A moment with Nick Onken

The #The100DayProject came from a retreat I did with some other creative entrepreneurs back in February. We set up the challenge to do one thing for 100 days straight, which is not as easy as it seems.  I had already started playing with hand drawn typography, and it just found it’s way to be the right project for me. The biggest thing I learned is how dedicating time to one thing every day you can create a large body of work.

I was a graphic designer for 5 years before I even thought about becoming a photographer. I started chatting with another photographer for a while before the spark hit that that was what I wanted to be. Once I realized that I wanted to be a photographer there was no looking back. I did whatever it took to get here.

Most of the time my favorite thing to shoot is just grabbing some good looking friends and shooting loose fun lifestyle, as well as travel. Portraits of people doing amazing things are something I’ve been integrating into my other personal project where I do an audio interview with creative entrepreneurs and a portrait session. You can check that project out here: http://www.shoptalkradio.com  Always Be Shooting is something that I’ve pushed through my career because the only way to get better work to get hired by is to actually always be creating. Every time you click the camera you learn something and get better.

Creative resonance. I’m inspired by creating something I’m passionate about. So many things that I want to take pictures of out there that inspires me to get up and create.

My non-profit work has actually been some of my favorite work. I’ve been working with Pencils of Promise, a charity that builds schools for kids in the developing world. Adam Braun is the founder and we met when he was just starting the organization. We’ve traveled to Laos, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Ghana for the charity and created imagery of the kids and schools that communicate the work and the lives that are benefited by the charity. It’s such a powerful feeling to give back and make the world a better place.

I actually just worked with Ming Xi on a Michael Kors project, but I would actually love to shoot her in an editorial shoot.

Depends on what I’m shooting. For most editorial and commercial work I use the Canon 1Dx. Sometimes when I’m shooting personal work, I shoot my Contax G2 35mm film camera. Also, love my Hasselblad 503CW for medium format film portraits.

My favorite meal in Shanghai was Lin Long Fang wonton soup. I could eat that every day.

I have a lot of great NYC restaurants, but one of my favorites is Kin Shop. It’s gourmet Thai food. You can check out more of my favorite restaurants at http://www.onkenfamilydinners.com