Staying fresh.
Good question. I’ll be doing a podcast on that in a while in my mini series. I was interviewing Usher, and the biggest thing he said that stuck out to me was Evolve or Evaporate. You’ve gotta keep re-inventing. Look at the greats that are still relevant. He is one of them. Madonna, U2, etc. They all have re-invented over the years.
The same applies to us. I think it’s the mindset. You have to stay hungry. Devour knowledge. Strive to be the best “person” you can be. I went through a time a couple years ago, probably around the same time we bid on the cruise line job where my sales dropped significantly. It was depressing. Emotionally downward spiraling. I went to a dark place. I realized that I was putting my self worth into who and what I was shooting. I ended up taking an emotional intelligence and leadership training in LA through 2013 and 2014 that reshaped the way I saw things. Helped me to be self aware of so many things personally that I was un aware of so I can change them for the better. It helped me to regain a new vision for my life and career. From there, it was about growing as much as I can personally because when we grow personally, it fuels our art. My hashtag, #CreateYourMoments is all about the mental decision to harness the power of CHOICE to create our lives from the smallest of moments. What we create stems from who we are as a person and who we are being first and foremost. This video, is an authentic representation of where I’ve come to “BE” in my life. I’ve done a lot of internal work to get to where I’m at today.
I’m humbled that MTV chose to feature me, my life, and all the projects I’m up to in this awesome video by LGTR Productions. Life is about Creating Your Moments, for moments are the only thing we walk away with at the end of the day.
Special thanks to Tyrrell Winston for making this happen! Also special thanks to the guys at BOTU for my favorite song, HULA HOOP on the soundtrack.
LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE
CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION
Staying fresh.
Good question. I’ll be doing a podcast on that in a while in my mini series. I was interviewing Usher, and the biggest thing he said that stuck out to me was Evolve or Evaporate. You’ve gotta keep re-inventing. Look at the greats that are still relevant. He is one of them. Madonna, U2, etc. They all have re-invented over the years.
The same applies to us. I think it’s the mindset. You have to stay hungry. Devour knowledge. Strive to be the best “person” you can be. I went through a time a couple years ago, probably around the same time we bid on the cruise line job where my sales dropped significantly. It was depressing. Emotionally downward spiraling. I went to a dark place. I realized that I was putting my self worth into who and what I was shooting. I ended up taking an emotional intelligence and leadership training in LA through 2013 and 2014 that reshaped the way I saw things. Helped me to be self aware of so many things personally that I was un aware of so I can change them for the better. It helped me to regain a new vision for my life and career. From there, it was about growing as much as I can personally because when we grow personally, it fuels our art. My hashtag, #CreateYourMoments is all about the mental decision to harness the power of CHOICE to create our lives from the smallest of moments. What we create stems from who we are as a person and who we are being first and foremost. This video, is an authentic representation of where I’ve come to “BE” in my life. I’ve done a lot of internal work to get to where I’m at today.
I’m humbled that MTV chose to feature me, my life, and all the projects I’m up to in this awesome video by LGTR Productions. Life is about Creating Your Moments, for moments are the only thing we walk away with at the end of the day.
Special thanks to Tyrrell Winston for making this happen! Also special thanks to the guys at BOTU for my favorite song, HULA HOOP on the soundtrack.
5/22/15
Staying Fresh: nickonken x MTV Breaks
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
BOOK A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT
GET THE DETAILS
GET THE DETAILS
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
PODCAST
BRAND INTELLIGENCE
CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE
LIFE INTELLIGENCE
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
Staying fresh.
Good question. I’ll be doing a podcast on that in a while in my mini series. I was interviewing Usher, and the biggest thing he said that stuck out to me was Evolve or Evaporate. You’ve gotta keep re-inventing. Look at the greats that are still relevant. He is one of them. Madonna, U2, etc. They all have re-invented over the years.
The same applies to us. I think it’s the mindset. You have to stay hungry. Devour knowledge. Strive to be the best “person” you can be. I went through a time a couple years ago, probably around the same time we bid on the cruise line job where my sales dropped significantly. It was depressing. Emotionally downward spiraling. I went to a dark place. I realized that I was putting my self worth into who and what I was shooting. I ended up taking an emotional intelligence and leadership training in LA through 2013 and 2014 that reshaped the way I saw things. Helped me to be self aware of so many things personally that I was un aware of so I can change them for the better. It helped me to regain a new vision for my life and career. From there, it was about growing as much as I can personally because when we grow personally, it fuels our art. My hashtag, #CreateYourMoments is all about the mental decision to harness the power of CHOICE to create our lives from the smallest of moments. What we create stems from who we are as a person and who we are being first and foremost. This video, is an authentic representation of where I’ve come to “BE” in my life. I’ve done a lot of internal work to get to where I’m at today.
I’m humbled that MTV chose to feature me, my life, and all the projects I’m up to in this awesome video by LGTR Productions. Life is about Creating Your Moments, for moments are the only thing we walk away with at the end of the day.
Special thanks to Tyrrell Winston for making this happen! Also special thanks to the guys at BOTU for my favorite song, HULA HOOP on the soundtrack.
5/22/15
Staying Fresh: nickonken x MTV Breaks
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
BOOK A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT
masterfully aligning perception and reality through personal branding
GET THE DETAILS
Hey! I'm Nick.
PHOTOGRAPHER
BRAND ALCHEMIST
TEACHER
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.
GET THE DETAILS
infuse your vision with a fresh breath of creativity and vitality
LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE
CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION
read the latest
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. […]
Los Angeles is packed with creatives. But when it comes to personal brand photography, Nick Onken stands in a category of his own. He’s not just snapping pretty pictures. He’s crafting transformation. With a focus on visual storytelling and strategic brand elevation, Nick’s shoots go far beyond portraits. Every session is a creative collaboration—designed to […]
Introduction Lewis Howes, host of The School of Greatness and bestselling author, was ready to elevate his personal brand with a visual identity that matched his next chapter of leadership. He had already built a massive platform. But he was stepping into a deeper, more embodied version of his brand—one that integrated emotional intelligence with […]
Leadership isn’t just something you declare — it’s something people feel the moment they see you. And in a world where your first impression often happens online, your photos need to do more than look good. They need to position you as a leader. A personal brand shoot isn’t about winging it with cute outfits […]
Let’s cut to it: The cost of a personal brand photoshoot depends on one thing—the level of transformation you want to create. You can hire someone to take nice portraits. Or you can co-create an identity-elevating experience that reshapes how the world sees you. So… How Much Does It Cost? At the top of the […]
If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or speaker looking to stand out online, then you know photography is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. But hiring the right personal brand photographer can feel overwhelming. With so many options, styles, and price points, how do you find the perfect fit for your vision? Let’s break it down […]
Getting in front of a camera isn’t just about appearance—it’s about energy, mindset, and emotion. When you’re being photographed, especially for something as intimate and revealing as a personal brand shoot, the camera becomes a mirror. A mirror of confidence—or insecurity. Of ease—or resistance. Over the years, I’ve learned that the emotional preparation is just […]
If you’re building a brand in Austin, you already know—this city has a vibe. Creative. Wild. Soulful. Free. But when it comes to personal brand photography, not all photographers can capture that essence. If you want photos that go beyond headshots and into transformation… Nick Onken is the name to know. Austin Roots. Global Vision. […]
A great photo is more than just perfect lighting and good composition. It’s about capturing your subject’s truest essence—that confident, authentic, magnetic self that already exists inside them. My job as a photographer is to bring that forward. Over the years, I’ve built a toolkit of both physical and psychological tools that help guide clients […]
Introduction In today’s hyper-visual world, the first impression you make online can determine whether someone trusts you, hires you, or skips over you. Your brand photography is often the first point of contact—and if done right, it can immediately communicate authority, confidence, and influence. This is where my Elevated Realism™ style of personal brand photography […]
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.
