“Make the radio and labels come to you by staying true to yourself and cultivating your own audience.” – Asher Roth
I Love College was a hit and for the last seven years Asher Roth has been making a living as a musician.
In this interview we discuss the complexities of a life that revolves around your art.
Asher is different in lots of ways. His name is out there with each song. He doesn’t get the opportunity to do commercial work to support his personal projects. He’s on the front line.
In this interview we dive into what exactly that means. This one is full of light and wisdom creatives so thank you for downloading, let’s get into it with Asher Roth.
“Stay positive. Shit sucks some times, but you’ve got to keep it moving.” – Asher Roth
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/asher-roth” title=”Asher Roth – How to Build a Career in Hip Hop” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/31_AsherRoth_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
“When you can lose yourself in what you’re doing, it’s pretty awesome.” – Asher Roth
Music Credit: I Love College, G.R.I.N.D. & Tangerine Girl by Asher Roth
“Make the radio and labels come to you by staying true to yourself and cultivating your own audience.” – Asher Roth
I Love College was a hit and for the last seven years Asher Roth has been making a living as a musician.
In this interview we discuss the complexities of a life that revolves around your art.
Asher is different in lots of ways. His name is out there with each song. He doesn’t get the opportunity to do commercial work to support his personal projects. He’s on the front line.
In this interview we dive into what exactly that means. This one is full of light and wisdom creatives so thank you for downloading, let’s get into it with Asher Roth.
“Stay positive. Shit sucks some times, but you’ve got to keep it moving.” – Asher Roth
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/asher-roth” title=”Asher Roth – How to Build a Career in Hip Hop” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/31_AsherRoth_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
“When you can lose yourself in what you’re doing, it’s pretty awesome.” – Asher Roth
Music Credit: I Love College, G.R.I.N.D. & Tangerine Girl by Asher Roth







“Make the radio and labels come to you by staying true to yourself and cultivating your own audience.” – Asher Roth
I Love College was a hit and for the last seven years Asher Roth has been making a living as a musician.
In this interview we discuss the complexities of a life that revolves around your art.
Asher is different in lots of ways. His name is out there with each song. He doesn’t get the opportunity to do commercial work to support his personal projects. He’s on the front line.
In this interview we dive into what exactly that means. This one is full of light and wisdom creatives so thank you for downloading, let’s get into it with Asher Roth.
“Stay positive. Shit sucks some times, but you’ve got to keep it moving.” – Asher Roth
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/asher-roth” title=”Asher Roth – How to Build a Career in Hip Hop” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/31_AsherRoth_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
“When you can lose yourself in what you’re doing, it’s pretty awesome.” – Asher Roth
Music Credit: I Love College, G.R.I.N.D. & Tangerine Girl by Asher Roth

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TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Brand Lives in a Specific Universe A personal brand isn’t just what you offer — it’s the world you create around your work.That universe gets defined through imagery. Not only your presence, but the environments you inhabit. The textures that surround you. The quality of light […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Why Your Photographer Shapes Your Business As an entrepreneur, you’re not selling a faceless corporation.Your audience invests in your vision, your perspective, and your unique approach to solving problems. Which means cookie-cutter imagery undermines everything you’ve built. The right visual identity doesn’t just represent you — it […]

You’ve probably seen both. You might even think they’re the same thing. But there’s a fundamental difference between headshots and brand photography that changes everything about how your audience perceives you. One simply shows your face. The other tells your story. What Headshots Are Actually For A headshot has one job: identification. Think of it […]

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 […]
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.