If I delete my Time Machine backups from my hard drive can I copy my Photos Library across? At the moment I can’t seem to drag it onto the drive it collects the 15000 photos but won’t let me put them into the file I created on the Hard drive

If I delete my Time Machine backups from my external Hard Drive will I be able to use that hard drive to copy my 15,000 strong Photos Library onto it? At the moment I can highlight all the photos on my Mac but they aren’t transferring into the new file I created for them in the Hard drive window. My only thought is that the HD has been used for Time Machine backups in the past. Perhaps I’ll have to re-format the HD and try again? Why else can’t I move my photos? I need to as my Mac is full. Thankyou.