The Focus Trap

What if most photography hot takes fall apart the moment you ask, "Why?" In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey dive into the world of photography hot takes. What starts as a list of opinions quickly turns into something bigger: how photography culture keeps turning personal preferences into hard rules. They also talk about: Why back-button focus won't fix your photography Whether editin...

What if the cure for overthinking isn't certainty, but evidence? In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey talk about overthinking: what it actually is, how it shows up in photography and everyday life, and why simply calling yourself “an overthinker” can sometimes become part of the problem. They explore the difference between thoughtful decision-making and getting trapped in loops that ke...

What if deciding to bring your camera on a trip has nothing to do with the gear? In this episode of The Focus Trap, Amy and Casey start with a question a lot of photographers have wrestled with: when you're traveling with family or friends, do you bring the camera? What starts as a conversation about vacations, bird photography, and logistics quickly turns into a bigger discussion about relationsh...

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...

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...

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 u...

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...

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 overhy...

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 lea...

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...