Family Day In The Life Session at the Skeen Family Home in Knoxville Tennessee

Skeen Family Day In The Life Session at The Holmstead Studio

Lifestyle family session in East Tennessee

Tom and Ashley are an incredible example of what teamwork in marriage looks like. From their questionnaire, to our video planning call for their day in the life session, you could see how much they value and support each other in their collective dreams. Despite the hard seasons that they’ve walked through, they’ve chosen each other and continue to cheer each other on.

Ashley dreamed up The Holmstead Studio. A stunning photography venue in Knoxville, TN that photographers can rent out for sessions, as well as an event space for intimate weddings or other small events. I’ve been able to capture moving portrait sessions there for some of my clients and it’s such a lovely space!

Tom spoke with so much adoration about Ashley’s dreams and how she’s worked tirelessly to bring it to life. Ashley shared how Tom has been by her side through every step, helping her with renovations and always being her biggest support and cheerleader through it all. Their sweet kiddos, Liam, Evangeline, and Jesse, have all loved living there and it’s been a really sweet season for their family. Though with the studio’s calendar filling up with photographers excited to book sessions there, they knew the time may come soon that they move out of the holmstead for now. So before that happened, they wanted to capture what this season of life has looked like for their family in this beautiful home that they put blood, sweat, and tears into to transform it into the masterpiece it is today.

I arrived and the kiddos were immediately so kind and excited. Evangeline (or Lily as she’s also called) so sweetly told me I was pretty and welcomed me so sweetly. Tom and Ashley told me all about how she’s an encourager and it was so easy to see from the first moment. Liam, they told me, is so fun and full of questions at this age and has lots to ask and say. I had so much fun hearing all his stories and questions and capturing it for them! And sweet little Jesse is so full of life and fun, always finding something to climb and keeping up with his big brother and sister.

We chatted while I got my camera and lighting all ready to go. Connecting with Ashley and Tom and each of their kiddos. They had all their pizza making supplies out and ready to go. They got started on making pizzas, the kids snuggled on the couch for a bit, then played with Lincoln logs (such a classic toy!) while they waited on dinner to cook. Then everyone sat down for a yummy pizza dinner!

Playful conversation between the kids quickly ensued and lots of giggles and smiles passed around the table.

Once everyones bellies were full, they headed outside as Liam was really excited about stoking the fire. Jesse and Lily headed over to the front yard with a gorgeous tree lined with the most perfect tree rope swings. The whole family quickly joined and the overcast sky made for a beautiful scene for that transition between winter to spring.

The family then headed to the clothesline, one of the most loved photo spots for The Holmstead Studio! Ashley told me how much Jesse loved helping her with the clothesline. They put away all of the beautiful linens for the day, then Ashley and Liam did some dead-heading to the gorgeous daffodils that lined the studios fence line.

It was the perfect time to take a quick family portrait.

Then it was time to roast marshmallows by the fire! Tom and Ashley told me about a game Tom made up awhile ago for the kids called “space explorers” which is sort of like a game of hide-and-seek, but with their own twist on it. I had SO many laughs running around their house and yard following them while they played! Probably my favorite part of the whole session. I love when I get to be immersed in something so unique to a family and capture it firsthand for them.

When everyone had their fill of playing outside, we headed indoors. Jesse got into his jammies for bed and everyone cleaned up the Lincoln logs from earlier before dad read everyone a story. Tom shared how this specific book was special, because it was one they had since Liam was little that they read to all their kids. Because this story was special to them, I was able to record the audio and use the overlay of it throughout their whole family video.

The story takes you through the different seasons of the year, and I also heard it as a symbol of the seasons of life. And how important it is to listen and lean in to what each season brings. Each with its own unique beauty. Plus, I love the fact that the kids will forever have a recording of their dad’s voice reading a favorite bedtime story that they grew up hearing since they were babies. I cried multiple times editing this video, just thinking about each of those things and praying it would be a blessing to their whole family.

At the end, the sun was setting and it was one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’d seen. While I rarely direct, Ashley had told me how much she loves the sunsets here. So, I asked if her and Tom would go sit in their gorgeous corner dining room window to snuggle up and look at the sunset together. I snapped a few photos and took the closing video shots here. It felt so symbolic of all Tom and Ashley have worked so hard for together. That while this season of living in their holmstead may be coming to a close, just for now, the memories their will always be filled with the beauty of all the love they poured into it and all the memories they made there.

After the Skeen family received their day in the life photos and videos, they sent me the sweetest voice text. They told me how they had no idea how special it would be to see their family on video. How I captured things they never would’ve thought to put into the video that were simple, but so special to them. Ashley, with tears in her voice, told me thank you for this gift and I absolutely did cry listening to their message.

It’s all why I do what I do. They will have these memories to hold onto forever when they wish they could go back to feel it all again. These photos and video will always hold those feelings and memories whenever they need them. What a tremendous gift.

Ready to inquire about booking a day in the life session for your family? You can inquire here, or you can check out my FAQ page if you still have questions!