Yes the output will be a video 1920 x 1080 and I'll zoom in the pan/crop tool. But can I do something to the picture prior to adding to the project? Or in the project? Make sense?

Your images will look worse in a 1080p project. Worse yet with more zooming.

Suggest you work in a 720p environment and not enlarge your images beyond their original resolution. dpi means nothing.

I'm wanting to add several photos to a video project. The photos are all 1000x1500 with a dpi that ranges from 96 to 300. I want to pan and zoom in a lot on these and want them to remain sharp. Do I need to manipulate the photos in gimp or Photoshop before I input them into my project. Or can I do something in Sony movie studio to get the clarity while I zoom. Please advise.

Working on Windows 7 with Sony movie studio Platinum 13. Final project output is going to be internet video to watch on phones, computers, and TV's.

Your pics have too little resolution,alas. Only thing you can do is try and see how it works. A little of photoshopping might help but you risk to spend a lot of time for no or very little improvement. Much, however, depends on the style of your video. If it's all documentary and nice and sharp, you're out of luck - as Musicvid says above you may be better of at 720p. But it's a film the blur could add a little vintage feel if you allow the script to do so.