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2/27/18

Community Feature: Kayla Clements

Today’s post features a dear friend of mine, Creative Director Kayla Clements celebrating her launch of Daytripper. Daytripper is the story of how, through a series of day-trips, Kayla Clements and her boyfriend spent the summer of 2017 exploring, camping, and hiking through 9 states and 12 of America’s National Parks, while running a business on the road. Here’s a deeper look into Kayla’s project…


Where are you based?

Brooklyn, NY & San Diego, CA


What is your creative zone of genius?

I thrive the most in curation – curating portfolios, moodboards, creative briefs, custom links, book layouts, etc. This is where I get lost in flow states and produce my best work.


What is the story of this particular project?

Daytripper: 60 Days on the Road Exploring America’s National Parks’ is a woman-written, thoughtfully-designed coffee table book exploring vivid photographs and compelling stories from time spent on the road. This is the story of how, through a series of day-trips, Creative Director Kayla Clements and her boyfriend spent the summer of 2017 exploring, camping, and hiking through nine states and twelve of America’s National Parks while running a business on the road.


What was your inspiration for creating this?

I aimed to share not only the photographs, but the experiences from the day hikes where we struggled to get to the trail end. The hikes presented challenges and the lessons learned became profound. The trail is where all of our most memorable experiences happened and where I most connected to myself. Every step provided me an opportunity of growth and reflection, not only physically but mentally. When thinking of the trip, I am reminded of a sketch I saw at a campground host station in Glacier National Park, MT of two hikers at the top of a mountain with this simple phrase: “Perspective, Get Some.”

This is my story in hopes that it inspires you to create yours.

The impact I hope to make with the book is for awareness and conservation of these sacred lands. On top of being printed on recycled paper and printed locally in the United States, a portion of every sale will be donated back to support the parks.

What did your creative process look like in making this project?

It has been a complete labor of love. I have spent about four months working on this project full-time in the following stages:

Writing – 4 weeks

Photo Editing – 4 weeks

Proofreading – 3 weeks

Book Design – 8 weeks

Printer Sourcing – 4 weeks

Website Design – 1 week

Video production – 2 weeks

Crowdfunding campaign set-up – 3 weeks

Many of the stages overlapped and happened cohesively and my background in design and print production set me up for success.

Additionally, before I started, I signed up for a 10-week course called the Art of Freelance to help provide the framework and structure to push me to complete this project. Although the scope goes beyond the 10-week course, at the end, I have a printed proof in hand for our final showcase and the books are ready to go to press once pre-sales close.

 

How can people help you get involved?

Sign-up for pre-sales: https://www.daytripperthebook.com

Spread the word! Help me get this book into as many hands as possible.


Where can people follow you or see more of your work?

Personal musings and travel: @kaylaclements 

And my creative agency/design studio specializing in working with artists @unavoltastudio

LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE

CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION

Today’s post features a dear friend of mine, Creative Director Kayla Clements celebrating her launch of Daytripper. Daytripper is the story of how, through a series of day-trips, Kayla Clements and her boyfriend spent the summer of 2017 exploring, camping, and hiking through 9 states and 12 of America’s National Parks, while running a business on the road. Here’s a deeper look into Kayla’s project…


Where are you based?

Brooklyn, NY & San Diego, CA


What is your creative zone of genius?

I thrive the most in curation – curating portfolios, moodboards, creative briefs, custom links, book layouts, etc. This is where I get lost in flow states and produce my best work.


What is the story of this particular project?

Daytripper: 60 Days on the Road Exploring America’s National Parks’ is a woman-written, thoughtfully-designed coffee table book exploring vivid photographs and compelling stories from time spent on the road. This is the story of how, through a series of day-trips, Creative Director Kayla Clements and her boyfriend spent the summer of 2017 exploring, camping, and hiking through nine states and twelve of America’s National Parks while running a business on the road.


What was your inspiration for creating this?

I aimed to share not only the photographs, but the experiences from the day hikes where we struggled to get to the trail end. The hikes presented challenges and the lessons learned became profound. The trail is where all of our most memorable experiences happened and where I most connected to myself. Every step provided me an opportunity of growth and reflection, not only physically but mentally. When thinking of the trip, I am reminded of a sketch I saw at a campground host station in Glacier National Park, MT of two hikers at the top of a mountain with this simple phrase: “Perspective, Get Some.”

This is my story in hopes that it inspires you to create yours.

The impact I hope to make with the book is for awareness and conservation of these sacred lands. On top of being printed on recycled paper and printed locally in the United States, a portion of every sale will be donated back to support the parks.

What did your creative process look like in making this project?

It has been a complete labor of love. I have spent about four months working on this project full-time in the following stages:

Writing – 4 weeks

Photo Editing – 4 weeks

Proofreading – 3 weeks

Book Design – 8 weeks

Printer Sourcing – 4 weeks

Website Design – 1 week

Video production – 2 weeks

Crowdfunding campaign set-up – 3 weeks

Many of the stages overlapped and happened cohesively and my background in design and print production set me up for success.

Additionally, before I started, I signed up for a 10-week course called the Art of Freelance to help provide the framework and structure to push me to complete this project. Although the scope goes beyond the 10-week course, at the end, I have a printed proof in hand for our final showcase and the books are ready to go to press once pre-sales close.

 

How can people help you get involved?

Sign-up for pre-sales: https://www.daytripperthebook.com

Spread the word! Help me get this book into as many hands as possible.


Where can people follow you or see more of your work?

Personal musings and travel: @kaylaclements 

And my creative agency/design studio specializing in working with artists @unavoltastudio

2/27/18

Community Feature: Kayla Clements

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Today’s post features a dear friend of mine, Creative Director Kayla Clements celebrating her launch of Daytripper. Daytripper is the story of how, through a series of day-trips, Kayla Clements and her boyfriend spent the summer of 2017 exploring, camping, and hiking through 9 states and 12 of America’s National Parks, while running a business on the road. Here’s a deeper look into Kayla’s project…


Where are you based?

Brooklyn, NY & San Diego, CA


What is your creative zone of genius?

I thrive the most in curation – curating portfolios, moodboards, creative briefs, custom links, book layouts, etc. This is where I get lost in flow states and produce my best work.


What is the story of this particular project?

Daytripper: 60 Days on the Road Exploring America’s National Parks’ is a woman-written, thoughtfully-designed coffee table book exploring vivid photographs and compelling stories from time spent on the road. This is the story of how, through a series of day-trips, Creative Director Kayla Clements and her boyfriend spent the summer of 2017 exploring, camping, and hiking through nine states and twelve of America’s National Parks while running a business on the road.


What was your inspiration for creating this?

I aimed to share not only the photographs, but the experiences from the day hikes where we struggled to get to the trail end. The hikes presented challenges and the lessons learned became profound. The trail is where all of our most memorable experiences happened and where I most connected to myself. Every step provided me an opportunity of growth and reflection, not only physically but mentally. When thinking of the trip, I am reminded of a sketch I saw at a campground host station in Glacier National Park, MT of two hikers at the top of a mountain with this simple phrase: “Perspective, Get Some.”

This is my story in hopes that it inspires you to create yours.

The impact I hope to make with the book is for awareness and conservation of these sacred lands. On top of being printed on recycled paper and printed locally in the United States, a portion of every sale will be donated back to support the parks.

What did your creative process look like in making this project?

It has been a complete labor of love. I have spent about four months working on this project full-time in the following stages:

Writing – 4 weeks

Photo Editing – 4 weeks

Proofreading – 3 weeks

Book Design – 8 weeks

Printer Sourcing – 4 weeks

Website Design – 1 week

Video production – 2 weeks

Crowdfunding campaign set-up – 3 weeks

Many of the stages overlapped and happened cohesively and my background in design and print production set me up for success.

Additionally, before I started, I signed up for a 10-week course called the Art of Freelance to help provide the framework and structure to push me to complete this project. Although the scope goes beyond the 10-week course, at the end, I have a printed proof in hand for our final showcase and the books are ready to go to press once pre-sales close.

 

How can people help you get involved?

Sign-up for pre-sales: https://www.daytripperthebook.com

Spread the word! Help me get this book into as many hands as possible.


Where can people follow you or see more of your work?

Personal musings and travel: @kaylaclements 

And my creative agency/design studio specializing in working with artists @unavoltastudio

2/27/18

Community Feature: Kayla Clements

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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.

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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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It’s an ongoing creative partnership focused on bringing your personal brand identity to life.

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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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Most personal brands skip visual translation entirely. They jump from identity straight to content. But brand identity before website, before content, before the sales page is the order that actually works. Here’s the layer you’re missing.

Elevated Realism portrait of a personal brand client embodying visual authority and brand coherence

Most personal brand strategy frameworks skip the foundation. Brand intelligence is built in four layers: Identity, Visual Translation, Content, and Business. Here’s why starting at layer three is the reason your brand feels off.

Personal brand client photographed by Nick Onken demonstrating complete brand coherence where styling, environment, and presence are intentionally aligned

Your personal brand feels off but you can’t explain why. It’s not your logo or colors. It’s a coherence problem, a structural gap between who you are and how you’re seen. Here’s what to do.

Three levels of authority showing progression from visible to credible to recognized

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You had the insight. The breakthrough moment, the realization, the epiphany, the profound understanding. Deep knowing about who you are, what you offer, and how you’re different. Life-changing clarity about your positioning, your value, and your authority. Then what changed? Actually changed? Behaviorally, practically, visibly? In how you show up, how you speak, how you […]

Authority upgrade system showing comprehensive alignment between established expertise and brand presence

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Connor Beaton brand photography showing shadow work concept with half face illuminated half in darkness

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Brand structure framework showing five pillars foundation stopping rebuilding cycle permanently

You keep rebuilding. New brand, new colors, new photos, new messaging, new positioning, new website, new everything. Every six months, every year, every time it feels wrong and stops working. Hoping this time fixes it, this time solves it, this time creates the authority and positioning you need. It doesn’t. It never does. Because you’re […]

Transformation from hidden expert to recognized authority through claimed expertise and positioning

You know things. Real things. Earned through years of experience. Patterns most people miss. Insights that could transform how your audience operates. But nobody knows you know them. You’re the hidden expert. Competent. Skilled. Valuable. Invisible. The shift from hidden expert to recognized authority doesn’t start where most people think. Not with better marketing. Not […]

Daily creative practice and disciplined devotion building mastery through sustained commitment

Devotion isn’t soft. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever practice. Most people think devotion means passion. Excitement. The feeling you get when inspiration strikes and everything flows. That’s not devotion. That’s infatuation. Devotion is showing up when inspiration is gone. When the work feels mechanical. When no one is watching and there’s no immediate reward. […]

Elevated Realism client portrait showing subtle misalignment between inner presence and outward visual expression

You redesign your logo for the third time. Still doesn’t feel right. You hire another designer. Try different colors. New fonts. Different aesthetic entirely. Still wrong. So you conclude: “I just need better branding.” But the crisis isn’t your logo. It’s not your color palette. It’s not your website design. The crisis is deeper. You […]

Comparison showing personal brand visibility versus recognition and coherent identity building

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Emma Reicher embodied leadership brand photography transformation mixing streetwear qigong Wales landscapes

Emma Reicher was hidden. No real brand. No photos of herself. Just lofi graphics that looked student-made. She had the credentials. Maturation coach. Qigong practitioner. Psychotherapy background. Real expertise. But nobody could see her. Nobody could feel her. The gap between who she was and how she showed up publicly was complete invisibility. The Fear […]

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. 

NICK'S STORY