist("frigateCamera") then
+        path = "/api/" + camera.frigateCamera + "/latest.jpg"
+    else
+        return ""
+    end if
+
+    if right(baseUrl, 1) = "/" and left(path, 1) = "/" then
+        return left(baseUrl, len(baseUrl) - 1) + path
+    else if right(baseUrl, 1) <> "/" and left(path, 1) <> "/" then
+        return baseUrl + "/" + path
+    end if
+
+    return baseUrl + path
+end function
diff --git a/components/MainScene.xml b/components/MainScene.xml
index 21242e6..677304e 100644
--- a/components/MainScene.xml
+++ b/components/MainScene.xml
@@ -36,35 +36,59 @@
             text="Loading camera config..."
             font="font:MediumSystemFont"
             color="0x8B949EFF" />
-        <Label
-            id="cam1"
+        <Poster
+            id="poster1"
             translation="[80, 360]"
             width="760"
-            height="120"
+            height="300"
+            loadDisplayMode="scaleToFit" />
+        <Label
+            id="cam1"
+            translation="[80, 675]"
+            width="760"
+            height="70"
             text="Cam slot 1"
             font="font:MediumSystemFont"
             color="0xFFFFFFFF" />
-        <Label
-            id="cam2"
+        <Poster
+            id="poster2"
             translation="[980, 360]"
             width="760"
-            height="120"
+            height="300"
+            loadDisplayMode="scaleToFit" />
+        <Label
+            id="cam2"
+            translation="[980, 675]"
+            width="760"
+            height="70"
             text="Cam slot 2"
             font="font:MediumSystemFont"
             color="0xFFFFFFFF" />
+        <Poster
+            id="poster3"
+            translation="[80, 760]"
+            width="760"
+            height="300"
+            loadDisplayMode="scaleToFit" />
         <Label
             id="cam3"
-            translation="[80, 580]"
+            translation="[80, 1015]"
             width="760"
-            height="120"
+            height="50"
             text="Cam slot 3"
             font="font:MediumSystemFont"
             color="0xFFFFFFFF" />
+        <Poster
+            id="poster4"
+            translation="[980, 760]"
+            width="760"
+            height="300"
+            loadDisplayMode="scaleToFit" />
         <Label
             id="cam4"
-            translation="[980, 580]"
+            translation="[980, 1015]"
             width="760"
-            height="120"
+            height="50"
             text="Cam slot 4"
             font="font:MediumSystemFont"
             color="0xFFFFFFFF" />
diff --git a/config/cameras.json b/config/cameras.json
index 9ef5994..3909d3f 100644
--- a/config/cameras.json
+++ b/config/cameras.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   "backend": {
     "type": "frigate",
     "baseUrl": "https://home.labs.casa/ccab4aaf_frigate",
+    "mode": "snapshotFirst",
     "notes": "Keep raw camera credentials in Frigate or go2rtc, not in the Roku repo."
   },
   "layout": {
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
       "name": "Cam 195",
       "frigateCamera": "cam195",
       "host": "192.168.0.195",
+      "snapshotPath": "/api/cam195/latest.jpg",
       "onvif": true
     },
     {
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@
       "name": "Cam 196",
       "frigateCamera": "cam196",
       "host": "192.168.0.196",
+      "snapshotPath": "/api/cam196/latest.jpg",
       "onvif": true
     },
     {
@@ -30,6 +33,7 @@
       "name": "Cam 201",
       "frigateCamera": "cam201",
       "host": "192.168.0.201",
+      "snapshotPath": "/api/cam201/latest.jpg",
       "onvif": true
     },
     {
@@ -37,6 +41,7 @@
       "name": "Cam 228",
       "frigateCamera": "cam228",
       "host": "192.168.0.228",
+      "snapshotPath": "/api/cam228/latest.jpg",
       "onvif": true
     }
   ]
diff --git a/docs/FRIGATE_SETUP.md b/docs/FRIGATE_SETUP.md
index a8466ab..ae5a2a3 100644
--- a/docs/FRIGATE_SETUP.md
+++ b/docs/FRIGATE_SETUP.md
@@ -27,11 +27,13 @@ Keep camera credentials inside:
 
 1. Set the real Frigate base URL in `config/cameras.json`
 2. Confirm the Frigate camera IDs match `cam195`, `cam196`, `cam201`, and `cam228`
-3. Decide which Frigate live endpoint format the Roku app should consume first
-4. Add snapshot and live tile loading in the SceneGraph UI
+3. Verify that each camera snapshot is reachable at `/api/<camera>/latest.jpg`
+4. Add snapshot tile loading in the SceneGraph UI
+5. Decide which direct live endpoint format the Roku app should consume after snapshots are working
 
 ## Why this shape works
 
 - Roku does not want to manage ONVIF directly
 - Roku is happier when Frigate handles the camera-side protocol mess
 - This keeps the app focused on layout, browsing, and playback
+- Snapshot-first is the lowest-risk way to prove the app shape before live playback is finalized
diff --git a/docs/ROADMAP.md b/docs/ROADMAP.md
index e82d6ed..6ef816a 100644
--- a/docs/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/docs/ROADMAP.md
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 
 - Static packaged Frigate-backed camera config
 - Simple Roku SceneGraph shell
-- One screen with a fixed camera grid
+- One screen with a fixed snapshot-first camera grid
 - Frigate-managed live feeds in a Roku-friendly format
 
 ## Phase 2
 
-- Config loader and camera tile rendering
+- Config loader and snapshot tile rendering
 - Snapshot fallback if a stream is unavailable
 - Focus movement and remote navigation
 
@@ -30,4 +30,5 @@
 - Roku does not directly fit raw RTSP workflows well
 - Frigate should own camera auth and camera-side protocol details
 - HLS is the safest first-class playback target
+- Snapshot-first is the safest prototype path while live endpoint details are still being verified
 - Packaged JSON is fine for V1 but not enough for runtime editing