diff --git a/NYTPhotoViewer/NYTPhotosViewController.m b/NYTPhotoViewer/NYTPhotosViewController.m
index 7255f6ce..077bf5d1 100644
--- a/NYTPhotoViewer/NYTPhotosViewController.m
+++ b/NYTPhotoViewer/NYTPhotosViewController.m
@@ -131,6 +131,20 @@ - (void)viewDidLoad {
     self.transitionController.endingView = endingView;
 }
 
+- (void)viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated {
+    [super viewWillAppear:animated];
+    if ([_delegate respondsToSelector:@selector(photosViewController:viewWillAppear:)]) {
+        [_delegate photosViewController:self viewWillAppear:animated];
+    }
+}
+
+- (void)viewWillDisappear:(BOOL)animated {
+    [super viewWillDisappear:animated];
+    if ([_delegate respondsToSelector:@selector(photosViewController:viewWillDisappear:)]) {
+        [_delegate photosViewController:self viewWillDisappear:animated];
+    }
+}
+
 - (void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated {
     [super viewDidAppear:animated];
     
@@ -142,12 +156,41 @@ - (void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated {
 - (void)viewWillLayoutSubviews {
     [super viewWillLayoutSubviews];
     
-    self.pageViewController.view.frame = self.view.bounds;
-    self.overlayView.frame = self.view.bounds;
+    CGRect frame = self.view.bounds;
+    if (!self.prefersStatusBarHidden) {
+        CGFloat statusBarHeight = [UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarFrame.size.height;
+        frame.origin.y = statusBarHeight;
+        frame.size.height -= statusBarHeight;
+    }
+    self.pageViewController.view.frame = frame;
+    self.overlayView.frame = frame;
 }
 
 - (BOOL)prefersStatusBarHidden {
-    return YES;
+    BOOL result;
+    switch (self.statusBarMode) {
+        case NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeDynamic:
+            result = self.view.safeAreaInsets.top == 0;
+            break;
+        case NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeHidden:
+            result = true;
+            break;
+        case NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeShown:
+            result = false;
+            break;
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+- (void)viewSafeAreaInsetsDidChange {
+    if (self.statusBarMode == NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeDynamic) {
+        [self setNeedsStatusBarAppearanceUpdate];
+    }
+    [super viewSafeAreaInsetsDidChange];
+}
+
+- (UIStatusBarStyle)preferredStatusBarStyle {
+    return UIStatusBarStyleLightContent;
 }
 
 - (BOOL)prefersHomeIndicatorAutoHidden {
diff --git a/NYTPhotoViewer/include/NYTPhotosViewController.h b/NYTPhotoViewer/include/NYTPhotosViewController.h
index 11cbca67..e5aea1da 100644
--- a/NYTPhotoViewer/include/NYTPhotosViewController.h
+++ b/NYTPhotoViewer/include/NYTPhotosViewController.h
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ extern NSString * const NYTPhotosViewControllerDidDismissNotification;
 
 @interface NYTPhotosViewController : UIViewController
 
+typedef NS_ENUM(NSUInteger, NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarMode) {
+    NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeDynamic, /* hide statusbar when view.safeArea.top == 0 */
+    NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeHidden,
+    NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeShown
+};
+
 /**
  *  The pan gesture recognizer used for panning to dismiss the photo. Disable to stop the pan-to-dismiss behavior.
  */
@@ -75,6 +81,12 @@ extern NSString * const NYTPhotosViewControllerDidDismissNotification;
  */
 @property (nonatomic, readonly, nullable) NYTPhotosOverlayView *overlayView;
 
+/**
+ *  This determines whether we display the status bar or not
+ *  Defaults to NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarModeDynamic.
+ */
+@property (nonatomic) NYTPhotoViewerStatusBarMode statusBarMode;
+
 /**
  *  The left bar button item overlaying the photo.
  */
@@ -177,6 +189,20 @@ extern NSString * const NYTPhotosViewControllerDidDismissNotification;
 
 @optional
 
+/**
+ *  Called when the view is about to made visible.
+ *
+ *  @param photosViewController The `NYTPhotosViewController` instance that sent the delegate message.
+ */
+- (void)photosViewController:(NYTPhotosViewController *)photosViewController viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated;
+
+/**
+ *  Called when the view is dismissed, covered or otherwise hidden.
+ *
+ *  @param photosViewController The `NYTPhotosViewController` instance that sent the delegate message.
+ */
+- (void)photosViewController:(NYTPhotosViewController *)photosViewController viewWillDisappear:(BOOL)animated;
+
 /**
  *  Called when a new photo is displayed through a swipe gesture.
  *
diff --git a/scripts/bootstrap b/scripts/bootstrap
index 8525e5eb..f17329b7 100755
--- a/scripts/bootstrap
+++ b/scripts/bootstrap
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ fi
 
 cd "$(dirname "$0")/../Examples"
 
-bundle config set path 'vendor/bundle'
+# uncomment the following if you get errors about not having access to the system's install
+# bundle config --local path 'vendor/bundle'
+
 bundle install 
 bundle exec pod install