A different type of missing image issue...

Report · Dec 08, 2024

Hello, I've had images with the exclamation marks and have had to relocate them before, but this is something entirely different.
In the library module, I was reordering some photos between my 2nd shooter and myself for a wedding. I had 22 photos selected and was moving them to a new section of the wedding. I dropped them and they dissapppeared. Now, they are still there in the folder on my hard drive (images 892-914). In my lightroom folder it says 916 of 957 photos (because there's some stacks). I've turned off all filters. I've tried to see if they are available to import, but they are grayed out as if they are already there.
I really don't understand what's happening. I went to ALL PHOTOS in lightroom and searched for the filenames, but they still don't show up. Help?

Report · Dec 09, 2024

Did you expand all stacks before you searched for them? You may have dropped them into a stack.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

Report · Dec 09, 2024

Hi Johan,
That's a really good question! I did go in and selected the EXPAND ALL STACKS option to check. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Report · Dec 09, 2024

So let's see, you want to be in All Photos, filters off and stacks expanded (all at the same time) and then do the search by file name. Is that what you did?

Side issue: importing never solves these types of problems. Don't re-import photos.

Report · Dec 11, 2024

Hi DJ Paige,

Yes, that is what I did! Unfortunately, the photos seemed to be undetectible in Lightroom. Thank God the photos were still in the original folder. I created a new folder, reimported them, redid my edits and organized them into the mix from there. Still not sure what happened, but thankful the images were not lost!

Report · Dec 11, 2024

Hi DJ Paige,

I created a new folder, reimported them, redid my edits and organized them into the mix from there. Still not sure what happened, but thankful the images were not lost!

By @trishf90888597

As I said, re-importing doesn't solve the problem. In my opinion, it makes things worse. Now you have two instances of each photo that you re-imported in your catalog, with different edits. At some point, you will find one of these photos, and be confused because you thought you edited it differently.

Locating the first imports of such photos would solve the problem. Please provide the following screen captures, using the "Insert Photos" icon (do NOT attach files).

With the left side panel in the Library Module showing, and the filmstrip at the bottom showing, please make a screen capture similar to this:

Please note that next to all photographs, it says I have 49200 photos. Below, just above the filmstip, it says 45223 of 49200 photos, indicating that only 45223 photos can be searched for, and some photos have been "hidden" and will not show up in the search. Please show a similar screen capture.

Now, if I select "All Photographs", and turn off all filters, and expand all stacks, I get this showing 49200 in both places, all photos can be searched for. Please show a similar screen capture.

Report · Dec 12, 2024

Hi DJ Paige,

I should have chose my words more wisely. Outside of Lightroom, I CUT the photos from the original folder and placed them into a new folder (plus an extra for back-up).
I reimported them from this brand new folder into Lightroom.
After I renamed them and edited them, I pulled them back over into original wedding album.
I exported all of the images as high resolution jpegs and uploaded them to their gallery site.
Soon, the folder will be removed from Lightroom. But all of the high resolution jpegs with edits are saved and in place. So I'm at peace.