diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index 704e7a3b67..b7ce48d626 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -837,6 +837,8 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
             checkpoint (str): Location of the checkpoint in the course.
 
         """
+        log.info((u"User {user_id} is submitting photos for ID verification").format(user_id=request.user.id))
+
         # If the user already has an initial verification attempt, we can re-use the photo ID
         # the user submitted with the initial attempt.
         initial_verification = SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification.get_initial_verification(request.user)
@@ -848,7 +850,7 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
 
         # If necessary, update the user's full name
         if "full_name" in params:
-            response = self._update_full_name(request.user, params["full_name"])
+            response = self._update_full_name(request, params["full_name"])
             if response is not None:
                 return response
 
@@ -856,7 +858,7 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
         # Validation ensures that we'll have a face image, but we may not have
         # a photo ID image if this is a re-verification.
         face_image, photo_id_image, response = self._decode_image_data(
-            params["face_image"], params.get("photo_id_image")
+            request, params["face_image"], params.get("photo_id_image")
         )
 
         # If we have a photo_id we do not want use the initial verification image.
@@ -918,6 +920,7 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
         # The face image is always required.
         if "face_image" not in params:
             msg = _("Missing required parameter face_image")
+            log.error((u"User {user_id} missing required parameter face_image").format(user_id=request.user.id))
             return None, HttpResponseBadRequest(msg)
 
         # If provided, parse the course key and checkpoint location
@@ -925,11 +928,12 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
             try:
                 params["course_key"] = CourseKey.from_string(params["course_key"])
             except InvalidKeyError:
+                log.error((u"User {user_id} provided invalid course_key").format(user_id=request.user.id))
                 return None, HttpResponseBadRequest(_("Invalid course key"))
 
         return params, None
 
-    def _update_full_name(self, user, full_name):
+    def _update_full_name(self, request, full_name):
         """
         Update the user's full name.
 
@@ -942,16 +946,23 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
 
         """
         try:
-            update_account_settings(user, {"name": full_name})
+            update_account_settings(request.user, {"name": full_name})
         except UserNotFound:
+            log.error((u"No profile found for user {user_id}").format(user_id=request.user.id))
             return HttpResponseBadRequest(_("No profile found for user"))
         except AccountValidationError:
             msg = _(
                 u"Name must be at least {min_length} character long."
             ).format(min_length=NAME_MIN_LENGTH)
+            log.error(
+                (u"User {user_id} provided an account name less than {min_length} characters").format(
+                    user_id=request.user.id,
+                    min_length=NAME_MIN_LENGTH
+                )
+            )
             return HttpResponseBadRequest(msg)
 
-    def _decode_image_data(self, face_data, photo_id_data=None):
+    def _decode_image_data(self, request, face_data, photo_id_data=None):
         """
         Decode image data sent with the request.
 
@@ -979,6 +990,7 @@ class SubmitPhotosView(View):
 
         except InvalidImageData:
             msg = _("Image data is not valid.")
+            log.error((u"Image data for user {user_id} is not valid").format(user_id=request.user.id))
             return None, None, HttpResponseBadRequest(msg)
 
     def _submit_attempt(self, user, face_image, photo_id_image=None, initial_verification=None):