The Blog
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
Lydia + Luke Manor House Wedding- Denver Wedding Photographer
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!
Natalie + Paul's Colorado Engagement Session- Denver Wedding Photographer
It’s always so cool when my couples can use a place near and dear to them for an engagement session! Natalie and Paul’s family land in Bailey, CO was the absolute perfect place to get their photos done! With a beautiful stream and amazing rock formations all over, it wasn’t too hard to get some gorgeous shots. On top of that, they are also having their wedding there so it didn’t hurt to get the lay of the land! Here are some of the photos from their day in the Colorado wilderness!
Hayley + Alex's Estes Park Wedding- Colorado Wedding Photographer
What a perfect Winter wedding Hayley and Alex had earlier this month!! At the beautiful Boulders of Black Canyon Inn over in Estes Park, I don’t think you could have dreamed of a better backdrop for their ceremony. I loved the intimacy of this wedding with just their close friends and family, it really felt like everyone was celebrating in a cabin together in the mountains.
When Hayley and Alex first met with me, one thing that stuck out to me I thought was really cool is that they are both travel nurses and go to all different places in the country together. Being in a job like that can be tough, but the fact that you have the love of your life with you having the same experiences is so amazing to me! Not only that, but they were just two very genuine, happy people and you could feel that on wedding day. Here’s my blog journaling their beautiful wedding. Hope you enjoy!
Callie + Chris Moss Denver Wedding
Callie and Chris’ big day was the absolute perfect way to end my wedding season! With a beautiful church ceremony at Good Shepherd Catholic Church and a fun reception at Denver Moss, the day was so easy going and these two really got to show off their love for each other. Getting two know Callie and Chris over the course of the year was such a pleasure makes me really appreciate my job :) We ended up with some absolutely stunning images throughout the day and congrats to both of you! Here’s a preview of the day, hope you enjoy!
Marissa + Aiden's Larkspur, CO Wedding- Colorado Wedding Photographer
This small, intimate wedding was the perfect fit for Marissa and Aiden! These two are so laid back and fun loving and I am so grateful I was able to spend time with them on their wedding day. You’ll see in the blog below their big day was so perfect and full of laughs and tears. Held at an airbnb in Larkspur, it was a beautiful day with some really great backdrops! I had so much fun with this day and I hope you all enjoy the photos!
Abby + David's Spruce Mountain Wedding- Denver Wedding Photographer
It was such a perfect day for Abby and David’s wedding at Spruce Mountain! The weather was gorgeous, the clouds were beautiful, and these two were so happy all day it was infectious! Starting with a first look at the pond, the day only got better from there. These two were so sweet and were smiling all day and the ceremony out in the ranch was absolutely picture perfect! The reception featured some very heartfelt speeches and everybody was on the dance floor having a blast. Here are some photos from the day! Hope you enjoy!
Donovan Pavilion Wedding- Vail Wedding Photographer
Miranda and Spencer’s big day up in Vail, CO was so much fun!! Rain or shine these two were going to make the most out of the day and, despite a little rain, they absolutely did that! One of the biggest things on your wedding day is to trust your vendors so you can truly enjoy the day you’ve been planning for so long and these two were so great at staying the moment with their friends, family and with each other. The photos turned out beautiful and you can really see how appreciate everyone was to be involved! Here’s a some of the photos from throughout the day to show that. Hope you enjoy!
Manor House Wedding- Denver Wedding Photographer
What a beautiful summer wedding Kelsey and Dylan had! The Manor House was the perfect venue for this amazing couple to show their love for one another. Getting to know these two over the past year has been such a pleasure and I can’t image a more perfect fit than Kelsey and Dylan are for each other. These two are so genuine and kind and I absolutely love their playful goofiness! From the moment I got off my first call with them and finding out they were both theater kids, I knew this was going to be a fun wedding!
Everything about the day was gorgeous, from the outdoor ceremony to the Kelsey’s beautiful dress and the reception was a blast! Even their pup, Loki, got in on the fun! Here’s a few images from the day, hope you enjoy!
Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding- Denver Wedding Photographer
Haley and Jeremiah’s wedding was stunning in every sense of the word! From one of the most beautiful churches I’ve seen in Denver, Our Lady Of Loreto, to the always gorgeous Highlands Ranch Mansion, this wedding had it all! These two are so sweet and were such a pleasure to work with. So much planning went into this day and it was all worth it as the day went off without a hitch and was such a special moment! These two clearly are so in love and it shows in the photos, here’s a few from the day for you to enjoy!
Museum Of Nature & Science Wedding - Denver, CO
What a sweet couple Meg and Andrew are!! Over the year, I’ve been getting to know theses two and what was very obvious to me was how kind, generous, and fun natured these two are. And of course they very clearly love each other to end and back! What made their wedding day extra special was that everyone that celebrated with them knew exactly what I found out and they showed these two how much they meant in every way possible. It takes a really special couple to see that kind of love showed to them that I saw that night.
The day started with a beautiful ceremony at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in downtown Denver, the same place where Meg’s parents were married! It’s always so cool to be able to photograph a ceremony where the bride or groom’s parents were standing in the same spot years ago. After the ceremony we rode a pedal cab in City Park and got some great photos at the spot Andrew proposed to Meg! So many great memories involved in this wedding! Finally we celebrated at the beautiful Museum of Nature & Science. Such a unique and gorgeous spot for a reception and it fit these two perfectly!
So many congrats to Meg and Andrew! Here are some photos from the day, hope you enjoy!
