152 - Reps, Sets, and Shutter Clicks: Building Photography Skills Like an Athlete

Want to get better at photography faster? Stop waiting for inspiration and start training like an athlete. In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, I sit down with street photographer Ryan Faer, who uses his background in professional baseball as an athletic trainer to show how discipline, repetition, and practice can transform the way you shoot.

We explore how applying an athlete's mindset to photography can help you sharpen your skills, stay consistent, and see improvement over time. Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• Why "reps" matter – putting in the shots makes you quicker to recognize and capture moments.

• How to schedule practice time – building a routine instead of waiting for free time.

• Designing photo "drills" – focusing on specific skills like light, framing, or using one lens.

• Reviewing your own footage – analyzing your images to identify strengths and weaknesses.

• The power of consistency – why steady effort beats perfection every time.

If you've ever felt stuck in your photography or wondered how to push yourself forward, this episode will give you a practical framework to grow - one rep at a time.

Listen now and discover how a training system designed for athletes can help you become a stronger photographer.

Episode Promos

This episode contains promos for the following:

• BackBlaze Cloud Data Backup Services - https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup/personal#afc32p
• Style Cloud Website Templates - https://stylecloud.co/ref/380/
• Siteground Website Hosting - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/pic-time/
• Narrative AI Culling, Editing, and Publishing - https://narrative.so/select?affiliate=casey2746

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About My Guest

Ryan is currently in his 9th season with the Cleveland Guardians Major League Baseball organization, serving as a Senior Sports Science Analyst.

As for photography, a life with depression and anxiety has ultimately led Ryan to pick up a camera. And through the lens, he strives to let others see the world in a similar light as to how he has seen it on his own journey.

You can view Ryan's work on his website - https://ryanfaerphoto.com - or on Instagram https://instagram.com/ryan_faer

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