diff --git a/resources/views/email.phtml b/resources/views/email.phtml
index d2d8097..93c99fe 100644
--- a/resources/views/email.phtml
+++ b/resources/views/email.phtml
@@ -20,9 +20,83 @@ use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
  * @var int                           $lookahead_days
  * @var int                           $historical_lookahead
  * @var int                           $generated_at
+ * @var array<string,string>          $avatar_cids  xref => CID name
  * @var string                        $account_url
  */
 
+$avatar_size = 48;
+
+/**
+ * Inline HTML for a single circular avatar.
+ *
+ * Renders an <img src="cid:..."> if the dispatch service was able to
+ * resolve an image for the individual; otherwise renders a coloured
+ * circle with the person's initials. The placeholder is intentionally
+ * CSS-only — inline SVG and data: URIs are unreliable in Outlook /
+ * some webmail clients.
+ */
+$avatar = static function (Individual|null $individual) use ($avatar_cids, $avatar_size): string {
+    if (!$individual instanceof Individual) {
+        return '';
+    }
+
+    $alt = e(strip_tags($individual->fullName()));
+
+    if (isset($avatar_cids[$individual->xref()])) {
+        $cid = $avatar_cids[$individual->xref()];
+
+        return '<img src="cid:' . e($cid) . '" alt="' . $alt . '" width="' . $avatar_size . '" height="' . $avatar_size . '"'
+            . ' style="border-radius:50%;object-fit:cover;vertical-align:middle;border:1px solid #ccc;">';
+    }
+
+    // CSS-only fallback: coloured circle with initials. Hash the xref
+    // into a stable hue so each person keeps the same colour across
+    // newsletters.
+    $hue   = hexdec(substr(md5($individual->xref()), 0, 2)) * 360 / 255;
+    $first = strip_tags($individual->getAllNames()[0]['givn'] ?? $individual->xref());
+    $last  = strip_tags($individual->getAllNames()[0]['surn'] ?? '');
+    $i1    = mb_substr($first, 0, 1);
+    $i2    = mb_substr($last, 0, 1);
+    $initials = e(mb_strtoupper($i1 . $i2));
+
+    return '<span aria-label="' . $alt . '"'
+        . ' style="display:inline-block;width:' . $avatar_size . 'px;height:' . $avatar_size . 'px;'
+        . 'border-radius:50%;background:hsl(' . (int) $hue . ',45%,60%);color:#fff;'
+        . 'font:600 18px/' . $avatar_size . 'px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-align:center;'
+        . 'vertical-align:middle;letter-spacing:0.5px;">' . $initials . '</span>';
+};
+
+/**
+ * HTML for the avatar(s) attached to a Fact's primary record:
+ * a single circle for Individual facts, side-by-side circles for
+ * Family facts (anniversaries).
+ */
+$record_avatars = static function (Fact $fact) use ($avatar): string {
+    $record = $fact->record();
+
+    if ($record instanceof Individual) {
+        return $avatar($record);
+    }
+
+    if ($record instanceof Family) {
+        $parts = [];
+
+        foreach ([$record->husband(), $record->wife()] as $spouse) {
+            if ($spouse instanceof Individual) {
+                $parts[] = $avatar($spouse);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Slight negative margin so the two circles overlap a touch —
+        // visually communicates "couple" without needing extra glue.
+        return '<span style="display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;">'
+            . implode('<span style="display:inline-block;width:6px;"></span>', $parts)
+            . '</span>';
+    }
+
+    return '';
+};
+
 $record_label = static function (Fact $fact): string {
     $record = $fact->record();
 
@@ -141,15 +215,25 @@ $anniversary_label = static function (int $age) use ($ordinal): string {
     <?= e(I18N::translate('Events in the next %d days.', $lookahead_days)) ?>
 </p>
 
+<?php
+// Inline list style: drop bullets, add vertical spacing so the avatars
+// don't crash into each other.
+$list_style = 'list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0.5rem 0 1.5rem;';
+$item_style = 'display:flex;align-items:center;gap:0.75rem;padding:0.4rem 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;';
+?>
+
 <?php if (!$birthdays->isEmpty()) : ?>
     <h2 style="color: #336;"><?= e(I18N::translate('Upcoming birthdays')) ?></h2>
-    <ul>
+    <ul style="<?= $list_style ?>">
         <?php foreach ($birthdays as $fact) : ?>
             <?php $age = $upcoming_age($fact); ?>
-            <li>
-                <strong><?= e($record_label($fact)) ?></strong>
-                — <?= e($birthday_label($age)) ?>
-                <span style="color: #666;">(<?= e($event_date($fact)) ?>)</span>
+            <li style="<?= $item_style ?>">
+                <?= $record_avatars($fact) ?>
+                <span>
+                    <strong><?= e($record_label($fact)) ?></strong>
+                    — <?= e($birthday_label($age)) ?>
+                    <span style="color: #666;">(<?= e($event_date($fact)) ?>)</span>
+                </span>
             </li>
         <?php endforeach ?>
     </ul>
@@ -157,13 +241,16 @@ $anniversary_label = static function (int $age) use ($ordinal): string {
 
 <?php if ($include_anniversaries && $anniversaries !== null && !$anniversaries->isEmpty()) : ?>
     <h2 style="color: #336;"><?= e(I18N::translate('Upcoming marriage anniversaries')) ?></h2>
-    <ul>
+    <ul style="<?= $list_style ?>">
         <?php foreach ($anniversaries as $fact) : ?>
             <?php $age = $upcoming_age($fact); ?>
-            <li>
-                <strong><?= e($record_label($fact)) ?></strong>
-                — <?= e($anniversary_label($age)) ?>
-                <span style="color: #666;">(<?= e($event_date($fact)) ?>)</span>
+            <li style="<?= $item_style ?>">
+                <?= $record_avatars($fact) ?>
+                <span>
+                    <strong><?= e($record_label($fact)) ?></strong>
+                    — <?= e($anniversary_label($age)) ?>
+                    <span style="color: #666;">(<?= e($event_date($fact)) ?>)</span>
+                </span>
             </li>
         <?php endforeach ?>
     </ul>
@@ -174,11 +261,14 @@ $anniversary_label = static function (int $age) use ($ordinal): string {
     <p style="color: #666;">
         <?= e(I18N::translate('Events in the next %d days for people who have passed away.', $historical_lookahead)) ?>
     </p>
-    <ul>
+    <ul style="<?= $list_style ?>">
         <?php foreach ($historical as $fact) : ?>
-            <li>
-                <strong><?= e($record_label($fact)) ?></strong>
-                — <?= e($fact->label()) ?>: <?= e($event_date($fact)) ?>
+            <li style="<?= $item_style ?>">
+                <?= $record_avatars($fact) ?>
+                <span>
+                    <strong><?= e($record_label($fact)) ?></strong>
+                    — <?= e($fact->label()) ?>: <?= e($event_date($fact)) ?>
+                </span>
             </li>
         <?php endforeach ?>
     </ul>
diff --git a/src/Services/NewsletterDispatchService.php b/src/Services/NewsletterDispatchService.php
index 4d0a31c..569bfd0 100644
--- a/src/Services/NewsletterDispatchService.php
+++ b/src/Services/NewsletterDispatchService.php
@@ -6,16 +6,20 @@ namespace EmailNewsletter\Services;
 
 use EmailNewsletter\Configuration;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Contracts\UserInterface;
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Fact;
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Family;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\I18N;
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Individual;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Log;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Module\ModuleInterface;
-use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Services\EmailService;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Services\TreeService;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Services\UserService;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Tree;
 use Fisharebest\Webtrees\User;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 use Symfony\Component\Mailer\Exception\TransportExceptionInterface;
 use Symfony\Component\Mime\Exception\RfcComplianceException;
+use Throwable;
 
 /**
  * Decides which trees are due, builds per-tree newsletters, and dispatches
@@ -36,7 +40,7 @@ final class NewsletterDispatchService
 
     public function __construct(
         private readonly EventQueryService $event_query_service,
-        private readonly EmailService      $email_service,
+        private readonly NewsletterMailer  $mailer,
         private readonly TreeService       $tree_service,
         private readonly UserService       $user_service,
     ) {
@@ -115,6 +119,8 @@ final class NewsletterDispatchService
         $from             = $this->siteContact($tree);
         $original_locale  = I18N::languageTag();
         $groups           = $this->groupRecipientsByLanguage($recipients);
+        $avatars          = $this->collectAvatars($birthdays, $anniversaries, $historical);
+        $avatar_cids      = $this->avatarCids($avatars);
 
         $sent     = 0;
         $failures = 0;
@@ -138,6 +144,7 @@ final class NewsletterDispatchService
                     'lookahead_days'        => $lookahead,
                     'historical_lookahead'  => $historical_lookahead,
                     'generated_at'          => $now,
+                    'avatar_cids'           => $avatar_cids,
                     'account_url'           => route(
                         \Fisharebest\Webtrees\Http\RequestHandlers\AccountEdit::class,
                         ['tree' => $tree->name()],
@@ -148,7 +155,7 @@ final class NewsletterDispatchService
 
                 foreach ($group as $recipient) {
                     try {
-                        if ($this->email_service->send($from, $recipient, $from, $subject, $text, $html)) {
+                        if ($this->mailer->sendWithEmbeds($from, $recipient, $from, $subject, $text, $html, $avatars)) {
                             $sent++;
                         } else {
                             $failures++;
@@ -179,6 +186,137 @@ final class NewsletterDispatchService
         );
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Resolve a "highlighted" image for every individual mentioned in
+     * the newsletter and return a CID-keyed map of bytes + MIME type
+     * that NewsletterMailer can embed.
+     *
+     * @param Collection<int,Fact>|null $anniversaries
+     * @param Collection<int,Fact>|null $historical
+     *
+     * @return array<string,array{bytes:string,mime:string}>
+     */
+    private function collectAvatars(
+        Collection $birthdays,
+        Collection|null $anniversaries,
+        Collection|null $historical,
+    ): array {
+        $individuals = [];
+
+        foreach ($birthdays as $fact) {
+            $this->indexIndividualsFromFact($fact, $individuals);
+        }
+
+        if ($anniversaries !== null) {
+            foreach ($anniversaries as $fact) {
+                $this->indexIndividualsFromFact($fact, $individuals);
+            }
+        }
+
+        if ($historical !== null) {
+            foreach ($historical as $fact) {
+                $this->indexIndividualsFromFact($fact, $individuals);
+            }
+        }
+
+        $avatars = [];
+
+        foreach ($individuals as $xref => $individual) {
+            $payload = $this->resolveAvatar($individual);
+
+            if ($payload !== null) {
+                $avatars[$this->avatarCidName($xref)] = $payload;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return $avatars;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param array<string,Individual> $bag
+     */
+    private function indexIndividualsFromFact(Fact $fact, array &$bag): void
+    {
+        $record = $fact->record();
+
+        if ($record instanceof Individual) {
+            $bag[$record->xref()] = $record;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if ($record instanceof Family) {
+            foreach ([$record->husband(), $record->wife()] as $spouse) {
+                if ($spouse instanceof Individual) {
+                    $bag[$spouse->xref()] = $spouse;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array{bytes:string,mime:string}|null
+     */
+    private function resolveAvatar(Individual $individual): array|null
+    {
+        try {
+            $media_file = $individual->findHighlightedMediaFile();
+        } catch (Throwable $ex) {
+            Log::addErrorLog('Newsletter avatar lookup failed for ' . $individual->xref() . ': ' . $ex->getMessage());
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if ($media_file === null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        // External URLs cannot be embedded as inline parts. Skipping
+        // these gracefully falls back to the placeholder silhouette.
+        if ($media_file->isExternal() || !$media_file->isImage()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        try {
+            $bytes = $media_file->fileContents();
+        } catch (Throwable $ex) {
+            Log::addErrorLog('Newsletter avatar read failed for ' . $individual->xref() . ': ' . $ex->getMessage());
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if ($bytes === '') {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return [
+            'bytes' => $bytes,
+            'mime'  => $media_file->mimeType() ?: 'application/octet-stream',
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Build the map the view consults: xref -> CID name. Only entries
+     * for individuals with a successfully resolved avatar are present;
+     * the view treats absence as "use the placeholder".
+     *
+     * @param  array<string,array{bytes:string,mime:string}> $avatars
+     * @return array<string,string>
+     */
+    private function avatarCids(array $avatars): array
+    {
+        $cids = [];
+
+        foreach (array_keys($avatars) as $cid_name) {
+            // CID name is "avatar-{xref}" — reverse the prefix to recover the xref.
+            $cids[substr($cid_name, strlen('avatar-'))] = $cid_name;
+        }
+
+        return $cids;
+    }
+
+    private function avatarCidName(string $xref): string
+    {
+        return 'avatar-' . $xref;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Group recipients by the language we will render their email in.
      * German users get "de"; everyone else (including admin-added
@@ -240,7 +378,7 @@ final class NewsletterDispatchService
         foreach (Configuration::extraRecipients($tree) as $email) {
             $key = strtolower($email);
 
-            if (isset($seen[$key]) || !$this->email_service->isValidEmail($email)) {
+            if (isset($seen[$key]) || !$this->mailer->isValidEmail($email)) {
                 continue;
             }
 
diff --git a/src/Services/NewsletterMailer.php b/src/Services/NewsletterMailer.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0398a00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Services/NewsletterMailer.php
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace EmailNewsletter\Services;
+
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Contracts\UserInterface;
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Log;
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Services\EmailService;
+use Fisharebest\Webtrees\Site;
+use Symfony\Component\Mailer\Exception\TransportExceptionInterface;
+use Symfony\Component\Mailer\Mailer;
+use Symfony\Component\Mime\Address;
+use Symfony\Component\Mime\Crypto\DkimOptions;
+use Symfony\Component\Mime\Crypto\DkimSigner;
+use Symfony\Component\Mime\Email;
+use Symfony\Component\Mime\Exception\RfcComplianceException;
+use Symfony\Component\Mime\Message;
+
+/**
+ * Thin extension of the built-in EmailService that supports inline
+ * image embeds (used for circular avatars in the newsletter).
+ *
+ * We re-use the protected transport() method from the parent so the
+ * existing webtrees SMTP / sendmail configuration (and DKIM signing)
+ * still applies — only the message-construction step differs.
+ *
+ * @phpstan-type Avatar array{bytes:string,mime:string}
+ */
+final class NewsletterMailer extends EmailService
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<string,Avatar> $embeds Keyed by CID name (without "@host"
+     *                                     suffix); referenced in HTML as
+     *                                     `<img src="cid:KEY">`.
+     */
+    public function sendWithEmbeds(
+        UserInterface $from,
+        UserInterface $to,
+        UserInterface $reply_to,
+        string $subject,
+        string $message_text,
+        string $message_html,
+        array $embeds,
+    ): bool {
+        try {
+            $message   = $this->buildMessage($from, $to, $reply_to, $subject, $message_text, $message_html, $embeds);
+            $transport = $this->transport();
+            $mailer    = new Mailer($transport);
+            $mailer->send($message);
+        } catch (RfcComplianceException $ex) {
+            Log::addErrorLog('Cannot create newsletter email: ' . $ex->getMessage());
+
+            return false;
+        } catch (TransportExceptionInterface $ex) {
+            Log::addErrorLog('Cannot send newsletter email: ' . $ex->getMessage());
+
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Mirrors the parent's message() builder, but with inline image
+     * parts and without the multipart/alternative DKIM workaround
+     * (DKIM still works because we sign after attachments are added).
+     *
+     * @param array<string,Avatar> $embeds
+     */
+    private function buildMessage(
+        UserInterface $from,
+        UserInterface $to,
+        UserInterface $reply_to,
+        string $subject,
+        string $message_text,
+        string $message_html,
+        array $embeds,
+    ): Message {
+        $message_text = str_replace("\n", "\r\n", $message_text);
+        $message_html = str_replace("\n", "\r\n", $message_html);
+
+        $email = (new Email())
+            ->subject($subject)
+            ->from(new Address($from->email(), $from->realName()))
+            ->to(new Address($to->email(), $to->realName()))
+            ->replyTo(new Address($reply_to->email(), $reply_to->realName()))
+            ->text($message_text)
+            ->html($message_html);
+
+        foreach ($embeds as $name => $avatar) {
+            $email->embed($avatar['bytes'], $name, $avatar['mime']);
+        }
+
+        $dkim_domain   = Site::getPreference('DKIM_DOMAIN');
+        $dkim_selector = Site::getPreference('DKIM_SELECTOR');
+        $dkim_key      = Site::getPreference('DKIM_KEY');
+
+        if ($dkim_domain !== '' && $dkim_selector !== '' && $dkim_key !== '') {
+            $signer  = new DkimSigner($dkim_key, $dkim_domain, $dkim_selector);
+            $options = (new DkimOptions())
+                ->headerCanon('relaxed')
+                ->bodyCanon('relaxed');
+
+            return $signer->sign($email, $options->toArray());
+        }
+
+        return $email;
+    }
+}