About the Studio
The humans
behind the machine.
We build things that work, and look good doing it. Southern California, est. 2014.
Our Story
Built for businesses that want more than a template.
BURDS NERDS started in 2014 with a simple belief: that small businesses deserve the same quality of web presence as the big ones. Not off-the-shelf themes. Not cookie-cutter layouts. Real, custom-built work that reflects the actual business behind it.
Over a decade later, that hasn't changed, but our toolset has grown considerably. Web design, AI integration, brand photography, and retouching all under one roof, with one point of contact from start to finish. No account managers. No hand-offs. Just direct collaboration between you and the people actually doing the work.
How we work
One point of contact
You talk directly to the person building your project: no account managers, no handoffs, no "I'll check with the team." Decisions happen fast, context never gets lost.
Craft over convenience
We don't use page builders or pre-built themes unless the project genuinely calls for it. Every line of code and every design decision is intentional, not a default.
Honest by default
Pricing is public. Timelines are realistic. If something won't work, we'll tell you before you pay for it. We'd rather lose a sale than deliver something we're not proud of.
The Team
People you'll actually work with
Matt Burd
Founder + Web Designer + Photographer + AI Enthusiast
Matt Burd founded BURDS NERDS in 2014, but the story starts well before that. More than two decades working in commercial photography studios, managing high-volume productions for clients across Southern California, and running his own creative representation agency gave him a ground-level understanding of what small businesses actually need from a web presence: something that works as hard as they do.
Today that means web design, custom development, AI integration, brand photography, IT support, and SEO all under one roof, with one point of contact from kickoff to launch. As a Capture One Certified Technician and longtime Adobe Creative Cloud power user, he brings the same technical rigor to a photo shoot that he brings to a codebase. No hand-offs. No middlemen. Just direct collaboration with the person doing the work.
He's also an active AI student and creative technologist, using generative systems, prompt engineering, and neural networks not just to work faster, but to push what's possible, treating AI as a creative partner rather than a shortcut. Every project becomes a conversation between human intention and machine behavior.
Right now, he's building Burd & Co, a vetted directory and portfolio showcase for San Diego creatives, helping seekers connect with talented makers in their community.
"A designer's job isn't just to execute your vision. It's to improve your vision. If a designer only tells you 'yes,' you aren't getting your money's worth."
Mark Peery
Photographer + Lighting Guru + Digital Tech + AI Enthusiast
Mark Peery has spent decades mastering the single most important variable in photography: light. From high-fashion editorials and commercial automotive shoots to architectural work and portrait sessions, he's built his career on delivering images that hold up under pressure, and on set, there's always pressure.
That depth of experience shows in the roles he's taken on: gaffer, lighting technician, production manager, set designer, and photographer. Each one added a new layer to his understanding of how great images actually get made, not just technically, but operationally. Based in Southern California, Mark works across editorial and commercial projects, and his job is to remove uncertainty from the process so the creative work can happen with clarity and confidence.
He approaches every shoot the same way: understand the light, control the environment, and keep the energy on set exactly where it needs to be. Whether it's harsh midday sun or a pitch-black studio, the result looks intentional, because it is.
"My approach is rooted in a deep understanding of light and problem-solving."
Let's build something together.
Every project starts with a conversation. No pressure, no pitch deck.