layers wanted...when bringing in photos they remain separate, do not show in layers palette. when select one photo it shows in separate layers palette, then selecting other photo, brings up new palette with only that photo, want them to be in same palette

If you open image files in Photoshop, Each Image will be a different Open Photoshop Document.  If you want all the image in a single document.  You need Place, Past, Copy images into a single document.  Photoshop ships with a script to help you with the the process.   Open Photoshop Or the Bridge.  If you use the bridge select the thumbnails of the images you want then use Bridge menu  Tools>Photoshop>Load  files into Photoshop Layers.  If you use Photoshop use Photoshop menu File>Scripts>Load Files into a Stack...