TOURISM // Visit Raleigh
– Jumping In –
Growing up in and around Raleigh, I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years. One thing has definitely stayed the same: even if you’ve spent decades in the area, there’s always something new to explore. When the creative leadership of the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) tapped me to photograph their “Jump In” tourism campaign, I was excited to present NC’s capital at its best.
Raleigh’s art scene shines especially bright at its monthly First Friday events. To kick off our campaign, I followed local cultural leader Annelies Gentile on one of her buzzworthy art walks. Annelies has been in Raleigh since 1985, and her longtime relationship with the city’s artists add color and detail to her overall historical knowledge of the area. She gave just as much enthusiasm and creative energy to our crew of actors as she does to her regular guests.
Next stop: Raleigh Beer Garden, the city’s quintessential watering hole. It’s a massive, indoor/outdoor space that can accommodate all kinds of events. Business meetups, pre-dance-party hangs, casual Sunday chats—whatever you’re up to, this place can probably match your vibe. The bar area benefits from a unique design element: a tree growing up through the middle of the hall.
We ventured over to Knightdale to spend some time with Christopher Prieto, the owner and “head fire maker” at Prime Barbecue. You may recognize Christopher from Season 2 of The Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl,” but when he’s not showing off his skills in competition, you’ll usually find him in his local kitchen. Shooting his portrait involved simultaneously showing off beautiful cuts of meat, and we found creative ways to light up the barbecue pit and catch the ambience of the rising smoke. As a bonus, Christopher shared some tasty snacks and fixed up to-go-boxes for us!
– BEHIND THE SCENES –
Credits:
Photographer: Natalia Weedy
Production Company: Cowboy Collective
Producer: Virginia Dees Boyd
PA: Lindsey Warren
Retouching: Lindsey Warren and Amber Hogan
AD/Grip: Jim Mahorney
Digitech: Scott Ollis
Gaffer: Danny Morganelli
H/M/W Stylist: Robbie Forrest
Wardrobe Assistant: Mollie Earls
Talent: Locke Models
Client: GRCVB
Agency: AVENIR BOLD
Associate Creative Director: David Watts
Senior Graphic Designer: Gabby Guenther