For John Videler, becoming one of Westport’s most prolific photographers was basically his destiny. He’s a Westport native, and his father, Cornelius Videler, was a photographer for Pepperidge Farm. John’s father also had a studio— in the spot that is now Romanicci’s near the Westport train station— where locals could get prints made. “My job at first was in the dark room, printing prints and contact sheets all day long,” says John. Eventually, he worked his way up to shooting passport photos, and then portraits. “It was all learned from my father,” he says. “He really taught me how to do everything.”
Eight years ago, John moved from a different studio— this one was by the Black Duck— to his current location, in his family’s home on South Compo (you may have passed the hanging sign by the road!). “Once the digital world came in and knocked out all our printing, 80 percent of our business was taken away,” he explains. “When we went to the house, that’s when we started doing more shoots.”
These days, John can be found shooting anything and everything all over Westport— from weddings and bar mitzvahs to drone photography of local events. “When I’m photographing, I’m trying to tell a story, but also tell [the client’s] story, too,” he says. He describes his style as “environmental,” seeking to capture a person (or thing!) in their environment. “People are aways like, ‘how can you spend two hours photographing a garden?’ And I’m like, believe me, you get caught up in the moment. It’s an expression, and I’m trying to put that into the camera.”
One of John’s hallmarks is photographing town and charity events— you can often find him donating his skills to organizations like Homes With Hope, or Parker’s Cure (you can see his photos from Remi’s Color Run on page TK.) “My wife is on the board of Homes With Hope, and that kind of opened the door,” he says. “This town has so much to offer, and I love being here. Being invited [to photograph these events] is the best thing that could ever happen to me.”
Even if you’ve never met John, you can probably sense his infectious enthusiasm for his craft, through both his words and his images seen here. “It’s gonna sound pretty sappy,” he admits, “but I have the best job in the world.”
John Videler lives in Westport with his wife Elizabeth and their four children: Case, Elle, Sinjin, and Penn. He photographs landscape design, architecture, interiors, portraits, product photography, events, family portraits, and by drone. You can see more of his work at videler.com. He also blogs about his photography at videler.blog— an excellent resource for any aspiring photographers looking to learn more about the craft. You can also find his stunning photos of Westport available for purchase as mounted plexiglass prints on his website. Videler Photography is located at 138 South Compo Road in Westport. To schedule a session, email videlerphotography@gmail.com or call 203-856-5075.