The Nerdy Photographer Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In an industry often driven by trends, shot lists, and repeatable formulas, wedding photographer John Dolan has built a career by doing the opposite: showing up with an open mind, a few film cameras, and a deep respect for what actually unfolds on a wedding day.

In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, John and I dig into what it really means to be "true" to a couple's experience. Rather than manufacturing moments or chasing perfection, John approaches weddings as a blank slate, allowing the day to reveal itself organically. That philosophy carries through every aspect of his work, from how he interacts with couples to his continued commitment to shooting film in an overwhelmingly digital world.

If you're a wedding photographer feeling burned out by formulas, overwhelmed by the pressure to perform for social media, or simply curious about a more honest, grounded approach to storytelling, this episode offers a refreshing reminder: you don't need to invent meaning - sometimes your job is just to notice it.

This episode includes promos for the following:

• Siteground Web Hosting - https://siteground.com/go.nerdy
• Stylecloud Website Templates - https://stylecloud.co/ref/380/
• Luminar NEO Image Editing Software - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/luminar
• Aftershoot AI Culling, Editing, and Retouching - https://aftershoot.com/?ref=nerdyphoto

Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that:

• Subscribe to the podcast and tell your friends (and enemies!)
• Sign up for the newsletter - https://nerdyphotographer.com/newsletter
• Buy a print from the print shop - https://art.caseyfphoto.com
• Follow on Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenerdyphoto
• Follow on Threads - https://threads.net/@thenerdyphoto
• Follow on BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/thenerdyphoto.bsky.social
• Follow in Tiktok - https://tiktok.com/@thenerdyphoto
• Get some Nerdy Photographer merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/nerdy-photographer
• If you're feeling extra generous, check out our support page - https://nerdyphotographer.com/support-nerdy-photographer/

John Dolan is a long time photographer. You can learn more about his book, The Perfect Imperfect on his website - https://www.johndolan.com/book-shop/p/the-perfect-imperfect-book-2nd-edition

The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is written and produced by Casey Fatchett. Casey is a professional photographer in the New York City / Northern New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience. He just wants to help people and make them laugh. You can view Casey's wedding work at https://fatchett.com or his non-wedding work at https://caseyfatchettphotography.com 

If you have any questions or comments about this episode or any other episodes, OR if you would like to ask a photography related question or have ideas for a topic for a future episode, please reach out to us at https://nerdyphotographer.com/contact

The photography industry isn't "dying."

But it is changing, and it is doing so QUICKLY.

In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, we talk with industry icon, Joe McNally, and take an honest look at the seismic shifts happening in photography right now: technology, AI, oversaturation, social media economics, shifting client expectations, and what it actually takes to get started today.

The industry isn't collapsing. It's restructuring.

• Adorama - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/adorama/
• Stylecloud Website Templates - https://stylecloud.co/ref/380/
• On1 Photo Editing Software - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/on1/
• Siteground Web Hosting - https://siteground.com/go/nerdy

Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that:

• Subscribe to the podcast!
• Tell your friends about the podcast
• Sign up for the newsletter - https://nerdyphotographer.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CaseyFatchett
• Buy a print from the print shop - https://art.caseyfphoto.com
• Follow on Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenerdyphoto
• Follow on Threads - https://threads.net/@thenerdyphoto
• Follow on BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/thenerdyphoto.bsky.social
• Follow in Tiktok - https://tiktok.com/@thenerdyphoto
• Get some Nerdy Photographer merchandise - https://nerdyphoto.dashery.com
• If you're feeling extra generous, check out our support page - https://nerdyphotographer.com/support-nerdy-photographer/

Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning photographer whose prolific career includes assignments in nearly 70 countries. McNally is often described as: Authentic, articulate, an exceptional technical photographer whose varied skill set means he is called upon often for the "unusual" or "challenging" job. But no job is too big or too small for McNally because he loves photographing anything or anyone interesting in front of his lens. Joe McNally is also known world-wide for his unmatched visual creativeness and extraordinary imagination. He is calm under pressure and excels in the field whether it is a portrait of a celebrity or corporate CEO to an unwieldy fashion shoot with a crew of 60.

Joe McNally's credit list includes FIVE covers of the National Geographic, (amongst an overall 15 coverages for the magazine), SEVEN Covers of Life Magazine and FOUR successful Olympic coverages. McNally has also climbed the Empire State Building 4x and the Burj Khalifa tower 2x. A proud Nikon Ambassador, he is the rare photographer to make the bridge between photojournalism and commercial photography and has the distinct ability to come away with a photograph no matter the twist or turns he might encounter on assignment.

You can find Joe on Instagram @joemcnallyphoto or check out his new community for photographers https://betterpictureswithjoe.com (use promo code 26POD to save!)

The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is written and produced by Casey Fatchett. Casey is a professional photographer in the New York City / Northern New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience. He just wants to help people and make them laugh. You can view Casey's wedding work at https://fatchett.com or his non-wedding work at https://caseyfatchettphotography.com 

If you have any questions or comments about this episode or any other episodes, OR if you would like to ask a photography related question or have ideas for a topic for a future episode, please reach out to us at https://nerdyphotographer.com/contact

As AI and automation transform photography, one question keeps coming up: how do we keep the humanity in our images? In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, I talk with photographer and tech innovator Sam Hurd about finding balance between embracing technology and preserving the emotional, human side of photography.

We explore:

• Art vs. automation – using tech to amplify creativity, not replace it.

• AI with intention – treating AI tools as collaborators, not shortcuts.

• The emotional core – why empathy, connection, and storytelling still matter most.

• The beauty of imperfection – how flaws and unpredictability make photos feel real.

• Future-proofing creativity – staying adaptable without losing your artistic voice.

If you've ever wondered where photography ends and technology begins - or worried that AI might dull your creative edge - this episode is a must-listen.

Tune in now to hear Sam Hurd's insights on how photographers can stay authentic, creative, and human in a rapidly evolving digital world.

This episode contains promos for:

• Nerdy Photographer Let's Be Real Unposed Photography Prompts - https://nerdyphotographer.com/lets-be-real/
• StyleCloud WordPress Website Templates - https://stylecloud.co/ref/380/
• Siteground Web Hosting - https://siteground.com/go/nerdy
• Backblaze Cloud Data Backup - https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup/personal#afc32p

Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that:

• Subscribe to the podcast!
• Tell your friends about the podcast
• Sign up for the newsletter - https://nerdyphotographer.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CaseyFatchett
• Buy a print from the print shop - https://art.caseyfphoto.com
• Follow on Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenerdyphoto
• Follow on Threads - https://threads.net/@thenerdyphoto
• Follow on BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/thenerdyphoto.bsky.social
• Follow in Tiktok - https://tiktok.com/@thenerdyphoto
• Get some Nerdy Photographer merchandise - https://nerdyphoto.dashery.com
• If you're feeling extra generous, check out our support page - https://nerdyphotographer.com/support-nerdy-photographer/

Starting as a political news and celebrity portrait photographer in DC, Sam was instantly drawn to wedding photography as a space to promote more inventive ideas. Sam's focus is on photographic techniques that are deceptively simple but have the potential to transform difficult or uninspiring shooting environments into one-of-a-kind opportunities for every photo made.

You can learn more about Sam and view his work on his Patreon – patreon.com/samhurd – or on Instagram @iamthesam

The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is written and produced by Casey Fatchett. Casey is a professional photographer in the New York City / Northern New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience. He just wants to help people and make them laugh. You can view Casey's wedding work at https://fatchett.com or his non-wedding work at https://caseyfatchettphotography.com 

If you have any questions or comments about this episode or any other episodes, OR if you would like to ask a photography related question or have ideas for a topic for a future episode, please reach out to us at https://nerdyphotographer.com/contact

It's a solo episode! That's right, it's just your host Casey on this one.

Recording has been difficult with wedding season in full swing and my neighbors having a lot of jackhammering done for the last month, but I wanted to share some recent experiences with you that I think could be useful.

And if I can help one person reach this point in their life or career without taking as much time as I did, then this entire podcast will be worth it.

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review! What did you think of this episode? Did it help you? Let me know on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!

Why do I love Star Wars so much? More importantly, why do I love some parts of Star Wars more than others?

Seriously, folks, this is a question for the ages. I've been a fan of Star Wars for my entire life...and that's not a short amount of time.

To delve into this question and help me on my quest, Lauren and Matt from Hops Geek News - click here to check out their awesome podcast -  come along for the ride, challenging me along the way to rethink my opinions.

Will I change my mind about the prequels? Will I change their minds about The Last Jedi? Will someone tell me why The Book of Boba Fett was The Mandalorian Season 2.5?!?

Tune in to find out!

Sometimes it can feel difficult to get creative in your photography. You feel like you have lost your creative spark or urge or mojo...however you choose to describe it!

Luckily for you, I sat down with fashion and portrait photographer Jonny Edward on this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast to discuss overcoming barriers to our creativity, including those self imposed hurdles, so that we can free up some creative space to help others as well.

It's really a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

About My Guest

Jonny Edward is an internationally renowned fashion and editorial-portrait photographer, art director, and creative educator. They seek to empower expression and impel individuality in all they do and create. As an ardent advocate for artistic authenticity and creative community, Jonny's mission is to foster the constructs of community over competition and artists supporting artists, leading from love and gratitude, rooted in the notion that the only thing more powerful than destruction is creation. 

You can also find Jonny @jonnycreative on Instagram or at JonnyEdward.com

Episode Promos:

• Siteground Web Hosting
• ODPH Podcast
• Nerdy PHotographer Merchandise!
• Nerdy Photographer Photography Contract Templates

Did you enjoy the conversation? Will it help you get creative in the future? Head over to Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, or Facebook and tell me how the episode impacted you. Or you can leave a voice message on our contact page.

Personally, this was one of my favorite conversations I have had on this podcast.

Why am I the nerd that I am?

What does it take for a nerdy topic to make me emphatic in my feelings about it?

Why does Coke taste so much better than Pepsi?

These are just some of the questions we will tackle in NERD QUESTS, a new Nerdy Photographer Podcast series exploring topics near and dear to my nerdy little heart.

On this episode, I sit down with Jim from the Film Rage Podcast to talk about Dune. Not just the recent film production, or the 1980s David Lynch film, but all iterations of Frank Herbert's science fiction classic.

Check out the Film Rage Website - https://www.filmrageyyc.com/

And support the Nerdy Photographer and future Nerd Quests by following along on social media:

• Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenerdyphoto
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/thenerdyphoto
• TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@thenerdyphoto

Hit me with your favorite Dune quote or aspect of the Dune universe and let's keep the quest going!

On this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, friend of the show Leighton DaCosta returns to talk about his recent trip to WPPI, hats, why he didn't like The Batman, and coming full circle as a photographer.

This is Leighton's fifth time on the podcast. You may remember our discussions about hiring other photographers to work for you, racism in the photo industry, or arguing about the best fictional photographers.

Much like our previous discussions, we cover a lot of ground, including why he didn't like The Batman, how much we're both looking forward to Top Gun: Maverick, and setting goals. However, we spend most of our time focusing on coming full circle as a photographer. What does that mean? You will have to listen and find out!

This episode includes promos for the following:

• The Spy Hards Podcast
• Crime Diner Podcast
• Let's Be Real Unposed Photography Prompts
• Nerdy Photographer Photography Contract Templates

• Leave reviews! Reviews help so much. You can leave reviews for the Nerdy Photographer on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, and GoodPods (those last two you can rate and review individual episodes)
• Tell people about The Nerdy Photographer Podcast!
• Follow @thenerdyphoto on Instagram
• Follow @thenerdyphoto on TikTok
• Grab yourself some photography merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and stickers!

ABOUT MY GUEST

Leighton DaCosta, or "LD" as many know him by, is a Wedding and Fine Art Portrait Photographer based in Southern California. He started his photography business more than 15 years ago while serving in the Navy. Due to the military requirements, he learned to make his studio "interstate mobile" as he has operated for extended periods in Virginia, Florida, Utah, Georgia, South Carolina, and California. He's conducted photo assignments in exotic and remote places such as Dubai, Jamaica, and Aruba; as well as several years flying over Afghanistan.

When not creating content of his own, Leighton diligently works at educating photographers and others in the industry in not only content creation but also in business practices geared for the creative.

You can check out Leighton's website at LeightonD.com, and follow along with him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

We're celebrating the 3rd birthday of The Nerdy Photographer website and the not 3rd birthday of me, the actual nerdy photographer.

I'm discussing the current state of the podcast, what I learned from a recent incredible film that I watched, and a new type of episode I would like to add to the podcast.

Are you ready to join me on these new adventures?

Follow along with the Nerdy Photographer on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok between episodes!

You are? Good!

You can also follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok

Where can you leave a review? Well, head over to https://nerdyphotographer.com/podcast

You can leave reviews and ratings on Apple Podcast, Podchaser, and GoodPods among others. Oh, and tell your friends about the show. They will thank you for doing it!