Creating moments is all about pushing yourself over that ledge into that uncomfortable zone.
This past weekend, I was out in LA taking a workshop with my friends Quddus and Carmina (Camera Ready) about being in front of and behind a camera, interviewing, speaking on stage. I did this because I want to get better at my craft.
I started this podcast as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone. One of my biggest fears is talking in front of people and communicating effectively, putting myself out there. Now, at 124 episodes, I am definitely feeling out of my comfort zone. I’ve been feeling a little stagnant with growing the podcast, so I wanted to refresh that passion and work on my skills, and this workshop definitely did that. It made me think about my commitment to the show, and how, once you push yourself to new places and to learn new skills, you really grow as a person.
Put the camera down, put the iPhone down and get in there because that’s where the fulfilled richness of life comes from.
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Some things we learn in this podcast:
- The challenge of doing this podcast [2:00]
- I challenge you to push yourself out of your comfort zone [2:40]
- Creativity doesn’t always come in the form of art [4:00]
- Why I push myself to participate in life [4:30]
- Learn more about the Camera Ready workshop I did [5:00]
- Why it’s important to get feedback [5:30]
- My challenge to you [5:40]
Links mentioned:
- Listen to my episode with Quddus Philippe
- Learn more about Camera Ready
- Join the Nion Life Community
LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE
CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION
Creating moments is all about pushing yourself over that ledge into that uncomfortable zone.
This past weekend, I was out in LA taking a workshop with my friends Quddus and Carmina (Camera Ready) about being in front of and behind a camera, interviewing, speaking on stage. I did this because I want to get better at my craft.
I started this podcast as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone. One of my biggest fears is talking in front of people and communicating effectively, putting myself out there. Now, at 124 episodes, I am definitely feeling out of my comfort zone. I’ve been feeling a little stagnant with growing the podcast, so I wanted to refresh that passion and work on my skills, and this workshop definitely did that. It made me think about my commitment to the show, and how, once you push yourself to new places and to learn new skills, you really grow as a person.
Put the camera down, put the iPhone down and get in there because that’s where the fulfilled richness of life comes from.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/throw-yourself-into-the-fire” title=”Throw Yourself Into The Fire” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/124_NickOnken_NIONradio.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
Some things we learn in this podcast:
- The challenge of doing this podcast [2:00]
- I challenge you to push yourself out of your comfort zone [2:40]
- Creativity doesn’t always come in the form of art [4:00]
- Why I push myself to participate in life [4:30]
- Learn more about the Camera Ready workshop I did [5:00]
- Why it’s important to get feedback [5:30]
- My challenge to you [5:40]
Links mentioned:
- Listen to my episode with Quddus Philippe
- Learn more about Camera Ready
- Join the Nion Life Community
6/28/17
124: Nick Onken – Throw Yourself Into The Fire
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
BOOK A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT
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GET THE DETAILS
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
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LIFE INTELLIGENCE
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
Creating moments is all about pushing yourself over that ledge into that uncomfortable zone.
This past weekend, I was out in LA taking a workshop with my friends Quddus and Carmina (Camera Ready) about being in front of and behind a camera, interviewing, speaking on stage. I did this because I want to get better at my craft.
I started this podcast as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone. One of my biggest fears is talking in front of people and communicating effectively, putting myself out there. Now, at 124 episodes, I am definitely feeling out of my comfort zone. I’ve been feeling a little stagnant with growing the podcast, so I wanted to refresh that passion and work on my skills, and this workshop definitely did that. It made me think about my commitment to the show, and how, once you push yourself to new places and to learn new skills, you really grow as a person.
Put the camera down, put the iPhone down and get in there because that’s where the fulfilled richness of life comes from.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/throw-yourself-into-the-fire” title=”Throw Yourself Into The Fire” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/124_NickOnken_NIONradio.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
Some things we learn in this podcast:
- The challenge of doing this podcast [2:00]
- I challenge you to push yourself out of your comfort zone [2:40]
- Creativity doesn’t always come in the form of art [4:00]
- Why I push myself to participate in life [4:30]
- Learn more about the Camera Ready workshop I did [5:00]
- Why it’s important to get feedback [5:30]
- My challenge to you [5:40]
Links mentioned:
- Listen to my episode with Quddus Philippe
- Learn more about Camera Ready
- Join the Nion Life Community
6/28/17
124: Nick Onken – Throw Yourself Into The Fire
When you need a trusted creative partner in the room.
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Be seen at the level you’re stepping into.
Hey! I'm Nick.
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Emanate is a creative-direction-led photography experience for entrepreneurs, speakers, and thought leaders in a moment of expansion. This isn’t about better photos. It’s about aligning how you’re seen with who you’ve become. For seasons of rebrand, visibility, and next-level leadership.
Magnetic Authority is a self-guided container for people who feel visible, but not fully anchored.
If your message keeps shifting, your brand feels inconsistent, or your presence doesn’t match your capability yet. This is where you build the foundation before you scale.
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For founders, creatives, and leaders who want a trusted long-term partner. This isn’t coaching or traditional consulting.
It’s an ongoing creative partnership focused on bringing your personal brand identity to life.
Your brand. Your website. Your visuals.
All shaped as a direct extension of who you are. The work also includes a bespoke process of identifying and aligning the right experts when needed, so nothing gets built out of sync with your core.
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TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Why Brand Photography Matters More for Coaches As a coach, you are the product. People are not buying information.They are buying clarity, trust, and emotional safety. Your imagery sets the tone before a single word is spoken. If your photos feel stiff, overproduced, or generic, it creates […]
TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Imagination does not create reality. Presence does. Ideas live in the mind.Vision lives in the future.But reality responds only to what is here. Nothing moves forward without presence. Not clarity.Not alignment.Not creation. Presence is not something you add.It is what remains when you stop reaching. The Gap […]
Some people do not need to perform. They simply arrive. Peter Crone is one of them. His work is quiet.Precise.Deep. So the challenge was never how to make him look impressive.It was how to let his essence lead. This case study is about what happens when imagery stops trying and starts listening. The Challenge Peter’s […]
Most celebrities spend their careers being turned into something they’re not. Magazines need a character. Brands need a fantasy. Directors need a performance. After decades of that, you forget who you actually are. Evangeline Lilly retired from acting and faced a question most people avoid: who am I when I’m not performing? The answer required […]
If you’re searching for a photographer in London who can actually capture your essence, not just your image, you’re asking the right question. Because when it comes to personal brand photography, geography matters.But frequency matters more. You don’t need just a photographer.You need a visual translator. Someone who can turn your energy, story, and identity […]
Visual identity isn’t about how you look. It’s about how you make someone feel when they first encounter you. Before anyone reads your words, they feel your presence.Before trust, there is tone.Before authority, there is resonance. This is where Elevated Realism™ lives.Not in polish.Not in perfection.In presence. The Problem With Most Brand Imagery Most visual […]
There’s something pulling at you. Not a plan. Not a strategy. Not even a clear destination. Just this persistent tug that won’t let go. You’ve probably tried to rationalize it away. To wait for more clarity. To map out the full journey before taking a step. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of building […]
What happens when your inner transformation meets visual expression? When Caoimhe Harrison came to me, she wasn’t just looking for new photos. She was mid-evolution. Her coaching practice had deepened. Her energy had shifted. And the version of her that existed online no longer matched the woman she was becoming. She didn’t need a rebrand. […]
(For the Financial Brains Who Don’t Get It Yet) Let’s talk numbers. Just not the ones you’re used to. If you’re financially minded, you’ve probably asked this question before:“How does photography actually pay me back?” It’s fair. You’re not looking for vibes.You want leverage. Personal brand photography often gets dismissed as “nice to have” because […]
Most photographers compete on price. The best ones don’t compete at all. If you’ve ever looked at photographer pricing and wondered why some charge $500 while others charge $5,000 for what looks like the same service, you’re asking the right question. The answer isn’t about skill. It’s about authority. Two photographers can have identical technical […]
A Free Download for Aligned, Effortless Shoots Most photoshoots fail before the camera ever comes out. Not because of lighting.Not because of gear.Not because of posing. They fail because of misalignment. People show up hoping the camera will figure out what they haven’t clarified yet.And the result is predictable. Good photos.Wrong signal. This checklist exists […]
2026 Packages This isn’t coverage. It’s coherence. An Elevated Realism™ shoot isn’t designed to give you more photos.It’s designed to give you clarity, consistency, and authority across your entire brand ecosystem. Every element of the experience exists to solve one problem:Your current visuals no longer reflect who you’ve become. Here’s exactly what’s included in an […]
Q1 isn’t about starting over. It’s about being seen correctly. The new year doesn’t create momentum.It reveals who prepared for it. Q1 is when visibility resets.When attention sharpens.When people decide who they’re listening to this year. And the fastest way that decision gets made isn’t through words.It’s through visuals. That’s why Q1 is the most […]
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.
