photos app keeps requesting unlock iPhone

I'm unable to charge my iPhone with my MacBook because every time its connected, the photos app keeps coming up. I close it and it reopens automatically and brings me to the photos window so I can't do any other tasks. On the Photos app on Mac, the screen keeps switching between "Preparing to import from iPhone" and "Unlock iPhone" and the regular library of photos, even if my iPhone is unlocked and on its Photos app, and it's this constant switching. Ive tried turning everything off and on again, tried just downloading the photos from my phone to the MacBook but it won't allow me to do it because it is constantly switching between the "Preparing to import from iPhone" and "Unlock iPhone". Obviously, my phone is unlocked. Ive seen this questioned asked in the past but no responses that solve the issue.