You can come for a really sick lineup and know that you’re getting some feminism mixed in there.
Being a woman in the music scene is very different from being a man in the music scene. Playing classical violin is very different that playing rock violin. And Anna Bulbrook knows a lot about these differences.
Anna has been the violinist for Airborne Toxic Event and Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros. She grew up playing the violin classically, but everything changed after college when she realized that she loved to play her instrument in a less traditional venue.
Years later, after touring with some great bands, she found a new passion: creating space for women in the world of rock and music festivals. Her new venture GirlSchool, is just that: a music festival by, for, and in support of women. Listen into this awesome episode as she talks about the life of a career musician, what it’s like being the only female in the band, and the moment that lit the spark for her latest project.
In the process of letting that classical violinist go, I was free to be open to what it would look like for violin to be valuable in other ways.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/anna-bulbrook” title=”How To Transition To A New Creative Career” artist=”Anna Bulbrook” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/125_AnnaBulbrock_NIONradio-1.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
You can come for a really sick lineup and know that you’re getting some feminism mixed in there.
Being a woman in the music scene is very different from being a man in the music scene. Playing classical violin is very different that playing rock violin. And Anna Bulbrook knows a lot about these differences.
Anna has been the violinist for Airborne Toxic Event and Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros. She grew up playing the violin classically, but everything changed after college when she realized that she loved to play her instrument in a less traditional venue.
Years later, after touring with some great bands, she found a new passion: creating space for women in the world of rock and music festivals. Her new venture GirlSchool, is just that: a music festival by, for, and in support of women. Listen into this awesome episode as she talks about the life of a career musician, what it’s like being the only female in the band, and the moment that lit the spark for her latest project.
In the process of letting that classical violinist go, I was free to be open to what it would look like for violin to be valuable in other ways.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/anna-bulbrook” title=”How To Transition To A New Creative Career” artist=”Anna Bulbrook” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/125_AnnaBulbrock_NIONradio-1.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]






You can come for a really sick lineup and know that you’re getting some feminism mixed in there.
Being a woman in the music scene is very different from being a man in the music scene. Playing classical violin is very different that playing rock violin. And Anna Bulbrook knows a lot about these differences.
Anna has been the violinist for Airborne Toxic Event and Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros. She grew up playing the violin classically, but everything changed after college when she realized that she loved to play her instrument in a less traditional venue.
Years later, after touring with some great bands, she found a new passion: creating space for women in the world of rock and music festivals. Her new venture GirlSchool, is just that: a music festival by, for, and in support of women. Listen into this awesome episode as she talks about the life of a career musician, what it’s like being the only female in the band, and the moment that lit the spark for her latest project.
In the process of letting that classical violinist go, I was free to be open to what it would look like for violin to be valuable in other ways.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/anna-bulbrook” title=”How To Transition To A New Creative Career” artist=”Anna Bulbrook” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/125_AnnaBulbrock_NIONradio-1.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
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.

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.