Frequently Asked Questions

It can be overwhelming when planning a wedding. Here you can find answers to many of your questions insuring it is memorable & stress free. As always feel free to call anytime with questions.

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 45 to 80 minutes for your bridal party. Please remember that family dynamics, children, 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?

If your wedding ceremony & reception are being held at the same venue may want to consider a “first look” before the ceremony and taking your bridal party & family pictures before the ceremony at the wedding venue. It takes 1-2 hours to take all the pictures, taking them before the ceremony will take away the stress of being rushed and will allow you to enjoy your cocktail hour. If you are getting married in a church most of your family pictures will be taken in the church after the ceremony. Check with your priest or minister to see how much time you have in the church and when we must be done taking pictures. 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. The only thing to look for is a nice 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. 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 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.

How many hours of coverage are included with the photography packages?

Every wedding is different, normally 8 to 12 hours. The typical day starts where the bride is getting dressed around 1 hour before the ceremony and ends after the formal events and candids at the reception. If you are doing a first look then the timing changes but there is no additional charge. 

Can my wedding pictures and highlight video be posted on Facebook?

Yes. The easiest way is to let us do it for you, this saves you hours of uploading your high resolution files. You can go to the top right of our web site and click on the Facebook link and Like our fan page. You can also search AJ's Photography on Facebook and Like our fan page and search me (listed as Allen Bartnick) and add me as a friend. Your preview pictures and highlight video is usually posted within a day, the complete wedding pictures are posted within a week.

Can pictures be taken during the ceremony?

Please inform your priest or minister that you will have a professional photographer and 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 your video?

I will need the pictures for the beginning of your video about one month before your wedding. Please provide approximately 15-20 pictures total. When using older pictures please send me the original pictures (do not scan them, for best quality it’s better if I do the scanning). If you have digital pictures the digital file works best (try to avoid files from Facebook, the file size is to small & will look blurry on your video) when you have digital files it’s easier to put them on a flash drive. Because of e-mail file restriction size you may run into problems if you try to e-mail them to me. Each photo & digital file must be numbered in the order you want them to appear (Very important). Include a copy of your invitation that you will not need back and what song for the pictures portion ( 3 songs if you booked the premium package) I need the title and artist. You will receive the pictures and the disk back.

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 and bridal party as well as any requests you have to make your day as memorable as possible. 

We 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 us a call. A little planning now will make your day as special as you always hoped for.