We had the good fortune of connecting with Deepika Haldankar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deepika, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For me, Art is a form of Self Expression. I have wanted to be in the field of Arts since the early days of deciding what career path to choose during my teens. I also took some classes in drawing as a preparation to enter into getting admission into Art College. I failed that test, and judges said I could never be an artist, as I cannot draw.

Yes, still today, I cannot draw. But I am an artist now, and I am proud to be one.

Creative Career gave me the freedom to express my emotions in art, in my case, Photography. With colors, shadow, and light, I create a scene and tell a story. And sometimes, it tells what is going around me in a very subtle way.

I have a Masters’s Degree in Social Sciences with a specialization in Child Development. After a long break from this field, it was time for me to choose a new career. I felt there was no better way to keep my inner child alive, and that was through Art.

I am happy to say that I can create and do what I love and earn a living out of it. Brand Photography has come as an extension of what I love doing. I help small businesses promote their product and services by creating beautiful images for their brand.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Photography keeps me busy. At Deepika Haldankar Photography, we focus on bringing visual stories to life. I, as an artist, am drawn towards visual storytelling and photography-one of the essential tools for me to portray that story.

I provide various services from Food Photography, Still Life Photography, and Product Photography. Photography is the joy of creating a memory. The intricate details of every subject, its colors, and textures make me explore more and capture them. With bold colors and contrast, I bring out the true essence of the flavor and feel of the food. A similar principle applies to my still life and product photography. I like to work with minimal props, so all the focus is on the shot subject, which helps it stand out.

For me, as a person and a business, I focus on the needs of the client. I like to bring out the client’s vision through my photography. I am drawn to small businesses, who have a unique story to tell. I genuinely believe that there is a story that needs to come out behind every brand.

When you work with me, I go through your brand’s needs and determine what imagery you need and what kind of look you are going for. Once I have that clear, I do some research and come up with a mood board. I share this with my client to know that we are visually on the same page. The next step is to determine the props and styling needed for the shoot. I will ensure what kind of light will work for the determined theme and do the test shots. Once those are approved, I will do the final shoot. After the shoot, it is editing and delivery time. I love the whole process of creating images- start to finish. So when I do the photoshoot, I fully invest my time and effort into it.

This year I am introducing Lifestyle Photography to my business. It focuses more on Documentary Lifestyle Photos. My main goal here is to capture the moments in my client’s life. No-fuss or fake smiles. Just genuine moments of joy and happiness with loved ones.

I also plan to launch my very first online store where people can get my work. I am excited about it.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, this is fun. First, I will tell them to come during Fall, Winter, or Springtime. I don’t want them to exhaust themselves during the hot summer months.

Then once they are here, I will take them to Eggstasy for an amazing filling breakfast. Once that’s done, we will head to Musical Instrument Musume (MIM) or Phoenix Art Musume.

After spending a day there, we will head to Riparian Preserve Park in Gilbert or Tempe Town lake. Both these places are great to unwind and enjoy nature in the middle of the city hustle.

And then, we will end the day with delicious curries and biryani at Flavors Of India in Gilbert. I absolutely love their food.

I will also plan a trip to Sedona, Flagstaff, and Grand Canyon. All these places are gorgeous between November to March.

If we have more time in the Phoenix area, I will love to take them to Desert Botanical Garden or the Japanese Friendship Garden. And for the nightlife and fun, Scottsdale and Gilbert Downtown will be my go-to places.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am fortunate enough to meet some wonderful people who turned into mentors on my art and photography journey. The most prominent ones from whom I learned photography and the business of photography are Rachel Korinek and Christina Peters. These two ladies are my mentors and are amazing people who share their knowledge and expertise with everyone in the photography industry.

In March 2021, I had my first juried Art Show At HD South by GVAL (Gilbert Visual Art Leauge)(.https://www.deepikahaldankar.com/blog/gval-annual-juried-fine-art-show-and-sale). This gave me exposure to the world of Fine Arts. I am thankful to the people and the artists with who I came in touch. They play a big role in my work, and their feedback is the most valuable.

Finally, my family and friends have supported me in all my endeavors. They have cheered me on every step I have taken and without them, it would have been quite impossible to reach my dreams.

Website: https://www.deepikahaldankar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepika.haldankar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeepikaHaldankarPhotography

Other: Did you know I am also a Food Blogger? I share family-friendly easy to make recipes at www.easybabymeals.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.