The Focus Trap

What if perfectionism isn’t actually about making better photos, but about trying not to look stupid while learning?In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about perfectionism in photography, why so many photos never leave the hard drive, and what’s actually happening when photographers hesitate to share their work. They explore the difference between wanting to improve and getting trapped in endless editing loops disguised as “high standards.”They also talk about:Why “good enough” is such a slippery standardWhy bird photography is apparently chaosWhy the experience of being there can matter more than taking the photoWhy YouTube tutorials can only take photographers so farThe weird social ritual of apologizing before showing your photosAlong the way, there are conversations about hummingbirds, fuzzy snow pants, workshop frustration, and the realization that “I’m a perfectionist” might be less of a personality trait and more of a very socially acceptable hiding place. (00:00) - Intro (05:54) - “Good Enough” is a Moving Target (11:17) - Waiting for the Perfect Shot (14:53) - Inspiration vs. Self-Judgment (26:04) - The Socially Acceptable Hiding Place (33:55) - Curiosity Instead of Perfectionism

What if “fixing it in post” is just doing the same job twice?In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about editing. Not the fun, creative side of editing, but the kind that happens because something went wrong in the field and now you’re trying to rescue it later on the computer.They also talk about:How relying too heavily on editing can sabotage learningThe relationship between fieldcraft, flow state, and creativityWhy repeated editing problems usually point to field problemsThe mental load of photography and how to simplify itHow fixing mistakes can consume creative energyAlong the way, there are conversations about black dogs, AI editing tools, crooked horizons, agility trials, kayak bird photography, and the realization that your body mechanics might be the reason all your photos are crooked. (00:00) - Welcome (04:38) - Editing to Fix vs Editing for Creativity (12:24) - Why Amy Wants It Right in Camera (17:54) - Fieldcraft, Flow State, and What Cameras Are Actually Good At (38:08) - The Difference Between Planning and Playing (46:06) - When Fixing Photos Starts Killing Creativity

What if the photographers who seem “naturally creative” just took way more bad photos than everybody else?In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about creativity, natural talent, and why so many people decide they “aren’t artistic” long before they’ve actually given themselves enough reps to learn.They also talk about:The hidden value of “boring” practice subjectsWhy beginners usually don’t take enough photosThe difference between anecdotal data and real patternsWhy photographers need rest as much as repsTeleconverters and whether more reach is worth the trade-offsAlong the way, there are conversations about theater lighting design, weightlifting, Michael Phelps, house finches, disposable cameras, potato days, angry woodworking, Baby Beethoven, and why “go take more fucking pictures” might genuinely be the best photography advice most beginners never hear.00:00 Are Some People Just Naturally Creative?13:59 Reps, Pattern Recognition, and Learning Photography20:57 Nobody Shows the Throwaway Photos30:17 Potato Days, Burnout, and Intentional Rest42:40 The Gear Question: Teleconverters and Trade-Offs-------------------📸 Find Amy and learn more about her photography coaching: www.greatdanephotoadventures.com🧠 Find Casey and learn more about what she's up to: www.caseyjourdan.comAnd follow The Focus Trap @thefocustrap on Instagram and TikTok

What if two people from completely different worlds were actually talking about the same thing all along?In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about where they came from, how they each ended up teaching in completely different fields, and how a conversation about email somehow turned into a photography podcast.Amy shares how she went from math and physics teacher to photographing dog sports professionally, building a custom system to sort thousands of dog photos, and accidentally creating a business around solving problems nobody else was paying attention to yet.Casey talks about being wounded in Iraq at 19, navigating life with PTSD and a brain injury, and eventually building a coaching practice around helping other people untangle the same kinds of overwhelm and identity shifts she had to figure out herself.They also talk about:The overlap between creativity and nervous system regulationADHD, late diagnosis, and identity shiftsProblem solving as a shared languageWhy both of them became teachersThe origin of the name “The Focus Trap”Along the way, there are stories about floppy disk cameras, dog shows, CrossFit coaching, TikTok algorithms, bird photography workshops, and the realization that maybe the email was never actually about the email.00:00 Welcome00:37 How Did This Partnership Even Happen?08:04 Film Cameras, Dog Shows, and Building a Photography Business22:48 It Was Never About the Email25:22 PTSD, ADHD, and Learning Yourself the Hard Way44:35 Photography, Nervous Systems, and Learning to Be Curious51:17 Why the Show Exists-------------------📸 Find Amy and learn more about her photography coaching: www.greatdanephotoadventures.com🧠 Find Casey and learn more about what she's up to: www.caseyjourdan.comAnd follow The Focus Trap @thefocustrap on Instagram and TikTok

What if the thing standing between you and better photos isn’t your camera?In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about gear. Why photographers get obsessed with it, when it actually matters, and when it’s just a very expensive attempt to quiet your nervous system.Amy explains why she chooses gear based on photographing fast dogs in terrible light, why megapixels are wildly overhyped, and why she cares more about ISO than almost any other camera spec. Casey talks about recently upgrading from a 20-year-old DSLR to a mirrorless camera, the dopamine hit of shiny new gear, and realizing that some problems are solved by equipment while others are still just fundamentals.They also talk about:Why “does gear matter?” is the wrong questionHow to tell whether your issue is skill, technique, or equipmentWhy patterns matter more than one bad photoWhy better gear won’t magically replace practiceAlong the way, there are conversations about horse arenas with terrible lighting, disposable cameras, heat haze, Amazon wishlists, and why “just buy a new camera” is usually not the full answer.00:00 Welcome02:47 When Gear Actually Matters05:00 Gear Acquisition Syndrome (aka G.A.S.)07:11 What Specs Actually Matter?15:41 How Do You Know It’s Time to Upgrade?27:04 Stop Chasing Gear, Go Chase the Shot-------------------📸 Find Amy and learn more about her photography coaching: www.greatdanephotoadventures.com🧠 Find Casey and learn more about what she's up to: www.caseyjourdan.comAnd follow The Focus Trap @thefocustrap on Instagram and TikTok

What if the question "am I doing this right?" is the thing actually getting in your way?In this first episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about the pressure to “get it right,” why that question tends to shut down curiosity instead of helping people learn, and why Amy starts photo critiques with a different question entirely. They also talk about:Why “right vs wrong” is usually the least helpful way to evaluate a photoThe difference between a successful image and a technically perfect oneWhy audience and context matter more than universal rulesThe emotional experience of learning something new as an adultThe overlap between photography, self-trust, and curiosityAlong the way, there are stories about vultures, hunting, Great Danes, blurry dog photos, adrenaline spikes, photo contests, and the deeply important question:“But did you die?”If you’ve ever picked up a camera and immediately worried about whether you were doing it correctly, this episode is for you.00:00 Welcome to The Focus Trap05:19 Why ‘Right or Wrong’ Shuts Down Creativity07:23 So who’s the boss?21:14 Vultures, Bad Photos, and Nervous Systems36:13 Ask Better Questions-------------------📸 Find Amy and learn more about her photography coaching: www.greatdanephotoadventures.com🧠 Find Casey and learn more about what she's up to: www.caseyjourdan.comAnd follow The Focus Trap @thefocustrap on Instagram and TikTok

About the hosts:Amy Johnson is a professional dog sports photographer and the founder of Great Dane Photo Adventures (GDPA), where she teaches photographers at all levels. She has been the official photographer for events including the AKC National Agility Championship and is known for teaching photographers to make better decisions—not follow better rules. [Click here to see more of Amy's work]Casey Jourdan is a former nervous system coach, beginner photographer, and someone who thinks deeply about how the brain and nervous system function during learning and creativity. [See more about Casey]