{Roseville,Sacramento Family Photographer}: Kim + Larry

{Just a sticky: I will be in La Quinta, California on January 1 and 2. If you're in the area and would like to have a photosession with me, please email me at brotchie@comcast.net. Hope to hear from you.}


She posted on my Facebook wall after seeing this family. She posted "Alright, that's it, heading over to your website now to book my session." And that, was that. Love it when that happens.

They were excited about the prospects of the afternoon and just went with the flow. It was a beautiful, glorious, autumnal afternoon at Gibson's Ranch and Kim and her family just shined. They came with Kim's cousin's family and there was much, much love and laughter.

Beautiful daughters....




...make for beautiful sisters...


It was such a pleasure being a part of your joy for the afternoon, thank you! You guys are the BEST!


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Back to the normal routine week.... have a great one!

{Roseville,Sacramento Family Photographer}: Thanksgiving....

So are you stuffed? It was pretty low key at my place yesterday, which is how I prefer it. I cooked all day and we ate in the afternoon. Yes, didn't wait for the dinner hour. My parents and brother came over. As the years have passed, my parents are becoming, how should I say this delicately?... old fogie. Well, actually they ARE old fogie. They don't like to drive anywhere when the sun has long gone. So, I was being a good daughter and cooking Thanksgiving dinner early so that they could make the 1.5 hours back to their place.

I made your typical Thanksgiving feast fare, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roast Turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, home made bread, etcetera, etcetera... and yes, all from scratch, and yes, I did all that whilst adorning my lovely apron...


My mom brought yummy marinated asparagus in bacon, her Thai style fried rice and some sliced pineapples...


and at the end of the early evening, we broke out the tripod and took some photos. This one made the cut. Next time dad, please smile... the old fogie is wearing you... :)


Happy Black Friday!!

{Roseville,Sacramento Family Photographer}: Barb + Stu

They came all the way from Santa Cruz to have their photos taken by little ol' me. A fun place with a beach and a boardwalk, but still, they decided to come here. To travel east of Sacramento...for me to point my camera at them. It helped that Barbara's cousin Kim lives near the area, but still, I'm really really honored!

One thing I noticed about these two is that they laughed, they had fun, and they were up for anything I asked them to do. Including lying down on a pile of old pond straw collecting on the edge of the pond. Giggling as they did and a bit skeptical, they trusted me anyway. I'm so glad they did, because they made that pile of old pond straw~ simply beautiful.


Their daughter was all smiles and eyes. Clearly, the center of her mom and dad's world. She danced and wiggled and boogied...


and climbed on anyone that would let her get horsie on them...


Barbara and Stu, I hope it was worth the hours spent in the car. I had such a wonderful time with you and that little cutie-patootie of yours!


To see more of Barbara & Stu's photosession click here (please allow a few minutes to load):



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A note for Kim~ I'll have your full post on Monday!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friends. I am truly thankful!
Cheers!
~j

{Roseville,Sacramento Children's Photographer}: Random 1

One thing I must maintain, is the love of taking photos of my kids, my family. Afterall, they are the ones who inspired me into this craft of photography and set me on my way.

I love that I will be able to look back and remember certain things...
like the horse and carriage ride in Old Sacramento...they were so excited to be on this rickety thing and how it took us to the first bathroom on the route for Jensen (when you gotta go...you know...)


and their happiness when they got to pet the horse... just the little things that I don't want to forget...


Jensen's first big boy bike for his 4th birthday, with matching helmet of course...


We are so fortunate to live in a world of technology at our fingertips.
Here's one for my uncle. I went to my old hometown of Tracy California and had a session there. Yes, I do travel outside my bubble...

She's a little doll... don't you just want to grab those cheeks and squeeze just a little? Cute-ness...

Have a great Tuesday and be nice to each other at the grocery store please... it can get hectic, but just breathe, smile and be thankful...

{Roseville,Sacramento Family Photographer}: Afternoon fun...

Thanks for stopping by! If you haven't checked it out lately, please visit my website: www.jenniferbrotchie.com I've added some fun stuff to the about me "jennifer" , "love notes" and "weddings" pages. Thanks!


A couple of weeks ago, I spent the afternoon with two families. Kim's and her cousin Barbara (who came all the way from Santa Cruz!) and their sweet families... This is just a sneak peek for them, since I'm doing double time. We had a fun, great afternoon full of smiles and laughter... above is Kim and her hunk o'burning love- looking good you two! ;)

Sisters...


Cutie pa-tootie...


Cutie pa-tootie's parentals...(forever in love)


the whole gang...


I'll be a hermit this week with the kiddo's home for a week's vacay.. JOY!
Have a great Monday!!

{Roseville,Sacramento Senior's Photographer}: Alicia

Just a word... do you see the time posted at the end of this post, 2:36 AM? I just got back from seeing New Moon... and it is freakin' awesome! Go see it!!


She came out of the car like the wind just swept her over. A big smile on her face and a sweetness that just exuded out of her, she was the first to take her hand out. Reaching her hand toward mine she said, "Hi, I'm Ali-c-ia." Of course, I was happy to return the sweet handshake.

The day was a bit brisk with a slight breeze, but she was excited to turn it on. Um, yeah, an exotic beauty that will bring them boys down to their knees....


She's leaving home for college soon and she wants to someday be a broadcast journalist..., "you know, kind of like Juliana Rancik," she says with a little jump in her shoulders and that sweet smile. "Of course", I said, "like the E Entertainment reporter, yes, I'm hip, I know exactly who you're talking about," I said back, almost as if I was validating that I am still cool...ha, kind of laughable, but I'm with it, I'm down.


If these photos are any indication, Alicia will absolutely have a place in broadcast journalism.


'course we had to get one of these..."Yay! I'm graduating!" jump in the air shots, it's almost a rule.


This young lady is an extraordinary young woman...she's going places...


To see more of Alicia's senior photosession, click here (please give it a few seconds to load):


Have a great weekend everyone, it's been an AMAZING week!!

Jasmine Star & Twilight

So last night I had the pleasure of meeting Jasmine Star, wedding photographer extraordinaire. She is based out of Southern California and never comes up to Northern Cal. Or so I thought. So when I found out she was coming to my neighborhood, like 4 days before, I knew I had to be there. If you don't know who she is, visit her site, she will amaze you. She is warm, down to earth, affectionate, lovely, funny, a sister, a daughter, a woman, a wife, a photographer, she is real, down to the core. If you asked me who were my top 10 influential persons in my life are, Jasmine Star would be in the top 4, behind God, my husband, and my mom. Oh yea, to me, she is BIG.

David and I were in the front row and I was listening intently. My eyes and ears were centered on her, everything she had to say... my mind was open. I am internalizing everything she said and in the next few months you will see it manifest itself... I'm really excited...

She brought IT...


and her MAC...


and her shoes...



Jasmine Star and me, Jennifer Brotchie.. fo reals. Ack!
I admire and adore her, period.


EDITED: OMG! Thanks J* for choosing one of my images! Wow! and thanks so much for visiting me from J*'s link! WOW.. I'm beside myself right now.

Speaking of big...

Oh yea, I am a Twilight mom. I am a Twi-hard, self confessed, and proud. I even have two Twilight Saga t-shirts that I lurve! I feel like a giggly teenager filled with excitement in anticipation of a rock concert with my girlfriends. But this rock concert is the big premiere of New Moon. I am going to the midnight showing and I am so diggin' it! See the other ticket peeking behind that ticket? I'm going to see Twilight just before New Moon, a double feature. Can you hear me screaming!! Wow! Excitement abounds! I just hope I don't fall asleep watching Twilight since I've watched it a billion times. Are you going tonight? Have a great great GREAT Twilight Thursday!

{Roseville,Sacramento Senior's Photographer}: Sneak Peek for Alicia

Just a sneak peek for this gorgeous graduate. Isn't she lovely?


Full post on Friday... yes, Alicia, Friday!! Are you excited?

Thank you internet world for stopping and checking out my blog! Thank you for all your lovely personal comments on my facebook page and personal emails... but don't be shy to post on the blog either ;) Have a great Wednesday!!!

{Roseville,Sacramento Children's Photographer}: Kari & P

I saw them from afar as I was getting out of my car walking in their direction. Her mother sitting on the bench, soaking up the sun with a smile on her face, watching her daughter dance and prance around. As I approached and made my hello's, I drew out my hand to offer a handshake, "P" refused and instead gave me a warm inviting smily hug. Wow! It was going to be a great afternoon.

What I love about photography is that I get to witness the love between people. People that I've never met before or people that I lost touch with and have reconnected with after many years, say like almost 2 decades, like Kari. Who'd ever known that our musical connection would bring us to see Music Mike at the same town, same day, same library and sit right, darn, next to each other? Who would have ever known that after high school, that one day I'd be photographing her little girl? Yeah, wrap your head around that one...

The love that this mother has for her daughter and the love that this daughter has for her mother is unquestionable. There is no denying it.


What I think is so special is the fact that they will have this set of memories to remember this time in their lives. Think ahead...go on... think.... think 20 years in the future when this little girl is 25, are you picturing it? They find time to be together, taking a break from hectic schedules. They snuggle in close and start to get nostalgic, they break out the photos and reminisce about the events around this time... I'm practically crying already from imagining. Kari, please Facebook me and let me know what a wonderful time you both had remembering what a great kid you had back in 2009. K? Don't forget. :)


One thing that they will surely remember fondly is how big a fan "P" is of Hannah Montana. THE biggest fan... I'm flashing into the future and I can see her giggling about it with her mom. If she's anything like her mother though, Hannah Montana is just the start, she will continue to grow her love of music to rock out to all her life.


Kari and "P", thank you for spending your afternoon with me in Old Sacramento, I had a great, great time!

To see more of this photosession, click here (please allow a few seconds to load):


Have a truly wonderful Monday!

{Roseville,Sacramento Children's Photographer}: Sneak Peek for Kari

A sneak preview for this little girl's mamma. What a fantastical time we had!

She's such a natural...

wouldn't you agree?

Have a great weekend!!

{Roseville,Sacramento Children's Photographer}: Gibson Ranch

This weekend we ventured over to this place... what a wonderful find! It's like we stumbled upon a hidden treasure in the middle of the 'burbs.

The kids were thrilled and squealed and jumped with excitement as their eyes went large with this vision. The huge pond and the ducks and the expanse of wide open areas to explore was a welcome release of energy to round out our busy weekend..


A mother first and foremost, I always get nervous when I see my kid right at the edge...


We are a two camera family and of course David is ever ready with his and was content capturing the ducks. Awesome shot hun!


Marlena and I ventured on our own...


The older she gets, the less she wants her photo taken. She made her mama happy when she obliged.


Such a beautiful place...


If you know of any places in the greater Sacramento County area and Placer County areas, please let me know! I'm always in search of locations... and, why, yes, I would love to take YOU here one day....!!

Thanks for visiting and feel free to bookmark my blog and forward it to a friend.... Kari, if you are reading...your sneak peek will be up tomorrow!