My Year in Review: How 2025 Shaped my Experiences
2025 – the year that changed my life, in more ways than one.
As 2025 has ended and the new year has begun, I’ve been intentionally slowing down to reflect. Not just on the projects completed or milestones reached, but on the biggest lessons I learnt along the way. The kind of lessons you learn by experiencing life and doing work.
Photography has always been a calling for me, a way to discover new stories and people. And this year, more than ever, I felt guided, both professionally and personally, into spaces that required trust, patience, and faith. I decided to sit down and reflect on what 2025 had in store for me, and what I learnt this past year.
Here is my 2025 in review. Honest. Unfiltered. And full of gratitude.
Beginning the year with Alignment
2025 began with intention.
One of my first major projects was a personal branding shoot for Fedna Morency, a traveling PA. These shoots always remind me how powerful clarity can be.
Soon after, I photographed Kelly Briscoe for her album cover, which was set for a Christmas release. Kelly wanted a pop of red, paired with some in color-blocked outfits. Every image felt purposeful, creative, and deeply expressive.
Expansion and Bold Steps pave the Way
The second quarter was all about taking bold strides and stepping forward, even when things felt new.
I launched my digital marketing agency, Code and Clicks, earlier in the year. The idea was to offer full-service marketing rooted in authenticity—branding, online presence, website development, search engine marketing & optimization, and social media that actually reflect not just a business, but the heart of the person behind the brand.
That expansion came full circle when I worked on a campaign shoot for Hemi Beauty. My team handled both photography and marketing strategy for them, which felt like a natural evolution of my work.
Then came one of the most amazing surprises of the year.
I photographed Peter Rego, a senior executive and a fan of Salvador Dali’s works, for a dating profile shoot. He had been spending hours daily on an elite dating app with no results. After our shoot, within 24 hours of uploading the images, responses started to flood in. Within 48 hours, he had closed his profile—goal met!
He nicknamed me “Vik Dali” and said I was doing God’s work for singles. I laughed—but moments like that remind me how meaningful this work can be.
The quarter wrapped with a huge industrial shoot for SevenSeas International, photographing inside a large ship with my team—challenging, precise, and rewarding.
Lesson Learnt: When you trust God with expansion, He multiplies impact in ways you don’t plan.
Celebrating Milestones, Meaning, and Creative Depth
July marked a major milestone—I turned 50!
In more ways than one, this was a milestone that I’m truly grateful for.
My friends flew in from India, England, and Canada. My family came together from across the country to celebrate this major milestone with me. It was joyful and grounding. I felt deeply thankful for the life God has allowed me to build and the people He’s placed in it.
We also celebrated my nephew’s wedding in Ohio, a beautiful reminder of family, laughter, and togetherness.
Professionally, the third quarter stayed intense and inspiring.
I photographed Tanya Sarpal, crowned USOA Ms. South Jersey, ahead of her Miss USA journey. I also worked with TV personality Simonetta Lein for her cover & editorial shoot on Holloway Magazine.
One of the most technically demanding projects was photographing nearly 1,700 people for The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ during their convention in Philadelphia. Capturing that many souls in a single frame was not only a welcome challenge, it felt deeply meaningful.
Then came the most challenging project of the year—After The Second Martini.
After The Second Martini is a story that follows Brenda, a high-achieving Black woman exploring the emotional and generational cost of perfectionism.
This documentary demanded everything as a project—creative vision, emotional sensitivity, and months of planning. I helped develop the narrative, locations, casting, and screenplay structure. We shot over three long, intentional days.
The challenge was fully understanding Brenda’s life through her eyes—and trusting God through the complexity of that responsibility.
The shoot was successful. The producer was happy. And I walked away stretched and grateful.
My biggest takeaway from Q3? God grows us the most when we say yes to challenges bigger than our comfort zone.
Embracing the Moment and Being Fully Present
From late September to mid-October, I stepped away from work completely.
I traveled to India with my family. No shoots. No schedules. Just presence.
We celebrated my best friend Ritesh’s 50th birthday in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, also called the Queen of Hills. We then attended a beautiful family wedding, and also celebrated my in-laws’ 50th anniversary. We also traveled to Jaipur, the Pink City, where we experienced village life.
Most importantly, my kids saw where I grew up—my childhood home in New Delhi, my school, and the college where I attended.
In a world that’s always connected virtually, I was reminded of something simple: being physically present matters.
Lesson Learnt: God calls us not just to work hard, but to show up fully for the people He’s placed in our lives.
In Conclusion: Gratitude, Faith, and Looking Ahead
2025 was full.
Full of work I’m proud of.
Full of lessons I needed.
Full of moments that reminded me to trust God’s timing.
I’m deeply grateful for my clients, collaborators, family, and friends. Thank you for trusting me with your stories.
As I look ahead to 2026, I’m excited to continue growing Vikrant Photography and expanding Code and Clicks, helping brands and people show up with clarity, integrity, and purpose.
Here’s to a new year led by faith, intention, and gratitude.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed, joyful, and fulfilling 2026. See you soon!
