An Inspired Chat with Jason Weller of Downtown

We recently had the chance to connect with Jason Weller and have shared our conversation below.

Jason, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yeah, actually. Pretty recently we had a big shoot down in Florida for a client’s outdoor line. Chairs, sun umbrellas, the whole beach vibe. We looked at the forecast before flying out and it was just wall-to-wall rain all week. Total doom scenario. The agency we were working with didn’t make it better either as they casually mentioned over the phone that it’d been gray for two straight weeks.
So we over-prepared like crazy. We built in three extra shooting days, hauled down extra lighting, backup plans for backup plans, just to make sure we could deliver no matter what. And of course… the weather was perfect every single day. Not a drop of rain. We just had to laugh. It was one of those moments where you’re proud of the prep, but you also realize sometimes the universe just likes to mess with you a bit.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jason Weller, a photographer and director of photography based in Indianapolis. I run DRIPPED, a production studio that creates high-end photo and video content for brands that care about strong visuals and storytelling. Our work ranges from large-scale location shoots to carefully crafted studio productions, all centered around building a visual world that feels real and intentional.
Alongside my studio work, I’ve led creative teams as a director of visual content, guiding photographers, videographers, and designers toward cohesive, story-driven campaigns. That experience gives me a balance between hands-on production and big-picture direction. I care as much about the creative strategy as I do about the lighting setup.
I started in nightlife photography while living in Japan, which taught me to find rhythm, energy, and emotion in every kind of environment. These days, I’m focused on growing Dripped into a studio that delivers authentic, cinematic visuals that make you feel the moment, not just see it.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a wanderer. After college, I set out on a four-month cycling trip across the United States with nothing but a bike, a tent, and a sense of curiosity about what was out there. That trip opened me up to the rhythm of movement and the way experiences change you when you give them space to unfold.
Eventually, I found myself in Japan, where I spent ten years exploring, working, and living. This is where I found photography. From the moment I picked up a camera, it felt like the world was telling me this was what I was meant to do. It started with nightlife. It’s these kind of fast, unpredictable environments that teach you to see light and movement in new ways. Over time, that curiosity turned into a career and a calling.
Wandering taught me how to adapt, to create something meaningful wherever I happen to be, and to trust process more than certainty. That mindset still guides everything I do today.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss the urban lifestyle in Japan that never slept, where you could get a haircut at like four in the morning if you were so inclined. There was a certain energy to it.
And I miss a small izakaya in Nagoya called Tomiyama. If you ever go, ask for Fujisan and tell him Jason the “cameraman” sent you.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Hanging out without phones out at restaurants. Perhaps I’m old-school, but I miss when people just talked, looked around, and enjoyed the moment. It’s way more fun when everyone’s present.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients would miss knowing that whatever chaos was coming, it was handled. I have a habit of staying calm when everything starts to fall apart, whether it’s bad weather, missing props, or tech issues , and it all still always comes together.
They’d probably also miss the mix of precision and fun. I take the work seriously but not myself, and that balance keeps things creative and human. At the end of the day, my clients know I care about getting it right, not just getting it done.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drippedimage.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dripped.af

Image Credits
All images are taken by me.