A method and system is disclosed for increasing the holographic storage capacity of a holographic recording medium using an irradiance-tailoring (e.g., optical) element by changing the irradiance profile of the modulated object beam (e.g., by imparting motion to an irradiance-tailoring element and/or the holographic recording medium and/or by reconfiguring (e.g., periodically) the phase profile of a stationary irradiance-tailoring (e.g., optical) element) to minimize the effects of fixed-pattern noise buildup from occurring in the holographic recording medium.