It can be overwhelming when planning a wedding. Here you can find answers to many of your questions insuring it is memorable & stress free!

How much time is needed to take family and bridal party pictures?
That is the number one question I am asked. You should plan 15 to 30 minutes for family pictures, and 30 to 60 minutes for your bridal party. Please remember that family dynamics, family requests, extended family pictures, travel time, weather conditions, and size of the bridal party are all factors that may change this time frame.

Where is the best place to take my formal pictures?
Most of your family pictures will be taken in the church after the ceremony. Check with your priest or minister to see if the church is available and how much time is allowed. It’s also a good idea for you to begin thinking about who you want in your family pictures. Don’t forget to inform these people about where and when the pictures will be taken. For your bridal party pictures, please think about how the weather can impact your choice of locations. If you’re planning to take them outside almost any location will work. Choose a shaded area to avoid people squinting. Many of the banquet facilities have beautiful landscaping and gardens. If it is raining or very windy you should have an indoor backup location. In Oneida County, many couples think the Utica Train Station is theirs to use. Remember, it’s a free place, and several other wedding parties may be there at the same time. The Stanley Theater and Hotel Utica are great places to take inside pictures, I suggest making a phone call several months in advance to check on availability and pricing.

Can reprints/enlargements be made from the digital files?
AJ's Photography allows our clients to do whatever they want with their images, no restrictions or copy protection. I recommend you have them printed at a professional photo lab known for their quality printing. For the ultimate in picture quality you can have AJ's Photography print them at our custom lab saving you time and insuring the best quality.

Can my wedding pictures be posted on Facebook?
Yes. Sharing your pictures is very easy. If you choose, we will post your wedding pictures and slide show on Facebook, this saves you hours of uploading your high resolution files. You can go to my home page and click on the Facebook link or you can search me on Facebook (listed as Allen Bartnick) and add me as a friend. I can customize the slide show with your favorite song if you e-mail the mp3 file before your wedding.

Can pictures be taken during the ceremony?
Please inform your priest or minister that you will have a professional photographer & videographer capturing your day. It is very important to have their cooperation. We do our best to respect the rules of the church and to work cooperatively with each individual. However, if your priest or minister restricts or limits us on what we can do, it will have an impact on your final product.

What is needed for the pictorial history for the video?
Please provide approximately 15 pictures, each photo must be numbered in the order you want them to appear (use a pencil), send me the original pictures (do not scan them) if you have digital pictures the digital file works best, include a copy of your invitation that you will not need back and a copy of the song on CD you would like ( 3 songs if you booked the premium package) you will receive the pictures and the disk back. I will need the pictures for the beginning of your video about one month before your wedding.

When do the final arrangements need to be made?
Please call me 1-2 weeks before your wedding. At that time all of your plans will be finalized. We will review all the details of your wedding day as well as discuss your family & bridal party as well as any requests you have to make your day as memorable as possible.

I know this is a lot to think about. If at any time you have questions or would like to discuss how photography and video fits into your day, please give me a call. A little planning now will make your day as special as you always hoped for.