In an image recording apparatus and an operation method therefor, image data of a patient are recorded with the use of a contrast medium administered to the patient. A computer of the image recording apparatus is provided with an image recording information item, describing the upcoming image recording carried out according to a multi-step sequence and with at least one patient information describing a property of the patient. The computer determines a contrast medium administration information item from these received information items, which designates at least one contrast medium quantity to be administered to the patient and a point in time in the sequence of the upcoming image recording. The contrast medium administration information item is displayed to a user of the image recording apparatus at the determined point in time on a display of the image recording apparatus.