Laravel Exceptions: throwing error when not attaching nullable input file - php

Question

I have a form when the user submits lostFound model. The validation request is as follows:
public function rules()
{
return [
'LFImage' => 'required|image|mimes:jpeg,jpg,png,gif,webp', // TODO: Read about 'Sometimes'.
'handoverStatement' => 'nullable|image|mimes:jpeg,jpg,png,gif,webp',
];
}
So, one attached is required (LFImage) and the other isn't (handoverStatement).
I created a dynamic image upload action:
class UploadImageAction implements UploadImageContract {
public function handle(Request $request, $image, $imageLocation)
{
$storedImage = ($request->hasFile($image))
? $request->file($image)->store($imageLocation)
: NULL;
if(!$storedImage)
{
throw new ImageUploadException('Something went wrong with the image upload.' . $storedImage);
}
return $storedImage;
}
}
Then calling it in the controller store() with try, catch:
// Add new Record.
public function store(LostFoundRequest $request, LostFoundService $lostFoundService, UploadImageContract $uploadImageAction)
{
try {
$LFImage = $uploadImageAction->handle($request, 'LFImage', 'lostFound/lostItems');
$handoverStatement = $uploadImageAction->handle($request, 'handoverStatement', 'lostFound/handoverStatements');
$lostFoundService->storeLostFound($request, $LFImage, $handoverStatement);
return redirect('data-entry/lost-and-found')->with('success', 'Item Added Successfully');
} catch (ImageUploadException $exception) {
// Handle upload image error
return back()->withErrors($exception->getMessage());
} catch (LostFoundException $exception) {
// Handle lostfound created error
return back()->withErrors('lostFound', $exception->getMessage());
} catch (\Throwable $exception) {
throw $exception;
}
}
Every time I submit the form without attaching handoverStatement I get the exception error (The data isn't saved, yet LFImage is uploaded to the dir).
What am I missing here?
Note: the ImageUploadException class doesn't have any methods:
<?php
namespace App\Exceptions;
use Exception;
class ImageUploadException extends Exception {}