He worked for various photographers in Dresden including C. A. Maschke, Lichtdruckanstalt Römmler & Jonas and Emil Rommler.

He had Karl Emil Scherz build him a villa with a daylight studio at Hainstrasse 14 (present-day Justinenstrasse 2).

In 1911, King Friedrich August III awarded Aurig with the title of "Court Photographer to His Majesty."

Aurig died in Blasewitz on 19 December 1935 and was buried in the family grave at the Tolkewitz Urn Grove.

Like August Kotzsch, Aurig also captured the construction of the Blue Wonder, also known as the Loschwitzer bridge.

He photographed a wide variety of subjects including creating portraits of politicians, clergymen, and professors at Dresden's universities.

"Until the outbreak of World War I, James Aurig was the top address for high-quality portraits.