"Import Photos and Video" Overwrote my Progress

[Steve E 01]

Please help. I made a rookie mistake while using Lightroom Classic 13.1.

I spent hours going through a bunch of photos and rating them to decide which ones i will be editing.
I then watched a tutorial on how to import DNG files that I purcahsed so that I can make presets from them. I assumed this would be the same as importing regular .xmp files for presets. What I didnt know is that you need to start with a fresh new empty catalogue to import DNG files or it will overwrite your progress on the current catalog that I was working on before I chose "Import Photos and Video...." Now my catalog is nothing but the DNG's that were imported to create presets from and not the hundreds of photos that I spent hours going through. Is there a way to get my work back that I spent so much time on or is it overwritten forever? If my work is lost, I really wish it wasnt so easy to lose hours worth of work in Lightroom.

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

You should NOT need a new catalog. I'm guessing here, but it seems like you have selected "Previous Import". You want to select "All Photographs", 3 lines above. (If that's not it, explain more and provide screen captures using the "Insert Photos" icon; do not attach files)

[Steve E 01]

Hi dj_paige

The tutorial I was watching for importing DNG's to create presets from instructed me to use "Import Photos and Video..." under the File drop-down menu. I did not know this would overwrite all the photos that I previously already had in my current Lightroom catalog.

[dj_paige]

Your statement about "overwrite all the photos that I previously already had in my current Lightroom catalog" is incorrect. Import does not delete anything. Did you try the suggestion I made above? Can you show us screen captures of your entire Library Module?

[Steve E 01]

I apologize. You are correct! I was selecting "Previous Import" and not "All Photographs". I was under the assumption that the imported files replaced the previous ones in my catalog. Thank you so much for patiently taking the time to help me.