Jake Holt Photography

We selected Jake and Kasey to be our wedding photographers in Austin, TX. We had selected them because I had seen their work online and loved their aesthetic and thought it would «fit» the look and feel of the venue. From my first phone call with Jake, I went with him immediately. He was so easy to talk to and most importantly-​I could tell he was going to be fun! Jake and Kasey exceeded my expectations! They were so professional to work with and imaginative with coming up with fun ideas for pictures. I would not hesitate for one moment to recommend them to anyone for their dream wedding day!

Seriously the most amazing photography duo!
The highlights:
–quality, vivid photography
–awesome duo, two is better than one
–relax, they’ll take care of the details
–pose coaching so you look your best
–quick turn around of photos
My now husband & I come from a photography background so we appreciate QUALITY photography as well as the ability to create it in a high stress environment (i.e. at your wedding because let’s be honest, there are no do-​overs if the first kiss get’s missed)!
These two, Kasey & Jake, rocked my socks off! They are fun, engaging, and know just the right way to tell you to tilt your head or place your hand so that the shots come out better than you could have imagined. The pictures vividly captured our special moments and our personalities. They took care of any permits or planning so I didn’t have to worry about anything and quickly turned around a sneak peek so I could enjoy & share a few photos with friends & family.
If you want a photographer that you can count on for amazing photos, this is the company to choose!

Jake and Kasey photographed my wedding this past weekend, and I could not be happier with their style and work ethic. I know their photos will be amazing, so I just wanted to comment on how great they were to work with. They were professional, organized, detail oriented, and kind. After working with them for a few hours, I began to feel like they were old friends.
They stayed on task, and Kasey was so attuned to our needs as a busy bride and groom, that she did things I did not expect a photographer to do — like grab us cocktails (I was a little stressed the day of), arranged shots so we did not have to be in the sun for long periods of time, perfected formal shots by removing purses, sunglasses, making meaningful adjustments. They were creative and also indulged every request I had for specific photos (under festoon lights, multiple sparkler exits, etc, etc) and did so with enthusiasm.
They are empathetic, cool under pressure, and are all-​around wonderful. I hope we get a chance to work with them again someday!

As a photographer myself, I was extremely picky about who we chose to shoot our Austin wedding last fall. I chose Jake Holt because of his unique ability to create wedding portraiture that looks like a blend of fashion/​art photography and photojournalism. My husband and I are pretty artsy individuals, and I wanted our wedding portraits to be fun and different. Jake was the perfect solution to that. He has such a creative eye, and my wedding shots truly stand out because of it. I could tell from his portfolio that he was able to shoot both in natural light and in dark reception halls. After speaking with him on the phone, I fully trusted him to capture the magic of our special day. He was so laid back and approachable, just the temperament a bride needs on a day that could potentially be muddled with nerves.
Jake shot my bridals at Palazzo Lavaca, an experience that was incredibly fun. He was able to get a variety of settings throughout the house, and I felt like there were so many shots to choose from when I got to see the edited files. It was difficult to keep them all to myself before the wedding! On our wedding day, we had the pleasure of meeting Kasey, who worked together with Jake to divide time between the bridal party and groomsmen and capture a second vantage point of the wedding itself. We got married at Barr Mansion. Jake and Kasey were so disarming that my bridesmaids practically forgot they were in the room with us. As a result, there are so many candid, emotion-​filled moments that were caught on film; when you aren’t acutely aware of the photographer, you’re less likely to look pose-​y for the camera. Some of my favorite shots from the wedding are the portraits of my husband and I directly after the ceremony. Jake shot formal portraits until the sun set and then set up a flash unit to take some fun shots of us alone. They were also mindful of taking some photos of the venue all dressed up, our food, and décor, shots which I didn’t think I would care that much about but ended up loving and cherishing just as much as the rest.
What else can I say? The reception was captured beautifully. They didn’t miss a single cue, and that’s saying something considering how quickly the night progressed from first dance, to cake cutting, to bouquet toss, etc. You can absolutely tell that our guests were having a great time, and that’s the best I could have asked for. The only thing I regret about the night is that it went by so fast, we didn’t peel away from the crowd to take a couple more shots of just the two of us, although Jake and Kasey reminded us that we could do so at any time. They were there ready to take any photos we wanted and extremely accommodating — but I never felt like they were swarming us or distracting from the moment. It was really a joyous and beautiful event, and they documented it perfectly.
I would most definitely recommend Jake and Kasey. I have nothing but positive things to say about the entire experience!

When crazy girls get married, they unleash their insanity and become 522% crazier on their wedding day. That statistic is fact-​based and 55% accurate. Admittedly, I was a bridezilla /​darth brider with ridiculous requests and incredibly high expectations. I am so pleased to say that the Jake and Kasey Holt not only exceeded my expectations, they also stole away all of my stress.
The most important stuff
1) Jake has a great sense of humor and puts everyone at ease. I forgot that I was taking pictures because we were just two old friends (we literally just met) catching up and laughing. He sent me quality, edited, breathtaking samples of the bridal pictures he took just 4 hours after our session. He created then captured genuine joy and happiness
2) Kasey is a jack of all trades. She sewed my bridesmaid’s ripped dress, mended a broken light-​bulb, manually held 2 umbrellas to block the sunlight, and prevented my wedding dress from looking frumpy. She listened to all of my requests, executed them flawlessly, and anticipated what I wanted. She is a bride’s dream woman
The bridal session — all about me?
3) I stressed about the look and location I wanted, and for the life of me, could not figure it out. I thought I was SOL. Jake and Kasey scouted a location, worked with the owners to make sure the venue was free, and coordinated the shoot. They listened to the fact that I wanted something unique, sensed my utter loss for ideas, and took charge. That’s exactly what I needed. The venue was the perfect fit for me — I could not have found anything better
The big day — wedding #fancymeetsweird
4) I think there were at least 6 Jakes and Kaseys that day. They were everywhere — the dynamic duo. They have amazing vision, know what they want, and understand what I want
5) They were patient, professional but also incredibly fun at the same time. Even though some of my requests were stupid, they always took care of me with a smile and made it better
6) My bridal party, house party and all the guests loved Jake and Kasey. I got more compliments on my choice of photographers than anything else
Brides, it doesn’t get any better: Jake and Kasey made it stress free.

I wish I could give Jake Holt a 100 star review because he is the best. My wedding was Nov 10^th 2013 and Jake Holt Photography made my day amazing. Super easy to work with and really nailed every shot. All of my crazy italian jewish family members loved him!
Disk of wedding day coverage came in the mail super fast and super easy to use to make prints.
I recommend him to ALL friends who are getting married. He is one of a kind and very professional.

Jake shot our destination wedding in the Florida Keys this past fall. While I realize it would have been more convenient to simply hire a photographer in Miami, the truth is that I just wanted Jake over anyone else! Jake’s work is the epitome of exactly what I wanted… super modern, bright poppy colors, creative portraits and fun candid moments.
Kasey even accompanied me to my hair and nail appointment the day of the wedding, and I was so grateful later to have those fun photos of the excitement and anticipation while getting ready. Kasey is an absolute joy to be around, and that joy is contagious.
Jake is also easy-​going and relaxed, but he also knows how to take charge and wrangle large groups of family and friends. His attention to detail is impeccable, and being a photographer myself, I can be pretty picky. And the photos… oh my, how I love every photo!
I even booked a last minute bridal session, and Jake totally went with the flow and found a way to squeeze it into this busy schedule. I really appreciated the extra effort, and I am so in love with the bridal portraits. And I look hot, which will be great to remember 50 years from now! So in summary, both Jake and Kasey are incredibly talented and personable, which is my opinion is the perfect combination!

We had the pleasure of working with Jake when we decided he would be a great fit for our somewhat «unconventional» engagement photos. He came highly recommended and did not disappoint. He was very prompt at returning emails (and detailed too!), was patient with all of our crazy ideas and explanations, was reasonably priced, and as you can tell from his portfolio, he is very talented. So from the get-​go, before we even met the guy, it was a pleasant experience.
Then the day finally came for the shoot and we were even more pleased. Jake was friendly and personable, had a great attitude (even helped us move a heavy couch out into the middle of Mayfield Park!), tried to make the experience fun, and really cared about how the pictures turned out and how we felt about them. He was also very flexible on the allotted time we had, so we didn’t feel rushed and could chat and take our time during the shoot.
We definitely went over our designated time, but Jake went along and finished all the shots we requested and did not threaten us with extra charges. He took plenty (and gave us plenty) of photos so we had more than enough to choose from in the end. He also gives you the rights to print the photos wherever you please, which just from reading around a little beforehand, is apparently not the case for all photographers. That probably saved us a bundle, which we were more than grateful for. We ended up printing at ton of 4x6s at Walgreens as favors for our reception and they looked really great. Everyone that saw them was super impressed.

Jake is the best — hire him! He is supremely talented but what makes him even better is that he is humble and fun and just cool. You want to have good, laidback people around you on your wedding day and he and his assistant were perfect.
I was a little afraid someone so talented would have their own ideas of what would make a good photo or location and dismiss my ideas, especially since I don’t live in Austin. On the contrary, he was completely open to things I wanted to try and some of them turned out really great. When it wound up being really windy while we were taking our pictures, he just rolled with the situation, didn’t stress, and altered the plans slightly.
The results are just stunning. I’m obsessed with my own wedding pictures! He posted about 20 pictures to his blog the next day (and may I add, my wedding was on his birthday and he was leaving for a cross country road trip two days later). The rest should be coming in a month or so and I know they will be even more amazing. He’s a total genius if you want outside-​of-​the-​box wedding photos. Worth every penny!

I was incredibly proud of myself for hiring Jake to photograph our wedding. I reviewed his work on his website and blog, which allows a visitor to view individual weddings, and was immediately attracted to his artistic eye… definitely has a «wow factor.» I was looking for someone who could capture a unique point of view with a lens and he does just that.
He is very professional which made the whole experience, beginning to end, very comfortable. I was able to check photography off my extremely long list of wedding to-do’s and never worried about it again because I knew I was in good hands.
And he delivered. We love our photographs. He was unobtrusive… captured sweet, funny, and precious moments in which we were not aware he was photographing… exactly what I hoped for.
Working with him was a great experience. I definitely recommend him and I plan to use him again in the future.
Phenomenal work, Jake! We thank you so very much.

Jake was such an amazing addition to our wedding day. Not just because he is a talented photographer and captures all the best images, but also because he was so much fun to have on our sides on our big day. He made us feel so comfortable and my husband actually enjoyed being photographed which was definitely a first for him!
Throughout the entire planning process Jake was easy to work with, prompt to return emails and phone calls, and organized with all of our notes and plans. In addition, his turn around for the images was timely. In fact, he had already posted a blog with some of our fun images before our wedding day was even over! He has such a great attention to detail and it showed in all of the photos. He is creative and a true artist. His work on our wedding won him many accolades and because of his great photos, our wedding was featured in The Knot, RARE magazine, and Tribeza magazine. Thanks Jake — we heart you!

I have known Jake Holt (both professionally and as a friend) for several years now and from the first moment I saw his portfolio and experienced his charming and enthusiastic personality, I have been recommending him as a photographer to everyone I know who has a wedding or big event coming up! I’m getting married in the spring and have come to him with so many questions, and he is such an expert on the topic that I feel comfortable knowing he will give me great guidance and my wedding will be more beautiful because of it!
Once, Jake came to visit NYC. My roommate’s company (an eco-​friendly clothing line) needed some help with their new campaign and even though he was on vacation Jake jumped on the project, giving them stylish and artsy shots of their clothing that were used in their marketing materials.
You will not meet a more professional and thoughtful photographer — each photo he takes has significance.

To put it bluntly, Jake Holt is a badass. Seriously. From the moment I met him, I knew he was the photographer for us, and I was right. I love being right, but that’s besides the point.
First off, Jake is exactly what I envisioned when I pictured a good photographer. .. cute and quirky with a camera always in his possession. Plus, he is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to camera equipment and techniques. My husband, who was in the photography business for a few years, quizzed him on a variety of subjects, including lenses, cameras, film speed, etc. Jake had no trouble keeping up with my hubby’s jargon. So, if you’re a film nerd and know about things like that, unlike myself, you’re definitely getting a pro with Jake.
More important than the technical aspects, Jake Holt creates magic with his camera. He did it with my wedding and also with every other event I’ve seen him take pictures of. We’re far from your «let’s take a hundred different group shots with every family combo possible» couple, and Jake feels the exact same way when it comes to capturing weddings. If that style isn’t for you because you want numerous posed shots, then Jake may not be your guy. However, if you want truly beautiful memories captured than Jake should be your choice. That loving look between a bride and a groom, the proud father admiring his daugher’s grace, the tears of joy as families unite, the crazy faces and laughter as friends dance the night away. .. these are the images Jake will capture for you, and they will be stunning. I promise. Oh and by the way, you’ll rarely see him! I don’t know how he does it, but he manages to always be in the action without really being there.
Jake did such a wonderful job with our wedding, that the photos were even published on Style Me Pretty and Flower Magazine. I’d love to say that we were in those publications because we’re such a stunning couple, but I can’t even finish that sentence without laughing. The truth is we were in those because of Jake’s work. I received so many compliments from my friends and family members about his photos, and now it seems like the rest of the world agrees or else we wouldn’t be published. Plus, I think he even received an award from WPJA for one of our wedding photos. Not bad, Jake. Not bad.
The bottom line is that Jake Holt is worth every penny, which by the way his costs are extremely reasonable. We looked at other photographers who charged twice as much and had half as much talent. The package we chose had an element that I didn’t want to do so he let us swap it out for another option. Plus, he stayed well past his scheduled time. He didn’t complain as our wedding dragged on, but he made sure he got every last shot.
I could continue to go on and on, but I want Jake’s head to be able to fit through doors. :)
Thanks again, Jake, for capturing the essence of our wedding. To anyone reading this, hire Jake! You’ll love him!

Jake is perfection. Do I really need to say any more? (I mean, I still am — you just can’t shut me up…) He is an artist who makes, not takes, photographs. The master of light and color. He is easygoing, fun and good-​looking — a true crowd pleaser in every sense of the word.
It’s been 6 months since my wedding and I still have friends, family and guests ask us about him and want to see how he is doing. That’s how much people like the guy! He’s always laughing, happy, calm and collected. This is exactly what I needed when my mother was very, very late to arrive to put on my wedding dress.
Also, did I mention that he is a ninja? He must be — because he got amazing shots that we didn’t even realize he was there for. My mom has a horrible habit of posing for the camera anytime she sees it in her vicinity and Jake was able to get photos of her in her natural habitat. This to me = NINJA.
In all seriousness, my husband and I chose Jake for his style and trusted in his expertise after we told him our ‘vision’ for our engagements, rehearsal dinner, wedding day & after session — and the man delivered. Photography was my top wedding priority, and I did the work to find someone who we meshed with not only on a personal level but also a creative level.
Looking through Jake’s many portfolios and blog will give you a precise view of his style and if that’s not something you enjoy, look elsewhere. If it is — then you will get exactly what you want plus more from him.
Sorry MazzyS, but sounds like the problem was not the artist in this case. If you pick an artist then feel the need to tell them how to create & what to create with — you have picked the wrong artist. (And for the record I know just which photos are yours without even pulling up his blog — and I thought they were amazing!)

I cannot wait to get married so Jake Holt can take my pictures; now all I need is a groom.
First of all, I have known Jake Holt professionally for six years now. I am an actor/​comedian and the photos that he has taken of me have been published internationally. People are AMAZED at his work instead of «Hey Lydia, nice show» which has caused some understandable jealousy (wink, wink).
When I look at his photography, it captures a moment. I know exactly what had just happened or what is being said. The artistic expression of this photographer surpasses any of my wildest and highest expectations. Mr. Holt captured memories of my grandmother and her best friend of 80 years right before Dilly’s passing. When i gave my grandmother the memory book with tears of joy, she said «This is the most beautiful gift Lidamanda (my nickname from my grandmother). I will cherish this forever and Dilly has never looked so lovely». WOW!!! Now those are some powerful words.
As an artist I know it is completely impossible to please everybody but I think that Jake does a dandy and stand-​out job. Sorry Mazzy S., that you were unhappy with Jake’s work. As one of Jake Holt’s biggest fans, I follow his work and loved, loved, loved the one’s with the Golden Gate Bridge. I found there to be so much love between the two of you in those photos. Did I emphasize love enough?
With that Jake Holt Photography has captured my endeavors from Austin to Los Angeles. I will always be grateful for the service, friendship, art and memories that he has provided. JAKE HOLT!!! (in an «Arrested Development» delivery).

Reasons why you should hire Jake: (1) he’s amazing (like, my-​photos-​actually-​got-​into-​a-​bridal-​magazine amazing), and (2) he’s fun to hang out with. Trust me, that latter point is actually incredibly important, especially if you’re going to hire a photographer to document your entire wedding day and bear witness to both excitement and stressors. And, given his level of talent, I’m amazed his prices are so reasonable. Back when I was planning my wedding four years ago, I remember thinking that every other photojournalist-​style wedding photographer that I liked charged exorbitant prices. I ended up liking Jake’s style the best, *and* his prices were incredibly reasonable, given that he had to drive down to Houston for my wedding.
I can attest to his great personality and level of professionalism. As for his quality of work, his blog speaks for itself.
Oh, and reason #3 why you should hire Jake: if your friends are Arrested Development fans (as mine are), they’ll really enjoy shouting «Jake Holt!» (a la «Steve Holt!») throughout your wedding reception.

It’s hard for me to give Jake Holt 2 stars because I really liked him as a person, but we hired him to do our engagement photos and flew him out to SF to take them. I told him several times that I did not want to be shot with a wide angle lens and I did not want below shots. He said he understood, but most of our pictures where wide angle or from below. They were clearly not about us. We seemed to have wondered into them. And there were some that might have been good but were really distorted because of the lens or my dress was all messed up. We showed our pictures to everyone and no one liked them. Not one single person liked them. I really expected people to tell me that I was being too critical but no one did. Everyone liked one or maybe two but Overall no one thought that we should keep him for the wedding.
They all said that the focus of the photos was clearly not us and that we were not thin enough to look good from the bottom up or to lend our figures to a wide angle. I felt that it was not just a style issue because we really liked the photos on his website and we think he is very talented, but that he didn’t listen to me and that there were technical issues as well. He said that he needed the wide angle to get «the shot» but sometimes that meant that I was distorted. Shouldn’t «getting the shot» involve me not being distorted? I guess what I am most annoyed by is that he kept our entire deposit even though our wedding was on a Sunday so he probably did not lose any business so we were out the deposit plus the ticket to SF and we did not order a single picture from him.
We did think it was very nice of him to fly out to SF for our photos but he also spent extra time here and seemed to turn it into a vacation. I just wish he had just listened more and tried to make us look as good with lighting and angles as he did the Golden Gate bridge behind us.

Jake Holt is an amazing photographer. I have nothing but great things to say about his work. Obviously, if you go to the website the photography will speak for itself. Jake did our wedding photos and an engagement session back in May. Every dealing with him was not only wonderfully fun, and stress free, but he was also very professional.
His services are well worth the price. I cannot recommend him enough. Of all the things I would have changed about my wedding, having Jake Holt do the pictures is one thing I do not regret.
Go look at the blog. Seriously. Just do.