diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 8b2f1a2c..caddff6f 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -21,13 +21,12 @@ This cookiecutter template uses features that exists only in cookiecutter 0.9.0
 Features
 ---------
 
-* For Django 1.7
+* For Django 1.8
 * Twitter Bootstrap_ 3
 * AngularJS_
 * 12-Factor_ based settings via django-environ_
 * Optimized development and production settings
 * Registration via django-allauth_
-* User avatars via django-avatar_
 * Procfile_ for deploying to Heroku
 * Grunt build for compass and livereload
 * Basic e-mail configurations for send emails via SendGrid_
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ Constraints
 -----------
 
 * Only maintained 3rd party libraries are used.
-* PostgreSQL everywhere
+* PostgreSQL everywhere (9.0+)
 * Environment variables for configuration (This won't work with Apache/mod_wsgi).
 
 
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/common.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/common.py
index 8d8ae674..6971dbd6 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/common.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/common.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ DJANGO_APPS = (
 )
 THIRD_PARTY_APPS = (
     'crispy_forms',  # Form layouts
-    'avatar',  # for user avatars
     'allauth',  # registration
     'allauth.account',  # registration
     'allauth.socialaccount',  # registration
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/urls.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/urls.py
index bd730660..fafc1c0f 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/urls.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/urls.py
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ urlpatterns = patterns('',  # noqa
     url(r'^users/', include("{{ cookiecutter.repo_name }}.users.urls", namespace="users")),
     url(r'^accounts/', include('allauth.urls')),
 
-    # Uncomment the next line to enable avatars
-    url(r'^avatar/', include('avatar.urls')),
-
     # Your stuff: custom urls includes go here
 
 
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/requirements/base.txt b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/requirements/base.txt
index 13daf2d9..5a44667a 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/requirements/base.txt
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/requirements/base.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Bleeding edge Django
-django>=1.7.7,<1.8
+django==1.8
 
 # Configuration
 django-environ==0.3.0
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ psycopg2==2.6
 unicode-slugify==0.1.3
 django-autoslug==1.7.2
 
-# Useful things
-django-avatar==2.0
-
 # Time zones support
 pytz==2015.2
 
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/contrib/sites/migrations/0001_initial.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/contrib/sites/migrations/0001_initial.py
index 87d55c75..555d02c4 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/contrib/sites/migrations/0001_initial.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/contrib/sites/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -14,16 +14,18 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
         migrations.CreateModel(
             name='Site',
             fields=[
-                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
-                ('domain', models.CharField(max_length=100, verbose_name='domain name', validators=[django.contrib.sites.models._simple_domain_name_validator])),
-                ('name', models.CharField(max_length=50, verbose_name='display name')),
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', primary_key=True, serialize=False, auto_created=True)),
+                ('domain', models.CharField(verbose_name='domain name', max_length=100, validators=[django.contrib.sites.models._simple_domain_name_validator])),
+                ('name', models.CharField(verbose_name='display name', max_length=50)),
             ],
             options={
-                'ordering': ('domain',),
-                'db_table': 'django_site',
-                'verbose_name': 'site',
                 'verbose_name_plural': 'sites',
+                'verbose_name': 'site',
+                'db_table': 'django_site',
+                'ordering': ('domain',),
             },
-            bases=(models.Model,),
+            managers=[
+                (b'objects', django.contrib.sites.models.SiteManager()),
+            ],
         ),
     ]
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/add.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/add.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 077b81b5..00000000
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/add.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-{% raw %}
-{% extends "avatar/base.html" %}
-{% load i18n avatar_tags %}
-{% load url from future %}
-
-{% block content %}
-<div class="container">
-  <div class="row">
-    <div class="col-xs-12">
-      <h2>{% trans "Your current avatar: " %}</h2>
-        {% avatar user %}
-        {% if not avatars %}
-            <p>{% trans "You haven't uploaded an avatar yet. Please upload one now." %}</p>
-        {% endif %}
-        <form enctype="multipart/form-data" method="POST" action="{% url 'avatar_add' %}">
-            {{ upload_avatar_form.as_p }}
-            <p>{% csrf_token %}<input type="submit" value="{% trans "Upload New Image" %}" /></p>
-        </form>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-{% endblock %}
-{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/avatar_tag.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/avatar_tag.html
deleted file mode 100644
index febc17f0..00000000
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/avatar_tag.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-{% raw %}<img src="{{ url }}" width="{{ size }}" height="{{ size }}" class="img-thumbnail">{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/base.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/base.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 6a0e6e9d..00000000
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/base.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-{% raw %}{% extends "base.html" %}
-
-{% block title %}django-avatar{% endblock %}
-{% block content %}{% endblock %}
-{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/change.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/change.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 0acbc703..00000000
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/change.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-{% raw %}{% extends "avatar/base.html" %}
-{% load i18n avatar_tags %}
-{% load url from future %}
-
-{% block content %}
-<div class="container">
-  <div class="row">
-    <div class="col-xs-12">
-        <h2>{% trans "Your current avatar: " %}</h2>
-        {% avatar user %}
-        {% if not avatars %}
-            <p>{% trans "You haven't uploaded an avatar yet. Please upload one now." %}</p>
-        {% else %}
-            <form method="POST" action="{% url 'avatar_change' %}">
-                <ul>
-                    {{ primary_avatar_form.as_ul }}
-                </ul>
-                <p>{% csrf_token %}<input type="submit" value="{% trans "Choose new Default" %}" /></p>
-            </form>
-        {% endif %}
-        <form enctype="multipart/form-data" method="POST" action="{% url 'avatar_add' %}">
-            {{ upload_avatar_form.as_p }}
-            <p>{% csrf_token %}<input type="submit" value="{% trans "Upload New Image" %}" /></p>
-        </form>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-{% endblock %}
-{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/confirm_delete.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/confirm_delete.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 896b6ea4..00000000
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/avatar/confirm_delete.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-{% raw %}{% extends "avatar/base.html" %}
-{% load i18n %}
-{% load url from future %}
-
-{% block content %}
-<div class="container">
-  <div class="row">
-    <div class="col-xs-12">
-    <h2>{% trans "Please select the avatars that you would like to delete." %}</h2>
-    {% if not avatars %}
-        {% url 'avatar_change' as avatar_change_url %}
-        <p>{% blocktrans %}You have no avatars to delete. Please <a href="{{ avatar_change_url }}">upload one</a> now.{% endblocktrans %}</p>
-    {% else %}
-        <form method="POST" action="{% url 'avatar_delete' %}">
-            <ul>
-                {{ delete_avatar_form.as_ul }}
-            </ul>
-            <p>{% csrf_token %}<input type="submit" value="{% trans "Delete These" %}" /></p>
-        </form>
-    {% endif %}
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-{% endblock %}
-{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_detail.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_detail.html
index 508c845a..62ef2805 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_detail.html
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_detail.html
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 {% raw %}{% extends "base.html" %}
-{% load avatar_tags %}
 {% load static %}
 
 {% block title %}User: {{ object.username }}{% endblock %}
@@ -15,13 +14,12 @@
   </div>
 
 {% if object == request.user %}
-<!-- Action buttons -->     
+<!-- Action buttons -->
 <div class="row">
 
   <div class="col-sm-12 ">
     <a class="btn btn-primary" href="{% url 'users:update' %}">My Info</a>
     <a class="btn btn-primary" href="{% url 'account_email' %}">E-Mail</a>
-    <a class="btn btn-info" href="{% url 'avatar_change' %}">Avatar</a>
     <!-- Your Stuff: Custom user template urls -->
   </div>
 
@@ -32,4 +30,4 @@
 
 </div>
 {% endblock content %}
-{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
+{% endraw %}
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_list.html b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_list.html
index f7c03fd7..a37b70c1 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_list.html
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/templates/users/user_list.html
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 {% raw %}{% extends "base.html" %}
 {% load static %}{% load i18n %}
-{% load avatar_tags %}
-
 {% block title %}Members{% endblock %}
 
 {% block content %}
 
 <div class="container">
-    
+
   <div class="row">
     <div class="col-xs-12">
       <h2>Users</h2>
@@ -19,15 +17,15 @@
       <div class="list-group">
           {% for user in user_list %}
             <a href="{% url 'users:detail' user.username %}" class="list-group-item">
-              <h4 class="list-group-item-heading">{% avatar user %} {{ user.username }}</h4>
+              <h4 class="list-group-item-heading">{{ user.username }}</h4>
               <p class="list-group-item-text">{{ maker.tagline }}</p>
             </a>
           {% endfor %}
-        
+
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
 
 </div>
 
-{% endblock content %}{% endraw %}
\ No newline at end of file
+{% endblock content %}{% endraw %}
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/users/migrations/0001_initial.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/users/migrations/0001_initial.py
index 8c73461b..1036f22d 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/users/migrations/0001_initial.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/users/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -3,38 +3,41 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.db import models, migrations
 import django.utils.timezone
+import django.contrib.auth.models
 import django.core.validators
 
 
 class Migration(migrations.Migration):
 
     dependencies = [
-        ('auth', '0001_initial'),
+        ('auth', '0006_require_contenttypes_0002'),
     ]
 
     operations = [
         migrations.CreateModel(
             name='User',
             fields=[
-                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('id', models.AutoField(primary_key=True, verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True)),
                 ('password', models.CharField(max_length=128, verbose_name='password')),
-                ('last_login', models.DateTimeField(default=django.utils.timezone.now, verbose_name='last login')),
-                ('is_superuser', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Designates that this user has all permissions without explicitly assigning them.', verbose_name='superuser status')),
-                ('username', models.CharField(help_text='Required. 30 characters or fewer. Letters, digits and @/./+/-/_ only.', unique=True, max_length=30, verbose_name='username', validators=[django.core.validators.RegexValidator('^[\\w.@+-]+$', 'Enter a valid username.', 'invalid')])),
+                ('last_login', models.DateTimeField(null=True, verbose_name='last login', blank=True)),
+                ('is_superuser', models.BooleanField(help_text='Designates that this user has all permissions without explicitly assigning them.', verbose_name='superuser status', default=False)),
+                ('username', models.CharField(max_length=30, validators=[django.core.validators.RegexValidator('^[\\w.@+-]+$', 'Enter a valid username. This value may contain only letters, numbers and @/./+/-/_ characters.', 'invalid')], verbose_name='username', error_messages={'unique': 'A user with that username already exists.'}, help_text='Required. 30 characters or fewer. Letters, digits and @/./+/-/_ only.', unique=True)),
                 ('first_name', models.CharField(max_length=30, verbose_name='first name', blank=True)),
                 ('last_name', models.CharField(max_length=30, verbose_name='last name', blank=True)),
-                ('email', models.EmailField(max_length=75, verbose_name='email address', blank=True)),
-                ('is_staff', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Designates whether the user can log into this admin site.', verbose_name='staff status')),
-                ('is_active', models.BooleanField(default=True, help_text='Designates whether this user should be treated as active. Unselect this instead of deleting accounts.', verbose_name='active')),
-                ('date_joined', models.DateTimeField(default=django.utils.timezone.now, verbose_name='date joined')),
-                ('groups', models.ManyToManyField(related_query_name='user', related_name='user_set', to='auth.Group', blank=True, help_text='The groups this user belongs to. A user will get all permissions granted to each of his/her group.', verbose_name='groups')),
-                ('user_permissions', models.ManyToManyField(related_query_name='user', related_name='user_set', to='auth.Permission', blank=True, help_text='Specific permissions for this user.', verbose_name='user permissions')),
+                ('email', models.EmailField(max_length=254, verbose_name='email address', blank=True)),
+                ('is_staff', models.BooleanField(help_text='Designates whether the user can log into this admin site.', verbose_name='staff status', default=False)),
+                ('is_active', models.BooleanField(help_text='Designates whether this user should be treated as active. Unselect this instead of deleting accounts.', verbose_name='active', default=True)),
+                ('date_joined', models.DateTimeField(verbose_name='date joined', default=django.utils.timezone.now)),
+                ('groups', models.ManyToManyField(related_name='user_set', blank=True, verbose_name='groups', to='auth.Group', help_text='The groups this user belongs to. A user will get all permissions granted to each of their groups.', related_query_name='user')),
+                ('user_permissions', models.ManyToManyField(related_name='user_set', blank=True, verbose_name='user permissions', to='auth.Permission', help_text='Specific permissions for this user.', related_query_name='user')),
             ],
             options={
-                'abstract': False,
                 'verbose_name': 'user',
+                'abstract': False,
                 'verbose_name_plural': 'users',
             },
-            bases=(models.Model,),
-        )
+            managers=[
+                (b'objects', django.contrib.auth.models.UserManager()),
+            ],
+        ),
     ]