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 learning
• The relationship between fieldcraft, flow state, and creativity
• Why repeated editing problems usually point to field problems
• The mental load of photography and how to simplify it
• How fixing mistakes can consume creative energy

Along 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

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 subjects
• Why beginners usually don’t take enough photos
• The difference between anecdotal data and real patterns
• Why photographers need rest as much as reps
• Teleconverters and whether more reach is worth the trade-offs

Along 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 Photography

20:57 Nobody Shows the Throwaway Photos

30:17 Potato Days, Burnout, and Intentional Rest

42:40 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.com

And 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 regulation
• ADHD, late diagnosis, and identity shifts
• Problem solving as a shared language
• Why both of them became teachers
• The 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 Welcome

00:37 How Did This Partnership Even Happen?

08:04 Film Cameras, Dog Shows, and Building a Photography Business

22:48 It Was Never About the Email

25:22 PTSD, ADHD, and Learning Yourself the Hard Way

44:35 Photography, Nervous Systems, and Learning to Be Curious

51:17 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.com

And 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 question
• How to tell whether your issue is skill, technique, or equipment
• Why patterns matter more than one bad photo
• Why better gear won’t magically replace practice

Along 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 Welcome
02:47 When Gear Actually Matters
05:00 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.com

And 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 photo
• The difference between a successful image and a technically perfect one
• Why audience and context matter more than universal rules
• The emotional experience of learning something new as an adult
• The overlap between photography, self-trust, and curiosity

Along 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 Trap

05:19 Why ‘Right or Wrong’ Shuts Down Creativity

07:23 So who’s the boss?

21:14 Vultures, Bad Photos, and Nervous Systems

36:13 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.com
And 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]