If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or speaker looking to stand out online, then you know photography is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. But hiring the right personal brand photographer can feel overwhelming. With so many options, styles, and price points, how do you find the perfect fit for your vision?
Let’s break it down so you avoid the common traps and find a photographer who knows how to capture the real you—elevated, iconic, and aligned with your brand.
Where to Find a Personal Brand Photographer
- Referrals from your network – Ask other entrepreneurs, coaches, or speakers who they’ve used and loved. Word of mouth is one of the best vetting tools.
- Search beyond Google – Look at their website, Instagram, YouTube. Do they understand brand storytelling? Do they elevate their clients?
- Check their specialty – Wedding and lifestyle photographers aren’t always great at brand storytelling. You want someone who creates positioning, not just portraits.
- Don’t worry about location – If the right photographer is in another city, it’s worth the travel. The brand ROI is exponential.
What Makes a Great Personal Brand Photographer
- A strong, focused portfolio – Look for visual consistency, storytelling, and the ability to bring out someone’s essence.
- Experience with diverse personalities – Not everyone loves the camera. Can they direct you out of discomfort?
- Storytelling-driven approach – Your photos should feel like visual chapters in your brand book.
- Clear direction on set – The best photographers guide you through body language, energy, micro-expressions, movement.
- Commercial/editorial background – Photographers with ad or magazine experience understand brand frequency and visual language.
Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Photographer
- Price shopping only – Cheap = risky. This is an investment in your future perception.
- Skipping the vibe check – You’ll be spending hours with this person. You want to feel seen, not judged.
- Ignoring direction style – If they’re not actively directing, you’ll feel lost and it will show.
- No brand understanding – A good photographer sees your essence and positions you through it.
- Portfolio inconsistency – If the vibe is all over the place, that’s a red flag.
How I Approach It Differently
At Onken’s World, I treat each client like an editorial campaign. We prep in advance—with your visual identity, energy, and story at the center of it all. Whether we shoot in Austin, NYC, LA, or across the globe, the goal is to capture your most magnetic self.
Music, movement, mindset—I direct you through every step of the process so that you never feel awkward in front of the camera. The result? Imagery that feels iconic, lived-in, and fully you.
Ready to Find Your Photographer?
If you want someone who knows how to bring out your essence and translate that into scroll-stopping imagery, let’s connect.
👉 View the Elevated Realism™ portfolio and apply here
Watch the Full Breakdown
Embed YouTube Video Here: “How to Hire the Right Photographer for Your Brand Vision”
Internal Link
Looking for the next step? Read: How to Prepare for Your Elevated Realism™ Personal Brand Shoot
LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE
CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION
If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or speaker looking to stand out online, then you know photography is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. But hiring the right personal brand photographer can feel overwhelming. With so many options, styles, and price points, how do you find the perfect fit for your vision?
Let’s break it down so you avoid the common traps and find a photographer who knows how to capture the real you—elevated, iconic, and aligned with your brand.
Where to Find a Personal Brand Photographer
- Referrals from your network – Ask other entrepreneurs, coaches, or speakers who they’ve used and loved. Word of mouth is one of the best vetting tools.
- Search beyond Google – Look at their website, Instagram, YouTube. Do they understand brand storytelling? Do they elevate their clients?
- Check their specialty – Wedding and lifestyle photographers aren’t always great at brand storytelling. You want someone who creates positioning, not just portraits.
- Don’t worry about location – If the right photographer is in another city, it’s worth the travel. The brand ROI is exponential.
What Makes a Great Personal Brand Photographer
- A strong, focused portfolio – Look for visual consistency, storytelling, and the ability to bring out someone’s essence.
- Experience with diverse personalities – Not everyone loves the camera. Can they direct you out of discomfort?
- Storytelling-driven approach – Your photos should feel like visual chapters in your brand book.
- Clear direction on set – The best photographers guide you through body language, energy, micro-expressions, movement.
- Commercial/editorial background – Photographers with ad or magazine experience understand brand frequency and visual language.
Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Photographer
- Price shopping only – Cheap = risky. This is an investment in your future perception.
- Skipping the vibe check – You’ll be spending hours with this person. You want to feel seen, not judged.
- Ignoring direction style – If they’re not actively directing, you’ll feel lost and it will show.
- No brand understanding – A good photographer sees your essence and positions you through it.
- Portfolio inconsistency – If the vibe is all over the place, that’s a red flag.
How I Approach It Differently
At Onken’s World, I treat each client like an editorial campaign. We prep in advance—with your visual identity, energy, and story at the center of it all. Whether we shoot in Austin, NYC, LA, or across the globe, the goal is to capture your most magnetic self.
Music, movement, mindset—I direct you through every step of the process so that you never feel awkward in front of the camera. The result? Imagery that feels iconic, lived-in, and fully you.
Ready to Find Your Photographer?
If you want someone who knows how to bring out your essence and translate that into scroll-stopping imagery, let’s connect.
👉 View the Elevated Realism™ portfolio and apply here
Watch the Full Breakdown
Embed YouTube Video Here: “How to Hire the Right Photographer for Your Brand Vision”
Internal Link
Looking for the next step? Read: How to Prepare for Your Elevated Realism™ Personal Brand Shoot
9/29/25
How to Hire the Right Photographer for Your Brand Vision
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
BOOK A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT
GET THE DETAILS
GET THE DETAILS
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
PODCAST
BRAND INTELLIGENCE
CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE
LIFE INTELLIGENCE
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or speaker looking to stand out online, then you know photography is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. But hiring the right personal brand photographer can feel overwhelming. With so many options, styles, and price points, how do you find the perfect fit for your vision?
Let’s break it down so you avoid the common traps and find a photographer who knows how to capture the real you—elevated, iconic, and aligned with your brand.
Where to Find a Personal Brand Photographer
- Referrals from your network – Ask other entrepreneurs, coaches, or speakers who they’ve used and loved. Word of mouth is one of the best vetting tools.
- Search beyond Google – Look at their website, Instagram, YouTube. Do they understand brand storytelling? Do they elevate their clients?
- Check their specialty – Wedding and lifestyle photographers aren’t always great at brand storytelling. You want someone who creates positioning, not just portraits.
- Don’t worry about location – If the right photographer is in another city, it’s worth the travel. The brand ROI is exponential.
What Makes a Great Personal Brand Photographer
- A strong, focused portfolio – Look for visual consistency, storytelling, and the ability to bring out someone’s essence.
- Experience with diverse personalities – Not everyone loves the camera. Can they direct you out of discomfort?
- Storytelling-driven approach – Your photos should feel like visual chapters in your brand book.
- Clear direction on set – The best photographers guide you through body language, energy, micro-expressions, movement.
- Commercial/editorial background – Photographers with ad or magazine experience understand brand frequency and visual language.
Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Photographer
- Price shopping only – Cheap = risky. This is an investment in your future perception.
- Skipping the vibe check – You’ll be spending hours with this person. You want to feel seen, not judged.
- Ignoring direction style – If they’re not actively directing, you’ll feel lost and it will show.
- No brand understanding – A good photographer sees your essence and positions you through it.
- Portfolio inconsistency – If the vibe is all over the place, that’s a red flag.
How I Approach It Differently
At Onken’s World, I treat each client like an editorial campaign. We prep in advance—with your visual identity, energy, and story at the center of it all. Whether we shoot in Austin, NYC, LA, or across the globe, the goal is to capture your most magnetic self.
Music, movement, mindset—I direct you through every step of the process so that you never feel awkward in front of the camera. The result? Imagery that feels iconic, lived-in, and fully you.
Ready to Find Your Photographer?
If you want someone who knows how to bring out your essence and translate that into scroll-stopping imagery, let’s connect.
👉 View the Elevated Realism™ portfolio and apply here
Watch the Full Breakdown
Embed YouTube Video Here: “How to Hire the Right Photographer for Your Brand Vision”
Internal Link
Looking for the next step? Read: How to Prepare for Your Elevated Realism™ Personal Brand Shoot
9/29/25
How to Hire the Right Photographer for Your Brand Vision
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
BOOK A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
GET THE DETAILS
Hey! I'm Nick.
PHOTOGRAPHER
BRAND ALCHEMIST
TEACHER
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia.
GET THE DETAILS
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE
CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION
read the latest
TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post You Are the Brand If you’re still hiding behind your offer… If you’re still using a cropped wedding photo for your headshot… If you’re still telling yourself you need to “figure it all out first”… Let this be your permission slip: You are the face of your […]
TLDR | What You’ll Learn in This Post This Wasn’t Just a Tattoo I’ve wanted a tattoo from Balazs for years. Not because he’s popular, but because I knew this guy was channeling something real. When the time finally aligned, I didn’t just walk into a session. I stepped into a portal. The Intention: A […]
If you’re an entrepreneur, your personal brand isn’t just a logo — it’s your face, your energy, and the story you’re telling in every scroll. So when it comes to choosing a personal brand photographer, you don’t need someone who just “takes nice pictures.” You need someone who knows how to translate your identity into […]
TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Location Isn’t Background — It’s Identity Where you shoot isn’t just about what looks cool. It’s about resonance. It’s about embodiment. It’s about visually designing a space that holds your energy. “Your brand visuals don’t just show who you are — they show the world you […]
A personal brand is not your logo. It’s not your colors. It’s not just your website. Your personal brand is the perception people have of you when you’re not in the room — shaped by your presence, your visuals, your voice, and how consistently you embody your values. It’s who you are and who you’re […]
TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Brand Isn’t a Feed — It’s a Frequency We’ve all seen it: the influencer with polished photos but no soul. The brand that feels like a mask. That’s not personal branding — that’s performance. A real personal brand? It’s how you live. It’s what you do […]
A Brand Isn’t Just a Logo — It’s a Mirror Your personal brand isn’t a website, a color palette, or a polished grid. It’s an evolving expression of who you are — and who you’re becoming. More than that, it’s a container. A space that calls you to rise. To embody your message. To stay […]
Let’s put it this way: If you want stiff headshots in a gray suit against a beige wall — probably not. If you want a photoshoot that feels like an editorial spread, emotional breakthrough, and creative awakening all in one — then yes. Nick Onken is very good at what he does. What Makes Nick […]
Most First-Time Brand Shoots Miss the Mark — Here’s Why If you’re preparing for your first brand photoshoot, you’re likely focused on the obvious: outfits, lighting, maybe even the perfect smile. But what actually makes a photoshoot land is much deeper — and most people don’t know what to look for. And unfortunately, that’s why most first-time […]
The Problem With Traditional Brand Photograph Most brand photos are surface-level. They might be polished. Perfectly lit. Technically solid. But they lack soul. They don’t make you feel the person. They don’t communicate energy, depth, or identity. They look good — but they don’t resonate. And that’s a problem if you’re a thought leader, coach, speaker, author, or […]
If you’re searching for the best personal brand photographer in New York, one name rises to the top: Nick Onken. Blending editorial sophistication with emotional storytelling, Nick’s work goes far beyond headshots. His Elevated Realism™ approach captures your highest self — magnetic, polished, and unmistakably you. 📍 A Photographer Who Knows NYC Intimately Nick spent 15 […]
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is building their website, offers, or marketing before they’ve ever clarified their brand identity. They hire web designers before they’ve defined their vibe. They write sales pages without knowing the feeling their brand is meant to transmit. But everything — your website, your photos, your content, your brand world — should stem […]
For most people, a photoshoot is about looking good. For Nicky Clinch, it became a mirror for transformation. Nicky is a master maturation coach, author of Surrender, and co-leader of the Emanate Mastermind. When she came to me, her brand was successful—multiple seven figures, sold-out programs, a global community—but something wasn’t resonating. She had reached a plateau. […]
About the Blogger
I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here.
I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here.
