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Five essential books for creatives about accessing creativity and creative living fundamentals

Most creativity books teach technique. Methods. Processes. Step-by-step systems. These five books teach something else. They teach how to be creative. How to access creativity. How to stay in creative practice. How to overcome what stops you. Not tactics. Fundamentals. The foundation everything else builds on. I return to these repeatedly. When stuck. When resistant. […]

There is a moment when your visuals stop keeping up with who you are. It’s subtle at first.Then it becomes obvious. You feel clear internally.But your imagery feels dated.Or noisy.Or just slightly off. That tension isn’t a branding problem.It’s a readiness signal. 1. Your Work Has Evolved, But Your Images Have Not You’ve grown.Your thinking […]

Editorial portrait expressing identity alignment and embodied presence through Elevated Realism photography
Nicky Clinch founder Body-Mind Maturation teaching identity dissolution through transformational brand photography
Professional coach photographed in a calm, editorial environment with natural light and grounded presence
Minimal editorial portrait expressing calm presence and embodied awareness through light and stillness

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Imagination does not create reality. Presence does. Ideas live in the mind.Vision lives in the future.But reality responds only to what is here. Nothing moves forward without presence. Not clarity.Not alignment.Not creation. Presence is not something you add.It is what remains when you stop reaching. The Gap […]

Editorial portrait of Peter Crone captured with calm presence and understated authority using Elevated Realism

Some people do not need to perform. They simply arrive. Peter Crone is one of them. His work is quiet.Precise.Deep. So the challenge was never how to make him look impressive.It was how to let his essence lead. This case study is about what happens when imagery stops trying and starts listening. The Challenge Peter’s […]

Evangeline Lilly authentic brand photography transformation from celebrity performance to spiritual teacher presence

Most celebrities spend their careers being turned into something they’re not. Magazines need a character. Brands need a fantasy. Directors need a performance. After decades of that, you forget who you actually are. Evangeline Lilly retired from acting and faced a question most people avoid: who am I when I’m not performing? The answer required […]

Personal brand client captured in London during an Elevated Realism editorial photoshoot

If you’re searching for a photographer in London who can actually capture your essence, not just your image, you’re asking the right question. Because when it comes to personal brand photography, geography matters.But frequency matters more. You don’t need just a photographer.You need a visual translator. Someone who can turn your energy, story, and identity […]

Elevated Realism visual identity expressed through editorial portrait with natural light and grounded presence

Visual identity isn’t about how you look. It’s about how you make someone feel when they first encounter you. Before anyone reads your words, they feel your presence.Before trust, there is tone.Before authority, there is resonance. This is where Elevated Realism™ lives.Not in polish.Not in perfection.In presence. The Problem With Most Brand Imagery Most visual […]

Nick Onken walking across a reflective desert basin near a sci-fi landspeeder, symbolizing visionary pathfinding and creative expansion

There’s something pulling at you. Not a plan. Not a strategy. Not even a clear destination. Just this persistent tug that won’t let go. You’ve probably tried to rationalize it away. To wait for more clarity. To map out the full journey before taking a step. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of building […]

Editorial portrait of Caoimhe Harrison standing in the stone corridor of an ancient Irish castle during an Elevated Realism shoot

What happens when your inner transformation meets visual expression? When Caoimhe Harrison came to me, she wasn’t just looking for new photos. She was mid-evolution. Her coaching practice had deepened. Her energy had shifted. And the version of her that existed online no longer matched the woman she was becoming. She didn’t need a rebrand. […]

Founder standing in natural light with calm authority, representing the long-term ROI of personal brand photography and visual trust-building

(For the Financial Brains Who Don’t Get It Yet) Let’s talk numbers. Just not the ones you’re used to. If you’re financially minded, you’ve probably asked this question before:“How does photography actually pay me back?” It’s fair. You’re not looking for vibes.You want leverage. Personal brand photography often gets dismissed as “nice to have” because […]

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Editorial portrait expressing calm authority and embodied presence through Elevated Realism photography

There is a moment when your visuals stop keeping up with who you are. It’s subtle at first.Then it becomes obvious. You feel clear internally.But your imagery feels dated.Or noisy.Or just slightly off. That tension isn’t a branding problem.It’s a readiness signal. 1. Your Work Has Evolved, But Your Images Have Not You’ve grown.Your thinking […]

LATEST in creative intelligence

Tattoo artist Balazs preparing his tools in studio as part of a creative ceremonial tattoo session

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 […]

LATEST in life intelligence

Entrepreneur preparing emotionally for a personal brand photoshoot with Nick Onken

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 […]

meet nick

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. 

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This space is a celebration of creative expression as a divine conduit for personal and global transformation. Dive into thought-provoking content spanning beauty, art, fashion, and design, intertwined with insights on spiritual and personal development.

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