By Peter Bruce posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010 @ 10:41 AM - (General)
Know Your Rocks
In 2003, the UN adopted a system to end the practice of diamond trading for dubious means. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme outlines the regulations and requirements countries must follow to make sure a diamond is mined and shipped in a humane, legitimate way. Diamonds that meet these regulations are shipped with a Kimberley Process certificate. When you buy a diamond, the jeweler should be able to provide this certificate -- if they can't, you should be wary of the stone's origin.
Check for Certification...
Any well-established, reputable jeweler should be able to tell you about a diamond's history and guarantee that it's conflict-free. How do you know a jeweler is telling the truth? Ask to see the diamond's System of Warranties statement, and know what these certificates look like before you shop -- you can see examples at DiamondFacts.org.
Be smart Shop Smart...
You can also opt to shop at a retailer like Brilliant Earth, which specializes in conflict-free jewelry (their diamonds come from Canada, and 6 percent of their profits are donated to a fund to benefit local African communities harmed by the diamond industry). And a store you've certainly heard about -- Tiffany & Co. -- deals exclusively with suppliers who use environmentally sound, conflict-free mining.
Look Beyond Canada to other counties...
Many rock buyers believe conflict-free must mean the stones are Canadian. Although Canada has a solid reputation for diamonds that are mined in an environmentally conscious and conflict-free way, you shouldn't consider stones from Canada the only diamonds that are conflict-free. Other producers are Russia, Australia, and yes, many African countries. The important thing is that the diamond has documentation all the way from the mine to the jeweler. Currently, the Ivory Coast is one country the UN cites in which diamonds are being mined and smuggled by rebels. You can find more information about countries participating in the Kimberley Project.
Please Don't Expect to Pay More...
There are many different factors that can make a diamond pricier, but being conflict-free certified should not be one of them. If you work with a jeweler you trust and research before you buy (our list of useful links is a good start) you can know you've done your part in being a responsible diamond shopper.
It is not weddings,but maybe more important. Raising awareness for breast cancer. A B&W coffee table book project. The focus of the book is breasts. Subjects will be anonymous and only the breasts themselves will be photographed for this project. The coffee table book will be 11"x14", all photos in B&W and will include a photograph for each day of the calendar year. These books will be released on an limited annual basis and will include images from politicians, celebrities and everyday women.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charitable organizations focused on breast health and cancer awareness.
By Peter Bruce posted on Saturday, January 23, 2010 @ 11:25 AM - (General)
Have you ever been asked a question where you just want ed to smack this person in the head. Over the years Peter BrucePhoto & Video have heard almost every dum,stupid and out place question. If you have heard any please forward them to me. But that being said here are 10 that you don't have to answer. My tip, just look at the person for a few seconds, then walk away.
By Peter Bruce posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 @ 3:39 PM - (General)
Stress 8 Easy Ways to Prevent Wedding Insanity
Let's not beat around the bush here people planning a wedding is hard work. All those decisions and responsibilities, it's very easy to see how some brides and grooms get completely consumed in the minutiae. So how do stressed-out, site-seeing, menu-sampling couples get their eyes back on the ball? By taking a breather from the planning process. Get ready to clear your schedules and forget about picking the favors-the following list of eight stress-breaking activities will help you remove yourselves from nuptial hassles and restore your sanity.
1. Declare a wedding-free weekend once in a while
For a full 48-hour period, pretend you're the two people you were before you got engaged (and, in the meantime, remind yourselves of why you wanted to get married to each other in the first place). No wedding planning or fighting allowed! No talk of hors d'oeuvres, seating charts, or first dance songs. Hang out, laugh, have fun, and flirt with each other for a change.
2. Have a night out with the girls (or boys) alone
With all the "togetherness" of being a future bride and groom, remind yourselves you're individuals too. Book a night out with your respective same-sex posse (again, no wedding talk). Hit the town like a swinging single and stay out past midnight. Take advantage of the fact that your future spouse isn't around to do something with your friends he or she doesn't like to do -- we're talking chick flick, batting cages, steak dinner, manicures. Then entertain each other the next day with tales of your exploits.
3. Go on a fancy date together
Chances are, for the past few months you've been scrimping and saving every extra nickel to supplement The Budget. If you've done well, reward yourselves for your miserly skills by spending a little of that cold hard cash. Book a table at the fanciest restaurant in town and go for the full monty: fine wine, appetizer, entree, dessert, and after-dinner drinks. Afterward, stop in a local jazz club and catch a torch singer belting out inspiring tunes de l'amour.
4. Take a drive.
Reserve a weekend afternoon and head for the open road. Check out that little place a couple of towns over that you always mean to visit. Test each other's map-reading skills. Play road games like, Who Can Spot the Most Out-of-State License Plates? Sing along to cheesy songs on the radio. Buy a souvenir at a highway truck stop. Stumble upon a romantic restaurant for lunch or dinner before heading home.
5. Mastermind a movie marathon.
There's nothing like a good movie to transport you from reality to fantasy. Take the phone off the hook, rent a whole slew of films, and spend an evening in, snacking on popcorn and Sno-Caps. The trick here is to stay away from wedding-theme fare -- sorry, this includes Father of the Bride -- while keeping the romance theme going with a steamy story like The Lover. Or opt for the comic relief of a Jim Carrey or Eddie Murphy flick -- laughter, after all, is still the best stress reliever.
6. Get in some game play.
Sometimes a little healthy competition serves to make you closer, right? Challenge your mate to a night of games: Pictionary, Scrabble, backgammon, even good old cards. If you own a Sony PlayStation 2, take the high-tech road to fun. Rather venture out? Head for the nearest bowling alley -- or look into go-carts, ice-skating, and tennis tournaments for other fun and sporty activities to enjoy a deux.
7. Revert to childhood,it's fun
There's nothing than good amusement park to get you feeling like a kid once again. Wake up extra early to avoid long lines, then get your fill of roller coasters, log flumes, and Ferris wheels. Challenge your future mate to a bumper car race. Fill up on cotton candy, funnel cake, and waffle cones. Take an old-fashioned photo. Then spend an hour or so trying to win a supersize stuffed animal to take home as a memento of the day.
8. Engage in an eat-a-thon.
If you both love to cook, compose a special theme menu for a romantic at-home date. Go shopping together and pick the freshest produce around (maybe there's a farmer's market near you) -- and remember to include some aphrodisiac ingredients! Nab a bouquet and some candles to pretty up your table while you're at it. Once at home, take time to really enjoy the meal prep process. Line up all your ingredients on the countertop and open a bottle of wine or three. And take lots of liberties when it comes to recipes -- nothing's better than creating signature dishes together.
By Peter Bruce posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 @ 6:45 PM - (General)
Peter Bruce Photo wants to help and if you could to that would be great,here is the link to give to Unicef, kids are always the sadest during these bad disaters...
By Peter Bruce posted on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 @ 7:39 AM - (General)
Here are some handy tips from Peter Bruce Photo & Video dealing with a common and sticking matter.
One moment you're on Cloud 9, sharing the news of your engagement, savoring every juicy detail of the proposal, then boom -- you look up and your best friend/brother/sister looks positively ashen. Suddenly your feelings of pure elation curdle into muddled guilt. Some women are amazed to find their friends turning into catty competitors, goading their boyfriends into proposing, too, and trying to outdo your every wedding move. What's a flustered fiancee to do?
Don't Be Shy in asking
You have the right to be excited and share your happiness with people important to you. Don't hesitate to share the good news with a good friend. If you don't talk about it, your friend or sibling may feel insulted and it may damage your friendship further.
Don't Play Dumb about things
Acknowledge that your friend is jealous. Not sure? When you talk about your wedding, do you feel guilty or does he or she act rude, dismissive, or bored? Assuming that you're not talking about the big day 24/7, trust your gut reaction. Good friends should be affirmative, not negative.
Edit Yourself,think first before you talk
Speaking of wedding talk, don't overdo it! Remember that even people happy for you don't want to hear about every little detail (yawn). Divert conversation to what's going on in their lives and be a riveted listener.
Confront the Problem right away
If someone makes a nasty crack about your plans, respond to the slight right away by gently asking, "What do you mean by that?" Another tactic is to tell the person how you feel with statements such as, "I'm confused why you said that" or "I'm hurt that you see it that way." Focus on how you feel, not on what they did.
Share the Spotlight together
Sometimes the problem is simply that your parents are perceived to be ignoring the sibling that is jealous and slathering all of their attention and bragging on you. Acknowledge this inequity by saying, "I realize I'm getting a lot the attention and I hope it's not bothering you." If the sibling is married, point out that he or she has had the spotlight; for those that haven't yet made the trip down the aisle, reassure them that their time is coming! Either way, turn to your siblings for advice in dealing with family dilemmas and be sure to spend quality playtime with them sans mom and dad.
Stroke Egos... don't fight
When a person is jealous, she or he craves acknowledgement. Your mission? Play to the person's strengths. Remind them (often!) of all their positive qualities and accomplishments: great job, dynamite figure, whatever. Better yet, ask your friend for advice in his or her areas of expertise. If your workmate has a great fashion sense, tell her you'd love her opinion on your dress. If your brother's a savvy globetrotter, pick his brain about destinations and travel tips.
Show Your Love each other
Make sure your friends get the message loud and clear that their friendship is extremely important to you. Tell them how much happiness you wish for them and, if single, try to assure them that their perfect partner is out there somewhere.
Be Humble,it's hard but worth it
While you're stroking his ego and showering her with love, don't forget to share your own wedding-related woes: arguments with your fiance, etiquette blunders, cold feet, and in-law conflicts. Even if you're ecstatic despite it all, you'll be able to bond over your vulnerability.
Get It Out in the Open... FAST
When push comes to shove, acknowledge the awkwardness between you and your friend. Perhaps open with something like, "I wonder how you feel about my getting married?" or "I feel awkward about this situation because we've always shared our dreams about getting married�I wish this could be happening to us both at the same time." Never say that you know how he or she feels (you don't) but opening the door for a friend to vent can ease a lot of pressure.
Invest in the Future,today
Slot a singles table into your seating chart and ask your friend to help you fill it -- positioning him or her between two sexy singles is obviously the game plan! Why not? Lots of people meet their spouses at weddings. After all, love is in the air.
Hope this helps, let me know what you would like to see on this blog please
By Peter Bruce posted on Friday, January 1, 2010 @ 9:35 AM - (General)
Ok brides I am taking booking now for 2011 Why I want to be the last Photographer in the world to shoot a wedding.
I got up today, New Years day, feeling good,coffee,Vegemite on toast YUM and the local newspaper the Chronicle . Not foucsing on much, just flipping though I found this story on the world ending. And that date falls on a Sturday.
So Iam offering a great deal to any couple who want to use me when they go out with a BANG. Now I can not tell you what time the cermony should be, cause Harold Camping can't nail that down... YET. But from all the wedding I have done and all the world endings I have not thankfully been too. I would do the cermony some what on the early side, get the most BANG for your buck. Now it must be said that I can not promise getting Prints or an ablum to you, not because of the lack of my professional attitute,but I may be dead, you too. So here is what I think we should do. As I shoot the photos, load the photo up on a web site, something like www.lastwedding.com or www.thisistheend.com
Let me think on the, we have time for that, but by putting them up on a web site, IF someone and that is a bif IF according to Harold Camping lives throught it and they have like there iPhone they can see your wedding photos. You, well you won't care.
I most likely won't be able to bring an assitant, I am going out on a lim here, but don't think they will want to work on the last day of there life, but I will try to get one.
Now,here is the big thing. I will need a depoist to hold the day. And sorry to say that is 100% up front, but as I said I will cut you a deal on my day rate.
Must run now, as I want to max out my credit cards before the big day. Let me know if you are in...
By Peter Bruce posted on Monday, December 28, 2009 @ 8:58 AM - (General)
Sadly it happens theft at a wedding we recently did. Here is what happened and some tips from Peter Bruce Photo & Video
How it Happened...
The couple began to retrace the evening and remembered a well-dressed man who everyone assumed was a guest -- after the wedding, they learned that he even chatted up other guests, telling one person he was a friend of the groom's family, and another that he met the bride at an art exhibit. The mystery man had stolen most of the couple's wedding gifts, and despite the fact that he showed up in numerous pictures taken during the evening, police closed the case due to lack of evidence, and the presents were never recovered.
An Unhappy Pattern...
The couple soon discovered that wedding gift theft is far from unheard of -- His cousin and his best man's mother also had presents stolen from their weddings. Though it's unpleasant to think you're vulnerable at your own reception, the reality is that a wedding crasher or staff member can all-too-easily get away with stealing your gifts when everyone else is distracted and having fun.
What You Can Do...
Create an online registry and have the presents sent directly to your house (or another family member's house, like your mom's). The best way to ensure nothing is stolen is to spread the word that you'd prefer presents mailed to your residence rather than brought to the reception.
Place your gift table far from an exit to make it more difficult for anyone who's trying to steal your presents, or...
Forgo having a gift table all together. Instead, visit each table during the reception so that guests have the opportunity to hand you envelopes of cash or checks -- but only if they wish to do so. You should never ask for cash.
If you spot a wedding crasher, don't be polite and ignore them. Ask your day-of coordinator or an attendant to ask the crasher to leave.
Ask a trustworthy friend to act as gift attendant. Ask him to store the gifts in a secure place (like a locked room) rather than displaying them in the open.
If your reception is large (over 300 people) and the site is in a high-traffic area (like in any urban setting), consider hiring security, both to prevent theft and to quash any other rowdiness that might transpire.
Think about buying wedding insurance. Coverage from a company like wedsafe will cover stolen gifts as long as it's reported right away.
What if It Happens to You?
If you're a victim of wedding gift theft, report it to the police as soon as possible. Get in touch with your reception site to see if there are any security cameras that may have caught the crime on tape.
Perhaps the toughest part will be explaining the situation to your guests (after all, you really can't write thank-you notes for gifts you never received). One approach is to send an email to as many guests as you can and give them a rundown of what happened; ask them to spread the word to those whose email addresses you don't have. And then send handwritten notes to every guest expressing your thanks for his or her attendance. If your wedding was on the smaller side, you could call each guest individually, though be prepared for lots of questions about the specifics from concerned friends and relatives.
Well we hope it never does and I hope this was a help
