We were lucky to catch up with Kayleen Christie Nelson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kayleen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
If you have ever wondered where the name Havenly Farm came from, here is the story. A haven is a place of refuge, it offers sanctuary, peace, safety and shelter. So often when people visited our farm before the photo venue business was started, they would comment that this place is so peaceful, restorative, relaxing and tranquil. From the beginning we were intentional about creating a sustainable home, environment and business where time slows down, people can stop and smell the roses and feel at peace surrounded by serene beauty and warmth. The animals on our farm are equally chill and friendly. And yes, havenly is a play on the word heavenly. While this is a slice of heaven, and we are working on it, we are not quite angelic enough around here to claim heavenly!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I got into the photo venue business very organically. Often our friends would ask if they could come take family pictures on the farm so when my kids went off to college I began sharing pictures of the farm on social media. I followed photographers and before I knew it, they were asking to come scout the location and once they came they recognized what a unique place this is. We are conveniently located just 30 minutes from the Galleria but when you drive in the Oak Alley, it feels like you are in a different world. We live in a classic red barndominium and the farm looks like something that might have given Fisher-Price inspiration. (Did anyone else play with the red barn, white fencing and tiny farm animals as a kid?) What really sets this venue apart is that we offer photos with horses. Summer and Duster are registered Tennessee Walking Horses and they love posing with Quinceaneras, they carefully carry pregnant mamas who want pictures on their backs and love interacting with young and old alike, patiently posing for photographs. We also have an adorable white pony, Nieve, who makes the most magical little unicorn. Favorite spots on the farm for photographs include the tree swing, wildflower gardens, rose garden, Oak Alley, creek and of course the red barn.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Seven years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was healthy, exercised religiously, raised, cooked and consumed only whole, unprocessed food but somehow I received the dreaded diagnosis. When you face circumstances that force you to look death in the face, it is a great opportunity to take inventory of your life and how you spend your precious time and energy. I knew cancer was not the story, just a chapter in my life. But it brought into sharp focus what was important; dont wait to take the trip to Europe, drink the good wine, create a life that feeds your soul, really know God and never hesitate to tell the people you love how much they mean to you.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Contact Info:
- Website: havenlyfarmtx.com
- Instagram: havenlyfarm
- Facebook: Havenly Farm
- Linkedin: Kayleen Christie
- Yelp: Havenly Farm
Image Credits
Edson Melissa Walker Photography Betty Absh Sanelias Photo Video Ariz Images JHDT Productions Deborah Koch Photography Beloved by Amy