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The Nerdy Photographer Podcast

Nerdy Photographer
The Nerdy Photographer Podcast
Latest episode

203 episodes

  • The Nerdy Photographer Podcast

    170 - From the Midwest to NYC With No Degree: A Self-Taught Photographer's Journey

    05/14/2026 | 1h 16 mins.
    What does it take to completely reinvent yourself as a photographer?
    In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, I sit down with photographer Steve Vaccariello to explore a career path that's anything but conventional. Steve's journey spans from the highly technical world of medical photography and the storytelling demands of photojournalism in Ohio to the fast-paced, creative landscape of portrait, fashion, beauty, and dance photography in New York City.
    This conversation dives into what it really means to be self-taught; and how curiosity, persistence, and adaptability can shape a long-term creative career.

    Episode Promos

    This episode includes promos for the following:

    Siteground Web Hosting - https://siteground.com/go/nerdy
    Nerdy Photographer Contract Templates - https://nerdyphotographer.com/product-tag/contracts/
    Aftershoot AI Culling, Editing, and Retouching - https://aftershoot.com/?ref=nerdyphoto
    The Power Up - a newsletter for photographers looking to level up their photography game! - https://nerdyphotographer.com/newsletter

    About My Guest
    "Steve Vaccariello is not just a photographer; he embodies the art of photography itself. "Photography isn't what I do; it's what I am," he asserts with conviction. For Vaccariello, the essence of his craft lies in the image, transcending mere technique or fleeting trends. He invites viewers to discover the beauty in simplicity, capturing the often-overlooked moments that reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary. His vivid and sensual imagery is characterized by suggestive lighting, evocative shadow play, and innovative printing methods. Vaccariello's work delves into the realms of ethereal beauty and physical expression, artfully exploring the nuances of form and the spectrum of emotional depth. "I'm a purist at heart," he explains, emphasizing his commitment to the foundational elements of photography—camera, light, and composition—striving for a unique yet timeless aesthetic. Vaccariello's artistry has garnered significant recognition, including a feature in the highly esteemed relaunch issue of Nikon World, which showcased him as a leading figure in contemporary photography. His work has also graced the pages of prominent publications such as Digital Pro Photo, American Photographer, PDN, and Nikon World. An award-winning photographer, his images have been included in several influential books, including the best-selling "The Male Nude" (Taschen, 1998), "A Thousand Hounds" (Taschen, 2000), and "Graphis Nudes III" (Graphis, 2000). His striking prints are coveted by notable collectors, including Bruce Weber, Mark Balet, and Kevin Aucoin, as well as the esteemed contemporary art collection of Progressive Insurance. Vaccariello's work is also part of the permanent archives at the Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation. Born in Cleveland in 1965, Vaccariello now calls New York home, where he continues to create and travel extensively for assignments around the globe. Through his lens, he invites us to see the world anew, celebrating the delicate interplay of light and form that defines our shared human experience."

    You can view Steve's work on his website - www.stevevacc.com - or on Instagram - https://instagram.com/steve_vacc and https://instagram.com/steve.vacc
    About The Podcast

    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 Nerdy Photographer Podcast

    169 - Scrolling Ourselves Numb: Photography, Identity, and Social Media Addiction

    04/30/2026 | 1h 22 mins.
    Social media has completely reshaped what it means to be a visual storyteller. Images travel faster, reach wider audiences, and generate instant feedback, but at a cost many photographers are only beginning to understand.

    In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, we unpack the complex relationship photographers have with social media today. From chasing algorithms to questioning the value of our work through likes and shares, this conversation examines how storytelling has changed, and how social media addiction quietly creeps into the creative process.

    Being a visual storyteller today means navigating more than light, composition, and subject matter. It means managing attention, mental health, and identity in a system designed to keep you scrolling.

    This episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is an honest conversation about the emotional and creative realities photographers face, and a reminder that meaning doesn't come from algorithms.
    Episode Promos
    On1 Photo Raw - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/on1/
    Aftershoot AI Culling, Editing, and Retouching - https://aftershoot.com/?ref=nerdyphoto
    StyleCloud WP Website Themes - https://stylecloud.co/ref/380/
    Siteground Web Hosting - https://siteground.com/go/nerdy
    Support The Nerdy Photographer

    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 to listen
    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/
    About My Guest

    "I'm a London-based photographer, videographer, and visual storyteller with a love for street, travel, and urban photography. I'm drawn to everyday moments, movement, and atmosphere, and I try to capture photos in a way that feels cinematic, honest, and human."

    You can view Anthony's work on his website - https://anthonyrosner.com - or on Instagram @antronoid. You can also view his gaming documentary on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrKjNwejhfg
    About The Podcast

    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 work at https://caseyfphoto.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 Nerdy Photographer Podcast

    168 - Photographing What's Real: Film, Trust, and Truth

    04/16/2026 | 1h 1 mins.
    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.

    Episode Promos

    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
    Support The Nerdy Photographer

    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/
    About My Guest
    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
    About The Podcast

    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 Nerdy Photographer Podcast

    167 - Is Photography Still a Viable Career? The Shifting State of the Industry

    04/02/2026 | 1h 13 mins.
    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.




    Episode Promos


    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
    Support The Nerdy Photographer

    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/
    About My Guest


    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!)
    About The Podcast

    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 Nerdy Photographer Podcast

    166 - Casting Light and Shadow: Photography as a Modern Form of Magic

    03/19/2026 | 1h 8 mins.
    Is photography a form of magic? In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer, we explore how art transforms the unseen into something tangible. From photographing witch-centric and paranormal businesses to using intuition, ritual, and atmosphere in the creative process, this conversation dives deep into the mystical side of photography.
    If you believe art is more than just technique, this episode is for you.
    Why This Conversation Matters
    At a time when photography is often reduced to trends, algorithms, and performance metrics, this episode is a reminder that art still has the power to be mysterious, personal, and transformative.
    Photography doesn't just show us what is. At its best, it invites us to consider what might be.
    Episode Promos
    This episode contains promos for:
    On1 Photo Raw - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/on1/
    Siteground Web Hosting - https://aftershoot.com/?ref=nerdyphoto
    StyleCloud WP Website Themes - https://stylecloud.co/ref/380/
    Adorama - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/adorama
    Support The Nerdy Photographer
    Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that:
    Subscribe and tell your friends - sharing is caring!
    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/
    About My Guest
    A lifelong photographer, Justine J. Kenahan started her photography journey as a teen and focused her studies in college on art and communication. While balancing a career in advertising, she created Piquant Photo as a freelance business in order to fulfill her dream of being a professional artist. She is motivated by capturing the authenticity of her subjects and telling visual stories of truth, magic, passion, and personal power. Her work often explores the intersections of fashion and identity, as well as women-centric motifs and metaphysical themes.
    Justine has taught workshops, worked with brands and influencers, and has been featured in various publications and galleries locally and nationally.
    Outside of photography, Justine shares her life with her husband, young daughter, and beloved dog. She enjoys boating, food, and catching up on TV shows.
    You can learn more about Justine and view her work at https://piquantphoto.com & https://inhermagic.com
    About The Podcast

    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
More Arts podcasts
About The Nerdy Photographer Podcast
Host Casey Fatchett brings an often humorous look at the photography industry, offering advice, telling stories, and interviewing working photographers - all while going on adventures with the crew of the starship Fibonacci. He's also sure to include just a little bit of useless information in every episode.
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