Get out of your comfort zone. How often are you sitting on the couch staying comfortable? I know I have quite a bit over the last couple years. I just went out to Phoenix and did an awesome photoshoot with the amazing Dr. Sean Stephenson, and he put together this video with the photos I shot of him. If you don’t know who he is, dive into it. He’s a legend and has overcome more than any other human being I know. Sean has a rare bone disease called Ostiogenesis Imperfecta which made his bones so brittle that even sneezing would break a collarbone, and also stunted his growth. He’s fractured over 250 bones in his body. The amazing thing is, he’s overcome the mental side and in addition, he’s overcome the physical side by changing his diet and exercising 4-5 times per week. If he doesn’t inspire you to get off your ass and do something with your life, what is it going to take?
This translates into many areas of life, but health and fitness is the big one. I realize for myself that getting off my ass and working out in the morning takes a lot of effort. However, I have to push my comfort zone aside to get up – as in the words of Nike, Just Do It. When we are out of our comfort zones we are growing – exactly what happens when we work out. We grow, we get stronger, but it’s not always fun. It’s not easy, but if we can push through, it makes us stronger. What is it that takes you over the “but” in the morning or evening to work out? There’s a shift out of comfort that gets to happen to take that first step.
Check out the video with my photos that Sean created. Let it inspire you!
Get out of your comfort zone. How often are you sitting on the couch staying comfortable? I know I have quite a bit over the last couple years. I just went out to Phoenix and did an awesome photoshoot with the amazing Dr. Sean Stephenson, and he put together this video with the photos I shot of him. If you don’t know who he is, dive into it. He’s a legend and has overcome more than any other human being I know. Sean has a rare bone disease called Ostiogenesis Imperfecta which made his bones so brittle that even sneezing would break a collarbone, and also stunted his growth. He’s fractured over 250 bones in his body. The amazing thing is, he’s overcome the mental side and in addition, he’s overcome the physical side by changing his diet and exercising 4-5 times per week. If he doesn’t inspire you to get off your ass and do something with your life, what is it going to take?
This translates into many areas of life, but health and fitness is the big one. I realize for myself that getting off my ass and working out in the morning takes a lot of effort. However, I have to push my comfort zone aside to get up – as in the words of Nike, Just Do It. When we are out of our comfort zones we are growing – exactly what happens when we work out. We grow, we get stronger, but it’s not always fun. It’s not easy, but if we can push through, it makes us stronger. What is it that takes you over the “but” in the morning or evening to work out? There’s a shift out of comfort that gets to happen to take that first step.
Check out the video with my photos that Sean created. Let it inspire you!







Get out of your comfort zone. How often are you sitting on the couch staying comfortable? I know I have quite a bit over the last couple years. I just went out to Phoenix and did an awesome photoshoot with the amazing Dr. Sean Stephenson, and he put together this video with the photos I shot of him. If you don’t know who he is, dive into it. He’s a legend and has overcome more than any other human being I know. Sean has a rare bone disease called Ostiogenesis Imperfecta which made his bones so brittle that even sneezing would break a collarbone, and also stunted his growth. He’s fractured over 250 bones in his body. The amazing thing is, he’s overcome the mental side and in addition, he’s overcome the physical side by changing his diet and exercising 4-5 times per week. If he doesn’t inspire you to get off your ass and do something with your life, what is it going to take?
This translates into many areas of life, but health and fitness is the big one. I realize for myself that getting off my ass and working out in the morning takes a lot of effort. However, I have to push my comfort zone aside to get up – as in the words of Nike, Just Do It. When we are out of our comfort zones we are growing – exactly what happens when we work out. We grow, we get stronger, but it’s not always fun. It’s not easy, but if we can push through, it makes us stronger. What is it that takes you over the “but” in the morning or evening to work out? There’s a shift out of comfort that gets to happen to take that first step.
Check out the video with my photos that Sean created. Let it inspire you!

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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. […]
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.