diff --git a/photoimport.py b/photoimport.py
index 0e4d170..aded20b 100644
--- a/photoimport.py
+++ b/photoimport.py
@@ -31,11 +31,31 @@ def get_exif_date(file_path):
         return "CRITICAL ERROR: exiftool command not found. Please ensure exiftool is installed and in your system PATH."
 
 
+def find_existing_file(base_path, filename):
+    """
+    Check if a file already exists at base_path or any of its subdirectories.
+    Returns the full path to the existing file, or None if not found.
+    """
+    # First check the base_path directory itself
+    candidate = os.path.join(base_path, filename)
+    if os.path.exists(candidate):
+        return candidate
+
+    # Then search all subdirectories recursively
+    for foldername, subfolders, files in os.walk(base_path):
+        for f in files:
+            if f == filename:
+                return os.path.join(foldername, f)
+
+    return None
+
+
 def scan_photos(root_dir, base_target_path):
     """
     Recursively scans the given directory (root_dir), extracts EXIF date,
     prints file details with proposed destination paths, then asks for confirmation
-    before copying files.
+    before copying files. Before copying, it checks if the file already exists
+    in the target date folder or any of its subdirectories.
     """
     accepted_extensions = ('.jpg', '.jpeg', '.dng', '.raw', '.cr2', '.cr3', '.raf')
 
@@ -104,19 +124,20 @@ def scan_photos(root_dir, base_target_path):
     created_dirs_count = 0
 
     for file_path, date_time_str, dest_dir in file_info_list:
-        dest_file = os.path.join(dest_dir, os.path.basename(file_path))
+        filename = os.path.basename(file_path)
 
         # Create destination directory if it doesn't exist
         if not os.path.exists(dest_dir):
             os.makedirs(dest_dir)
             created_dirs_count += 1
 
-        # Check if file already exists in destination
-        if os.path.exists(dest_file):
-            print(f"File already exists: {dest_file} (skipped)")
+        # Check if the file already exists in dest_dir or any of its subdirectories
+        existing = find_existing_file(dest_dir, filename)
+        if existing:
+            print(f"File {filename} already exists at: {existing} (skipped)")
             skipped_exists_count += 1
         else:
-            filename = os.path.basename(file_path)
+            dest_file = os.path.join(dest_dir, filename)
             print("\n--- Starting copy of: " + filename + " ---")
             print("Source:      " + file_path)
             print(f"Destination: {dest_file}")