diff --git a/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts b/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
index d368cc97..dd8e0573 100644
--- a/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
+++ b/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
@@ -2399,6 +2399,7 @@ export type Database = {
       }
       submission_items: {
         Row: {
+          action_type: string | null
           approved_entity_id: string | null
           created_at: string
           depends_on: string | null
@@ -2413,6 +2414,7 @@ export type Database = {
           updated_at: string
         }
         Insert: {
+          action_type?: string | null
           approved_entity_id?: string | null
           created_at?: string
           depends_on?: string | null
@@ -2427,6 +2429,7 @@ export type Database = {
           updated_at?: string
         }
         Update: {
+          action_type?: string | null
           approved_entity_id?: string | null
           created_at?: string
           depends_on?: string | null
diff --git a/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts b/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts
index 50addf49..e7d012a5 100644
--- a/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts
+++ b/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts
@@ -133,17 +133,22 @@ async function detectPhotoChanges(submissionId: string): Promise<PhotoChange[]>
  * Detects what changed between original_data and item_data
  */
 export async function detectChanges(
-  item: { item_data?: any; original_data?: any; item_type: string },
+  item: { item_data?: any; original_data?: any; item_type: string; action_type?: string },
   submissionId?: string
 ): Promise<ChangesSummary> {
   const itemData = item.item_data || {};
   const originalData = item.original_data || {};
   
-  // Determine action type - special handling for photo_delete
+  // Determine action type - prioritize explicit action_type field to preserve submission intent
   let action: 'create' | 'edit' | 'delete' = 'edit';
+  
   if (item.item_type === 'photo_delete' || itemData.action === 'delete' || itemData.deleted) {
     action = 'delete';
+  } else if (item.action_type) {
+    // Use explicit action_type if set (preserves original submission intent even after moderator edits)
+    action = item.action_type as 'create' | 'edit' | 'delete';
   } else if (!originalData || Object.keys(originalData).length === 0) {
+    // Fall back to inference for backwards compatibility
     action = 'create';
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
index 5435cb3f..8dfdd42f 100644
--- a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
+++ b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export interface SubmissionItemWithDeps {
   item_type: string;
   item_data: any;
   original_data: any;
+  action_type?: 'create' | 'edit' | 'delete';
   status: 'pending' | 'approved' | 'rejected';
   depends_on: string | null;
   order_index: number;
@@ -1050,6 +1051,10 @@ export async function editSubmissionItem(
   // Preserve original_data if not already set
   const originalData = currentItem.original_data || currentItem.item_data;
 
+  // Determine original action type - preserve submission intent
+  const originalAction = currentItem.action_type || 
+    (currentItem.original_data && Object.keys(currentItem.original_data).length > 0) ? 'edit' : 'create';
+
   if (isModerator) {
     // Moderators can edit directly
     const { error: updateError } = await supabase
@@ -1057,6 +1062,7 @@ export async function editSubmissionItem(
       .update({
         item_data: newData,
         original_data: originalData,
+        action_type: originalAction, // Preserve original submission intent
         updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
       })
       .eq('id', itemId);
@@ -1083,6 +1089,7 @@ export async function editSubmissionItem(
       .update({
         item_data: newData,
         original_data: originalData,
+        action_type: originalAction, // Preserve original submission intent
         updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
       })
       .eq('id', itemId);
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20251013182948_4e9710fc-7ef6-4278-9cb7-ecec66eac4b3.sql b/supabase/migrations/20251013182948_4e9710fc-7ef6-4278-9cb7-ecec66eac4b3.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f19677c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20251013182948_4e9710fc-7ef6-4278-9cb7-ecec66eac4b3.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+-- Add action_type column to submission_items to preserve original submission intent
+ALTER TABLE submission_items 
+ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS action_type text DEFAULT 'create';
+
+-- Add check constraint to ensure valid values
+ALTER TABLE submission_items
+ADD CONSTRAINT submission_items_action_type_check 
+CHECK (action_type IN ('create', 'edit', 'delete'));
+
+-- Create index for better query performance
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_submission_items_action_type 
+ON submission_items(action_type);
+
+-- Backfill existing records based on original_data presence
+UPDATE submission_items
+SET action_type = CASE
+  WHEN item_type = 'photo_delete' THEN 'delete'
+  WHEN original_data IS NULL OR original_data::text = '{}' THEN 'create'
+  ELSE 'edit'
+END
+WHERE action_type IS NULL;
\ No newline at end of file