You have to dive into the elements of what resonates with you.
Part 3/15 How to Create a Career in Art: Deconstruct
Creating a high profile career in fashion and lifestyle photography is gratifying, but what it took from me to get there is the real gift.
During the last ten years of creating this career, I’ve learned a few things that might be useful to the up-and-comers. In this collection of episodes I break down the process that I used to make a living with my art. These tips go beyond my world of photography and transcend into any creative venture.
The lessons can be useful if you’re into illustration, fashion design, fashion blogging, music, performing arts, writing or any other creative hustle. Think of it like the DNA of a creative professional. Think of it like the building blocks of inspiration.
This is the third installment of my 15 part series on how to make a career in art.
Break things down from where you want to be and sprinkle them into your own work.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/43-shoptalk-radio-deconstruct” title=”How to Create a Career in Art – Deconstruct” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/43_Deconstruct_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]
You have to dive into the elements of what resonates with you.
Part 3/15 How to Create a Career in Art: Deconstruct
Creating a high profile career in fashion and lifestyle photography is gratifying, but what it took from me to get there is the real gift.
During the last ten years of creating this career, I’ve learned a few things that might be useful to the up-and-comers. In this collection of episodes I break down the process that I used to make a living with my art. These tips go beyond my world of photography and transcend into any creative venture.
The lessons can be useful if you’re into illustration, fashion design, fashion blogging, music, performing arts, writing or any other creative hustle. Think of it like the DNA of a creative professional. Think of it like the building blocks of inspiration.
This is the third installment of my 15 part series on how to make a career in art.
Break things down from where you want to be and sprinkle them into your own work.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/43-shoptalk-radio-deconstruct” title=”How to Create a Career in Art – Deconstruct” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/43_Deconstruct_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]







You have to dive into the elements of what resonates with you.
Part 3/15 How to Create a Career in Art: Deconstruct
Creating a high profile career in fashion and lifestyle photography is gratifying, but what it took from me to get there is the real gift.
During the last ten years of creating this career, I’ve learned a few things that might be useful to the up-and-comers. In this collection of episodes I break down the process that I used to make a living with my art. These tips go beyond my world of photography and transcend into any creative venture.
The lessons can be useful if you’re into illustration, fashion design, fashion blogging, music, performing arts, writing or any other creative hustle. Think of it like the DNA of a creative professional. Think of it like the building blocks of inspiration.
This is the third installment of my 15 part series on how to make a career in art.
Break things down from where you want to be and sprinkle them into your own work.
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/43-shoptalk-radio-deconstruct” title=”How to Create a Career in Art – Deconstruct” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/43_Deconstruct_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

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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.
Creative Consigliere is a long-term, high-touch partnership for leaders navigating growth, complexity, and evolution.
This is for moments when decisions stack quickly and you want someone who can see the whole system, not just the surface. Strategy, aesthetics, identity, and execution held together over time.

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 […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post This Is More Than a Photoshoot These aren’t generic content sessions. Every photoshoot is individually crafted — built around your unique narrative, your energy signature, and where your brand is heading. We call these Emanate Photoshoots intentionally. The purpose is to capture not just who you are […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post AI Isn’t Optional Anymore If you’re running a business in 2026 and not using AI, you’re already behind. That’s not hype. It’s just the reality of how fast things are moving. Whether you’re a coach, creative, consultant, or brand builder — AI is how you stay lean, […]

Because this isn’t just a photoshoot. It’s a portal. If you’re here, you already know this isn’t about taking “pictures.” It’s about capturing essence. Crafting identity. Transmitting the frequency of who you are becoming. This is more than a brand refresh. It’s a visual rite of passage. And it begins with a simple, sacred step: […]

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 […]

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 […]
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.