Stanley Hotel Pavilion Wedding | Chelsea + Jayce

What a day it was for Chelsea and Jayce for their Stanley Hotel Pavilion wedding! Photographically they got a bit of everything for this one. From the old architecture of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church to the stunning fall colors and mountain backdrops of Rocky Mountain National Park to the beautiful scenery of The Stanley Hotel. This wedding really had it all! It was such a great, intimate wedding for these two and the day went perfect! Their classic black and white colors went so perfect with every aspect of the day and it was such a lighthearted mood for everyone. Chelsea and Jayce were such a sweet couple and I absolutely loved working with these two.

The Stanley Hotel Pavilion is such gorgeous venue for a wedding! An off shoot next door to main hotel, it’s specifically for events and has an amazing style to it. Starting with the beautiful front entrance with classically elegant columns, it makes for some fantastic couple portraits! The first floor was perfect for their cocktail hour with so much space and a sitting room for any guests that would like to relax. The getting ready area on the second floor was perfect for Chelsea’s photos to start the day, with a beautiful staircase and classic mirrors around the area. Finally we hit the party in the reception area with wood flooring and perfect lighting for dinner and dancing! And how can I forget the auditorium with the giant glass door that opens onto a perfect little pond! Some of my favorite pictures from the day :)

Congratulations to you both and I hope you enjoy these memories from your big day!

Black Forest by Wedgewood Wedding | Jenna + Sam

Jenna and Sam had such a perfect day and I have the pictures to prove it! We’ve had quite the road from when they first decided to entrust me with their big day! From flying out to Omaha for their engagement session to the wedding in Colorado Springs where these two made their home early this year, it’s been so great getting to know Jenna and Sam! Black Forest by Wedgewood is that perfect spot to get those beautiful photos through the trees with the sun peeking through. The photos turned out so dreamy and then the reception was an absolute blast! These two certainly know how to have fun and they really made the most out of their wedding day :) Congrats to both of you and I hope you enjoy the photos!

Boulder, CO Wedding | Tessa + Chase

Brunch weddings are always so pretty and as a photographer they are so easy going sometimes it doesn’t even feel like your working! Tessa, Chase, and their family traveled over from Nebraska to have an absolutely beautiful wedding at the Flagstaff House in Boulder, CO. From the ceremony we got some amazing portraits at Chautauqua Park and Lost Gulch Lookout because I mean you can’t beat those mountain views! Tessa and Chase were so fun and down to earth it made it very easy to work with them. The love absolutely filled the room with all of their family there to celebrate! Here are some of the memories from the day that I hope you enjoy!

Willow Ridge Manor Wedding | Megan + David

Megan and David’s wedding was one for the books! Held at the beautiful Willow Ridge Manor in Colorado, this wedding was absolutely perfect and with nearly everything being held outside, you couldn’t have asked for better weather. From the getting ready photos with all of the beautiful antique mirrors to some fun pictures with the red rocks, everything leading up to the ceremony was so laid back and easy going which is exactly what these two wanted! The ceremony out in the back couldn’t have gone any better and we had so much fun dancing for the reception! I’ve gotten to know Megan and David over the year and the experience with them has been so great! When I talk about my kind of couples these two fit that bill exactly. Congratulations to both of you! Enjoy the honeymoon and I hope you enjoy this blog of your big day!

Blanc Denver Wedding | Haley + Joe

Ahhh I love city weddings!! Coming from photographing weddings in St. Louis, these downtown city weddings bring me back and it’s such great nostalgia for me! Haley and Joe had a beautiful wedding at Blanc in the Rino district of Denver, CO and it could not have been more perfect! Blanc provided those gorgeous green backdrops for the ceremony and we got to take a little walk through the neighborhood and get those fun urban wedding photos. Haley and Joe were so fun to work with and the wedding day was so chill and easy going which fit their personalities perfectly! We didn’t let a little rain scare us away and we ended up with some beautiful green because of it. Congratulations to both of you and I hope you all enjoy these memories from the day!

Bailey, CO Wedding | Natalie + Paul

Natalie and Paul’s wedding on Saturday was so unique and fun! You never know what to expect when your couple tells you they are hosting their wedding on their Colorado family property, but it ended up being so beautiful and it was organized so well! We started with getting ready with Natalie in the family home and Paul in a cabin on the property, then we had just enough time do some super fun bridal portraits in the barn. From there we has a first look and portraits all over the property. Natalie and Paul read their vows to each other in a rock in the creek that was very special to them, it was such a beautiful moment! The ceremony was absolutely gorgeous with a forest backdrop and the tented ceremony went off without a hitch! All in all it was a perfect day and these two deserved every moment of it. Here’s a preview of the day, hope you enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions- Denver Wedding Photographer

Through the years I’ve had so many amazing experiences with my couples and I truly enjoy helping them through their journey of planning one of the biggest days of their lives! Let’s be real, this is the only time you’re doing this typically and you have no idea what to expect. I’ve been through this process over 100 times and I’ve really seen it all! From the small mountain elopements to the huge 300 person church weddings, I am here to guide you through this! So of course you’re going to have questions and I wanted to put this out there of some of the more common ones that I get so you have it all in once place!

How will you help us navigate through this process of planning a wedding?

Every photographer is going to be different with how they work with you! I am someone that takes full appreciation of not only having an incredible day, but also the journey along the way. I’m with you for the whole planning process and I take measures to ensure you have all the information you need to have that perfect day you’ve dreamt about.

From the very start, I’ll send you my 70+ page Bridal Guide of everything I’ve learned over years. This guide is a comprehensive wealth of knowledge that will help you understand how things look from the photographer’s point of view. On top of that we will work together on a timeline, family formal list, and vendor contacts and recommendations. I love meeting up with my couples throughout the year whether its wedding talk or just hanging out and getting to know each other!

How does the booking process work?

When it comes to booking your photographer, one of the biggest things is making sure it’s someone you vibe and connect! After all this will be the person you’ll be around for most of your wedding day. So once you reach out by filling out the contact form, the next step is getting together in person (if you’re in Colorado) or through video chat. This gives us a chance for all of us to get to know each other and see if we mesh well!

On top of that we’ll go through a rough idea of your wedding day so we can figure out exactly how much coverage you need. After the meeting, if you decide to book it’s simple! I’ll send a contract over that can be signed electronically and, once the retainer is paid, we are good to go!

How would you describe your style?

I personally love the organic nature of a wedding day and that’s what I try to capture. Even when it comes to the posed portions of the day, I try to create something that is comfortable and makes you feel natural. In order to get this I use a combinations of poses and prompts to get those classic images as well as the fun, organic moments! Whether it’s in the mountains of Colorado or at a beautiful city venue in Denver, I will make sure I enjoy creating light and natural images but I don’t shy away from a few dark nighttime images as well.

How many photos do I get with my package and what is the quality?

When I am making a decision as important as this, I do not like finding out later there are extra charges or things that were not in my package. That’s why I always give the best of the best images and I don’t cap them! For example an 8 hour wedding will get you somewhere in the range of 900-1200 photos. It could be more or less but I will always give you everything that you want from your wedding day. I also make sure included in your package are the best quality high resolution images that you will have for generations!

What can I expect from you on wedding day?

When I show up for your wedding, not only will I make sure to get you beautiful images but I will also help you as you navigate through the day. My goal is to keep the day going so you don’t have to worry about any of it! You just enjoy the day, stay in the moment, and I’ll handle everything else. I like to think of myself as more than just a photographer on your big day. I am also a calming force, a coordinator, an emergency kit, and more!

Can you help us if we’re awkward?

This is a question that 99% of my couples ask! Most of you haven’t been models in the past and getting your photos taken can sometimes feel like an anxious or awkward thing. But that’s what I’m here for! I work in a way that is super easy for couples and it won’t take long to feel comfortable in each others arms. Trust in me and follow my lead and I can guarantee you will love your photos!

Table Mountain Wedding | Haleigh + Brian

Haleigh and Brian’s wedding had it all! Tons of laughs, sweet moments, and killer dance moves :) Not only that but we got some beautiful mountain backdrops along the flatirons and ,despite a short rain break, these two had some amazing moments together and with their best friends. After the mountains, they had a beautiful garden ceremony at Table Mountain Weddings and Events followed by all the dancing and yard games! Haleigh and Brian were so much fun to work with and their wedding day was an absolute blast! It was great celebrating with you two and here are some memories from the day!

Shupe Homestead Wedding | Cynthia + Chris

Cynthia and Chris’ wedding day was so full of love and laughter, it was hard not be taken up in it! These two are so genuine and I loved their engagement session so much, I knew the wedding day would be such memorable time. And they did not disappoint! Their venue, Shupe Homestead, has it all!. From the gorgeous Colorado mountain view to the intimate lawn ceremony to the beautiful lights and decor of the reception space, there was so much to love! It was such an honor being able to capture the day and Cynthia + Chris’ love and I hope you all enjoy looking back on it like I have. Congrats you two!

Poses vs. Prompts- Denver Wedding Photographer

When it comes to your wedding portraits and engagement photos, I love to use a combination of classic poses and fun, natural prompts that really bring my couple’s personalities out! When it comes to posing, I like to be as simple as possible so that my couples can be fully natural without having to worry about being robotic. When it comes to prompts, these are super easy actions that you can to together and really have fun with! With this blog I wanted to give you all an idea of the differences between the two and a few examples of some of my favorite poses and prompts!

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Posing vs. Prompting: What’s the difference?

I feel like the two words that really comes to mind when it comes to posing vs. prompting are action and motion! Posing tends to be more of a still, classic focus that get that timeless look for some really beautiful photos. I really love when my couples can get real close for these poses and create a flattering base to work with! Not only do you look amazing in your photos, but it can help build confidence and really show off that personal connection.

Then you have the other side of things with prompting. There are some really great prompts that create natural interactions that my couples can show off the goofy and fun loving side of their personalities! When it comes to prompting, I basically give you something to do together and make it really easy the both of you to interact with each other. This is really where some of my favorite all time photos come out!

Below are a few examples of poses and prompts that I love to work with!

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Pose #1- The Nuzzle

The nuzzle is very easy pose that really gets my couples into the groove! It’s very romantic and super simple for the groom to just nuzzle into the temple of his significant other!

Prompt #1- Walking Hand In Hand

Another very easy start to your wedding portraits and engagement sessions! It’s a simple as it sounds: Just walking together and chatting while holding hands. Not only is it very natural, but this prompt also give you more time to spend together in what can be a whirlwind of a day! Another option instead of holding hands is to have the bride putting her hands around the crook of the grooms arm.

Pose #2- The Hug From Behind

This a great way to get some really intimate photos that turns into a really fun pose full of laughs. The grooms comes in from behind and hugs around his partner with one arm coming over her shoulder.. easy as that! This one can turn from a pose to prompt with an extra bit of tickling involved :)

Prompt #2- Piggyback Ride

This one is always so much fun! Typically just used for engagement session cause ya know.. the dress. From the action of jumping onto your partner’s back to snuggling up with kisses to just running around and being goofy, there so much you can do with this prompt and it’s guaranteed to get some fantastic photos that show off my couple’s personalities!

Pose #3- The Dip and Kiss

A classic pose that has so many different variations! Dipping the bride to the side with a kiss or a kiss on the cheek makes for a really beautiful portrait. The flowers can hang down or go over the groom’s shoulder, the bride can kick her foot out or bend it back behind her, there are so many options!

Prompt #3- The Lift And Spin

The lift and spin is a great prompt that starts very romantic and then the spin creates that fun and laughter that really shows of the joy of my couples! The groom lifts the bride from either the back or the but while they kick their feet back and forth to get that natural motion. Then the groom can turn their partner side to side or do a couple full spins for those great fun loving moments!

Engagement Sessions Through The Seasons- Denver Wedding Photographer

Engagement sessions not only get you some absolutely beautiful images to have forever, but it’s an amazing way to get to know your photographer and understand how you will all work together for wedding day! If you want to read up on some great tips for your engagement session definitely check out my blog post Engagement Session Tips. For this post I wanted to talk about having your session in different season and what that means for timing! Check out below to get an idea when the best time is to have your Colorado engagement session depending on what month you decide to have it! Another thing to keep in mind, unless you’re in the mountains expect the sun to go down behind the mountains about a half hour before the actual sunset!

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Winter Session: Dec-Mar 3-5pm

During December through Mid March you can plan your engagement session taking place between 3-5pm. However, the time changes in the middle of March so that will make the start time one hour later!

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Spring Session: Apr-May 5:30-8PM

The sunset time drastically changes throughout the course of these two months and so our shooting times change as well. You can plan on approximately 5:30-7:30 in April and 6:00-8:00 in May!

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Summer Session: June-Aug 6-8PM

Summer engagements, just like most engagements take place two hours before sunset. This will hopefully mean that the shoot will be during the cooler part of the day!

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Fall Session: Sep-Nov 3-7:30PM

The sunset time changes drastically during these three months. In September, you can plan on 5:30-7:30 until the third week and you can plan on 5:00-7:00 until Mid-October. After the first week of November, we’d be looking at 3:00-5:00PM for your engagement session!

Manor House Wedding | Lydia + Luke

What a perfect day for Lydia and Luke’s wedding this past weekend at the Manor House! With March weddings you never know what to expect weather wise and it turned out absolutely beautiful! Not only was the weather amazing, but the whole day itself was so much fun and a lot of that had to do with the type of people Lydia and Luke are. These two were so laid back and fun and it 100% rubbed off on the rest of the day. The Manor House is such a great venue with the amazing mountain backdrop and the signature white columns that there isn’t a bad place to take a photo there! Here is a sneak peek so you all can see what the day looked like! Enjoy!

It's All In The Details

The whole day begins with the

DETAILS!

This is one of my favorite parts of the day because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day! This blog to help my brides that aren’t sure what to bring and the best way to make sure I get those detail shots that sets the tone and style for the rest of the day! There is no wrong way to do your details, if there is something you think you might want in the pictures you absolutely should include it.

When we get close to wedding day, I’ll make sure to have a final phone call with you to go over some last minute tips and details. In this call, I’ll let you know the best way to make sure everything is ready for me is to have all of your details on one place (a lot of brides use a shoe box or a bag). That way when I arrive I can get right to work and we can get your wedding day started!

Below is a list of a few common items my brides use for their details, but as I said before, the sky is the limit!

Common Items To Have For Your Wedding Details

-Dress-

-Veil/ Hair Pieces-

-Rings (all three)-

-Shoes-

-Bouquet & Bout-

-Jewelry-

-Perfume-

-Invitation Suite-

-Borrowed & Blue-

These are just the most common items! You don’t have to have them all and you absolutely don’t have to stick with only this list. Below are some photos with some of the common stuff and some different things that were special for my couples!

Meet Austin- Denver Wedding Photographer

Hi everyone! I just wanted to reintroduce myself, ya know, the guy behind the camera! With a new year comes some new pictures of me so why not start here :)

Well first I can tell you I’m Austin from Austin James Photography if it wasn’t fairly obvious.. Below I’m just wanted to share a bit about me and why I love what I do here!

First off a few facts about myself!

• I absolutely love meeting new people and making connections with my couples is one of my favorite parts of what I do and a big reason why I got into the wedding business!

• I moved out to Denver 3 years ago from St. Louis and haven’t looked back! It’s been such a journey rebuilding my business out here from scratch and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

• I would consider myself a extroverted and very optimistic person, but I also like to think I’m a calming force when things can get stressful. I really thrive in those quick decision moments and at the same time I’m always having fun with it :)

• I am a cat dad to my best boy Gus Gus (pic at the bottom)! Named after the mouse from Cinderella, he !00% grew into the name haha. I’ve had him for 11 years now and he is my cuddly, chunky baby boy!

• I adore music live or around the house! I would say I’m listening to music 90% of the time while I’m working.. current jam while I’m typing this: A Little Honey by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats (shoutout Hermann, MO). Also with this it takes absolutely no effort to get me on the dance floor boppin!

• I am a big foodie! My zen time is cooking with a glass of wine and some music going on the record player. I love to experiment and try new recipes out, I probably have way too many go to’s at this point..

• I love the balance of being out and about with friends and then also a movie or game night in all cuddled up. WInter is definitely a great season for that!

• I consider myself very organized when it comes to the business. I am all about helping my couples plan throughout the year and getting a perfect timeline so it’s a amazing stress free day for them!

Let me kick back with a glass of wine or whiskey and I am golden!

Now onto why I love being in the wedding photography industry and how that helps make your day everything you’ve dreamed about!

Let’s be friends!!

I mentioned before I LOVE getting to know my couples throughout the year and really understanding who they are! Booking with me means we’ll hang out a few times over the year and just get to know each other! We can kick back with a drink, grab lunch, or do a little photo session with you two (or if you’re out of town I’m always down for a video chat!). We absolutely can talk wedding or just get to know each other better. Not only do I love making those personal connections, but it really makes my couples feel that comfort in knowing who you are spending a lot of time with on your wedding day.

That moment when I first come into the bridal suite and can give the bride a big hug and congrats because we’ve gotten to know each other is such a huge thing. A big reason I get so much personality in my photos is because my couples feel so at ease and THAT is something that really comes with becoming friends throughout the entire process!

I want to help you with any questions you have and we can really dig into the timeline so you get those breaks and moments alone with your significant other. Don’t get me I love photography and It’s a huge passion of mine. But really making that connection with my couples makes it feel like it’s not even a job and I’m celebrating along with the rest of the crowd! If you value personal connection along with the comfortability that comes along with it, then I’m your guy!

So if you’re getting married in Denver and you feel a personal connection with your photographer is something that might be important to you, I would love for you to reach out and see if we’re a good fit!

Contact Austin

Also solid Gus pic below :)

Lydia + Luke Golden, CO Engagement Session- Denver Wedding Photographer

Despite it being a cold December evening, Lydia and Luke’s engagement session was so much fun! Golden was glowing with Christmas lights and we made sure to get some in the photos! These two are such a joy to work with and I can imagine the wedding will be the same. Here a few from the day, enjoy!

Cynthia + Chris Longmont Engagement Session- Denver Wedding Photographer

Cynthia and Chris’ engagement session was all about what they love to do in their daily life! From hanging out with their pups in their new home to having some beers and playing games, these two have such a great energy together and it was so nice to be a part of it! I’m very excited to show you these adorable pictures at home and at Left Hand Brewery. Hope you enjoy!

Haleigh + Brian Fort Collins Engagement Session- Denver Wedding Photographer

Haleigh and Brian’s engagement session had such a great personal touch! Of course we got some beautiful views from the Horsetooth Reservoir, but we got to start at the place they met which is always so cool to experience! Tony’s is a bar where these two met when they were both in college at CSU and I adore this photo if them playing pool together! It was such a fun session with so much variety and I hope you enjoy!

Megan + David's Evergreen Engagement Session - Denver Wedding Photographer

What a year 2023 was! I’m always so thankful to be able to have these incredible engagement sessions and even better with Megan and David’s, the aspens were out in full force! They don’t stick around very long but when they do, that color is just to die for. Megan and David were so much fun to work with out in Evergreen, CO and I can’t wait to do it again for the wedding. Enjoy these photos in the meantime!

Brooke + Grant's Boulder Engagement Session- Denver Wedding Photographer

Brooke and Grant came recommended to me by a good friend for their engagement session, so of course I was excited to help them out! Plus the Lost Gulch Overlook is one of my favorite all time spots for an engagement session which is always a great bonus! Brooke and Grant were awesome to work with and they even brought their pup along to get some family pictures. Here are a few from the day!

Jenna + Sam's Omaha Engagement Session- Denver Wedding Photographer

I love love traveling for engagement sessions and this one was no different! Jenna and Sam invited me out to do their session at their home college, Creighton University and it was an absolute blast! Omaha was one city I hadn’t been to before so it’s always fun to go exploring over the time that I’m there in between the session. Jenna and Sam were so much fun to hang out with and we ended up with some beautiful images! I can’t wait to do it again for their wedding in Colorado Springs! Here are some from the day so I hope you enjoy!