I have an image field that should not be required, but should be limited to possible file types But, if I validate mimes, submitting the form without an image does not work
request()->validate([
'name' => ['required'],'name' => ['required'],
'type' => ['required'],'master_id' => ['required'],
'description' => ['required'],
'whom_id' => ['required'], 'short_description' => ['required'],
'image' => ['mimes:jpg,bmp,png','max:3072'],
]);
if(request()->image){
$ext = request()->file('image')->extension();//Получение расширения файла
$path = request()->file('image')->storeAs('image', $course->id.'mainImage.'.$ext);
$course->image = $path;
}

sometimes|in front, Cf. stackoverflow.com/q/44265107/367456 (may depend on how you submit the form, see as well Conditionally Adding Rules and the note therein).nullable|in front and see if there are any changes. I've picked that from A Note On Optional Fields.