Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayleen Nelson.
Hi Kayleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My husband, Chet and I and our two children moved onto this property in 2011. I grew up with horses and wanted a place I could live with them and create as sustainable a life as possible. This land, originally part of the Churchill Fulshear Tract of the Stephen F. Austin Colony, is amazingly fertile and allows us to produce everything we want on ten acres. At Havenly Farm, we raise our own grass-fed beef, we sell eggs from our flock of pasture-raised hens, we grow much of our own fruit and vegetables and we harvest honey from our bees and pecans from the trees on the farm. We live in the red barn and share it with the horses and barn cats, Toulouse, Bethany and Coco and Tango the farm dog. It is technically called a “barndominium” but we call it “home’ and enjoy this incredible life nearly oblivious to the encroaching suburbia.
When our children left home, I decided to offer Havenly Farm as a photo venue. That coincided with Covid-19 hitting and that actually jump-started the business. People were looking for a safe, private place to take pictures. On a whim, I decided to offer pictures with our horses and who knew that would be so popular. My gentle, calm Tennessee Walking Horses, Summer and Duster now grace the social media feeds, photo albums and living rooms of hundreds. The farm has been especially popular for maternity, quinceañera, engagement, family and senior photo shoots.
Havenly farm is a picture-perfect working farm complete with an Oak Alley, wildflower garden, creek, woods, a swing hanging from a giant Oak and the classic red barn. Families who came for pictures asked if they could come back to just visit the farm so we now offer a Farm Visit. Families can book a private tour of the property, feed the animals, gather eggs and picnic under the trees by the creek. Havenly Farm is my dream and nothing gives me more pleasure than sharing the life I love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This is physically demanding work, it is hot in the summer and can be chilly in the winter. Keeping the gardens tidy and productive and working with the animals needs to be done rain or shine. I have farmer hands to prove it; pretty nails are out of the question. As Havenly Farm has become more popular I have wished I could hire someone to help but when you are putting a 32-week pregnant mama or a Quinceanera in a massive gown on a horse you need to know that horse will trust you and understand they need to take special care of whoever is on their back. That is not a responsibility I can entrust to someone else.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What makes Havenly Farm so special as a photo venue is that it is so much more than just a place to take pictures; it is an experience. When I welcome families and photographers to the farm, they get to meet the animals, breathe in the fresh country air, take a step back in time, connect with the land and literally take a moment to stop and smell the roses. It is peaceful, tranquil and offers something people are really missing these days.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love living here because I have the best of both worlds. I live on this beautiful oasis of a farm but within half an hour I can be enjoying world-class entertainment and dining. We enjoy dressing up and going out to dinner and the theater or opera regularly. I am a country girl at heart though, so driving in the city is best left up to my husband! So traffic is my least favorite part of the city.
Pricing:
- Havenly Farm Photo Session – $95/hour
- Photo Session with a horse – $195/hour
Contact Info:
- Email: kayleen@havenlyfarmtx.com
- Website: havenlyfarmtx.com
- Instagram: @havenlyfarm
- Facebook: Havenly Farm
- Yelp: Havenly Farm
Image Credits
Deborah Koch Photography
JHDT Productions
Susan Del Brocolo Photography
Edson Photo
Sanelias Photo
Kelly Craig Photography
