Ghana with Pencils of Promise is always an incredible and humbling experience.
Remember your days of elementary school? If you were anything like me, you didn’t love going to school. The feeling of getting up early and walking 10 minutes to school was dreadful.
It was a “HAVE TO” not a “GET TO”
In Ghana (as well as many other developing world countries), education is something that kids walk up to a mile to receive…and that’s if they even have a school in their village. If they do, sometimes class is outside under a tree, which gets cancelled if there’s a torrential downpour.
Where would you be if you never had the opportunity to get a proper education?
I would never have been able to create the life I live without a proper education. It’s truly a touching experience to see first hand the impact that Pencils of Promise is making on the ground in Ghana. I hope these images can even come close to doing justice to what I experienced there. It was amazing to see so much joy and gratefulness from the kids and communities we are helping.
This girl gave a spoken word performance at a school inauguration that was emotional and powerful. It really reminded me of the impact that education provides.
Not only have I done all the photography work for Pencils of Promise pro-bono, but a year ago I decided to raise $25,000 to build a school as well and up the anti of what I’m giving and the synergy around it.
Giving is an attitude, and I believe the more you give, the more that comes back to you. Especially when you give without any expectation of getting anything back.
So I ask, not for me, but on behalf of the children and communities that don’t have the same privileges that we do in the first world to join me in helping finish the school that I’m building. We only need $9,500 more to completion and every little donation helps.
LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE
CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION
Ghana with Pencils of Promise is always an incredible and humbling experience.
Remember your days of elementary school? If you were anything like me, you didn’t love going to school. The feeling of getting up early and walking 10 minutes to school was dreadful.
It was a “HAVE TO” not a “GET TO”
In Ghana (as well as many other developing world countries), education is something that kids walk up to a mile to receive…and that’s if they even have a school in their village. If they do, sometimes class is outside under a tree, which gets cancelled if there’s a torrential downpour.
Where would you be if you never had the opportunity to get a proper education?
I would never have been able to create the life I live without a proper education. It’s truly a touching experience to see first hand the impact that Pencils of Promise is making on the ground in Ghana. I hope these images can even come close to doing justice to what I experienced there. It was amazing to see so much joy and gratefulness from the kids and communities we are helping.
This girl gave a spoken word performance at a school inauguration that was emotional and powerful. It really reminded me of the impact that education provides.
Not only have I done all the photography work for Pencils of Promise pro-bono, but a year ago I decided to raise $25,000 to build a school as well and up the anti of what I’m giving and the synergy around it.
Giving is an attitude, and I believe the more you give, the more that comes back to you. Especially when you give without any expectation of getting anything back.
So I ask, not for me, but on behalf of the children and communities that don’t have the same privileges that we do in the first world to join me in helping finish the school that I’m building. We only need $9,500 more to completion and every little donation helps.
5/28/15
One Thing We Take for Granted…
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
Ghana with Pencils of Promise is always an incredible and humbling experience.
Remember your days of elementary school? If you were anything like me, you didn’t love going to school. The feeling of getting up early and walking 10 minutes to school was dreadful.
It was a “HAVE TO” not a “GET TO”
In Ghana (as well as many other developing world countries), education is something that kids walk up to a mile to receive…and that’s if they even have a school in their village. If they do, sometimes class is outside under a tree, which gets cancelled if there’s a torrential downpour.
Where would you be if you never had the opportunity to get a proper education?
I would never have been able to create the life I live without a proper education. It’s truly a touching experience to see first hand the impact that Pencils of Promise is making on the ground in Ghana. I hope these images can even come close to doing justice to what I experienced there. It was amazing to see so much joy and gratefulness from the kids and communities we are helping.
This girl gave a spoken word performance at a school inauguration that was emotional and powerful. It really reminded me of the impact that education provides.
Not only have I done all the photography work for Pencils of Promise pro-bono, but a year ago I decided to raise $25,000 to build a school as well and up the anti of what I’m giving and the synergy around it.
Giving is an attitude, and I believe the more you give, the more that comes back to you. Especially when you give without any expectation of getting anything back.
So I ask, not for me, but on behalf of the children and communities that don’t have the same privileges that we do in the first world to join me in helping finish the school that I’m building. We only need $9,500 more to completion and every little donation helps.
5/28/15
One Thing We Take for Granted…
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
TL;DR – 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. Not because he’s trendy. 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. […]
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. […]
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 […]
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.
