Lost Photos in iPhotos

Photos replaced iPhoto several years ago. If you launch Photos with the option key held down it will pop a dialog that will let you choose your iPhoto Library. Photos will create a new Photos Library from your iPhoto media and leave your original iPhoto Library untouched.

when I press the option key with the Photos key 

There is no Photos key. Hold the option key and then click on the Photos icon while holding the option key.

Here are some user tips from Photos for Mac  User Tips that will help you in your transition from iPhoto to Photos:

Notes on Migrating an iPhoto Library from iPhoto to Photos for Mac ➙ read first

Moments in Photos are the New Events.

External Editors in Photos Are Here

Photo Editing Extensions for Photos for Mac

Post 9/30/2018 Printing Options for Photos - Apple Community

Ordering Books and Calendars on a Mac that cannot be updated past El Capitan 

Use Project Extensions to order print products in Photos after September 30, 2018 - Apple Support

Create and order print products in Photos with Project Extensions - Apple Support

Department of Redundancy Department. Consider it stolen :)

when I press the option key with the Photos key I do not get a dialog box. I cannot access my iPhotos with ALOT of photos I need to have access to. HELP!

Assistance provided by the Department of Redundancy Department. 8^)

You are stealing from Monty Python, not me. But who better to steal from?