Specializing in fine art painted portraits and classic photographic portraiture for families and children. Serving Raleigh, Wilmington, Greensboro, Charlotte, and the Southeastern US. »

time for senior portraits | raleigh senior portrait photography

08.10.11

It hardly seems possible, yet the end of summer is almost here! That signals the beginning of a new school year — and the time to schedule Senior Portrait sessions!

CLASS OF 2012, book your senior portrait session before September 6 ad take $50 off your session fee! Your session doesn’t have to take place by September 6; you simply have to schedule your session before then.

Senior sessions begin at $250. Your custom-styled shoot will include two or more looks and up to 2 hours of photography in the location(s) of your choice. Hair and makeup artists and wardrobe stylists are available. Inquire for more information.

Fall sessions are extremely limited, so call or email to book yours today!

www.reneesprinkphotography.com

beauty and the beast | raleigh dance photography

08.08.11

Occasionally I work with my friend Pat Griffin, owner of TSS Photography, photographing local sports and cheerleading leagues, and earlier this summer, he called me to help photograph Dance Express studio’s recital over at Stewart Theatre on the NC State main campus. Most of you know I grew up dancing – and even taught for a while after college – so this was right up my alley. The recital was an original production of Beauty and the Beast. Dances were choreographed by studio owner Lisa Fristoe to music from the original movie Le Belle et la Bete, the Disney movie and the Broadway musical. Dancing the lead roles were Amanda Fristoe the Rose, Chris Bosko as the Beast and Erika Martin in the role of Belle.

Tale as old as time; Tune as old as song.
Bittersweet and strange, Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong.

Certain as the sun rising in the east
Tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast.

2011 miss north carolina luncheon

08.07.11

I am always excited when “Miss North Carolina week” rolls around each June because not only does it bring about a new competition with a new class of girls, but it brings back loads of memories and a number of former Miss North Carolinas who just happen to be some of my very dear friends as well. The last couple of years have been even more memorable for me because I’ve been asked to photograph the luncheon honoring these special women. It was a very special luncheon for two formers in particular — my dear friend Jennifer Vaden [Smith] Barth, who was celebrating the 20th anniversary of her crowning and Maria Beale Fletcher, North Carolina’s only Miss America, who was celebrating the 50th anniversary of her win.

This year’s luncheon was hosted by Jessica Jacobs Marquardt and Elizabeth Williams Grayson in Jessica’s beautiful Raleigh home. Thank you, Jessica, for opening your home to all of us!

The luncheon isn’t just for former winners, though. It’s really more like a reunion of winners, personal friends and mentors who helped them along the way and longtime pageant volunteers — and is always a great time for old friends to catch up.

Former titleholders love catching up on each other’s lives…

Lovely ladies: Katherine Southard (2009), Elizabeth Williams Grayson (1982), Lorna McNeill Ricotta (2000), Jessica Jacobs Marquardt (2007) and Dana Stephenson (1994) Everyone was thrilled that Maria Beale Fletcher (1962), second from left, and Sharon Finch (1964), second from right were able to attend this year…

I think Darryl is in heaven!

Even though I’ve been around the Miss North Carolina pageant for years and years, I still get a little star struck – and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get in front of the camera with Sharon and Miss America!

One of the highlights of the luncheon each year is when the floor is opened up for everyone to recount memories — some embarrassing, some funny, but all fond — from their respective years of service.

Former Miss NC board member and Miss Brunswick County director David Clegg always has a hilarious story to tell on someone involved in the pageant.
Former Miss Randolph County director Lane Ragsdale (and one of my favorite people ever!) can always be counted on for some funny comments of his own.

Maria Beale Fletcher not only shared memories from her year and updates on her current activities, she also inspired the attendees with some of her original poetry. She remains the only Miss North Carolina to also capture the Miss America crown (who agrees she could hold her own in swimsuit competition today!?).
A group photo of all the formers in attendance:

Top row (from left): Jessica Jacobs Marquardt (2007), Elizabeth Horton Peress (2006), Lorna McNeill Ricotta (2000), Dana Reason Evans (2003); Middle row: Elizabeth Williams Grayson (1982), Katherine Southard (2009), Dana Stephenson (1994), Connie Dorn Rist (1972); Front row: Jennifer Vaden (Smith) Barth (1991), Miss America Maria Beale Fletcher (1962) and Sharon Finch (1964)

Thank you again to Jessica and Elizabeth for hosting such a lovely luncheon. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event, which will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Miss North Carolina pageant.

American Tobacco District – Durham engagement | amy + gray

08.06.11

Amy and Gray were destined to be together. Their paths crossed time and again over the years, first as young teenagers attending Camp Don Lee, then a couple of years later when they both worked as counselors at the same summer camp and then again when they were in college. Amy was a sophomore at UNC when Gray showed up as a freshman. As fate would have it, he was assigned to the same dorm as Amy. When they first met years before, Amy thought he was just that cute boy living in Charlotte, but didn’t think much more of it. Then, she noticed him more when they were camp counselors together, even predicting to one of her friends that summer that she would eventually date that boy. Her words proved true just a few months later when they were together at Carolina. They began dating and have for several years enjoyed sailing, hiking, biking and traveling together. And now, they’re getting married [today, in fact]!

After a rainstorm cancelled our first session, we finally got together a few weeks ago for their engagement session. We walked the streets of downtown Durham and visited the American Tobacco district, where, amidst the joking and laughter, I also saw a genuine mutual respect, admiration and deep love for one another. Being around them for five minutes and it is evident that they are meant to be together — proving that sometimes ‘young love’ really is ‘true love’!

Amy and Gray – you’re so cute together!
Yes folks, the googly eyes are REAL!
One of my favorites — she looks so safe and content in his arms. Hot tamales! We found some cute little buildings as we walked around downtown. Love this – you’re both so adorable! They were walking along this bridge…. when suddenly they started dancing….
to the beat of the love in their hearts! Okay – yes – i went straight to the cheez whiz with that one. But seriously – would you ever guess there was no music? Watching them made ME want to dance too [but that would have been WAY weird!!]. More of the googly eyes! I just love watching these two together!

Thanks for the fun evening, you two! And many congratulations! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding! OXOX

extreme makeover home edition: behind the scenes with the first lady | fayetteville lifestyle photography

07.24.11

I had an absolute blast over the last week working with the design team from ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as they built a new home for retired Navy veteran Barbara Marshall. ABC has pretty strict restrictions on how much I can share before the episode airs on October 21, so I won’t be able to share actual photos of the house or the family until that time. But, I will be able to share a few photos from behind the scenes, which I’ll do in a day or so.

To hold you over until that post, here are a few photos of First Lady Michelle Obama who was on hand to help “MOVE THAT BUS!” with Ty, the other designers and the standing-room only crowd that braved temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. After the bus rolled out of Fayetteville and the family went into the house, Mrs. Obama took a few minutes to speak and shake hands with the crowd.

I would love to know what she’s saying to these two little guys; whatever it was, I bet they’ll never forget it!

Even First Ladies have a hard time keeping cool when it’s over 100 degrees outside…. …but, as you would expect, she was all smiles despite the heat!

Stay tuned for more photos in the next few days…

A very special thank you to my awesome new friend and assistant for this project Melanie Sasser! You were a lifesaver and made working on this project even more fun!

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