Your Family Was Meant to Be Remembered

Your Family Was Meant to Be Remembered

Families in Franklin & Nashville, Tennessee

The people in your life aren’t accidental.
The story you’re living together matters—and it deserves to be preserved with intention.

In a world that moves fast, this is how we slow it down— and hold onto what matters most.

Most families don’t mean to leave their memories on a screen—
it just happens.

But the moments that shape your family…
the relationships, the connection, the love you’ve built—
those were never meant to disappear.

I create artwork that reflects what’s already true:
that your family has meaning, purpose, and a story worth holding onto.

My work is grounded in what I believe about people—
that we were created with intention, and our lives are worth remembering.

→ Begin with a Design Consultation

How we work

We begin with an In-Home Design Consultation to thoughtfully plan:

  • who we are photographing, and why this season matters now

  • how you want your family’s story preserved

  • where the finished artwork will live within your home

  • the aesthetic that fits your space — refined, warm, modern, or timeless

  • custom pieces designed for stairways, hallways, living spaces, bedrooms, or private offices

The result is not simply digital files.
It is finished portrait artwork — created with purpose and placed with care.

What Most Families Create

After your consultation, families typically choose one of three finished pieces:

• A Statement Wall Portrait
• A Signature Series Installation
• An Heirloom Album

Digital files are included with purchased artwork.

Proud to support local schools and charitable events throughout the Franklin area, Ask Us How.

Three framed photos of a young child and an elderly woman on a white wall above a beige crib with a teddy bear inside, in a nursery room.
Four scuba divers underwater, kneeling on sandy ocean floor, wearing wetsuits, masks, and breathing gear, with coral and rocks in the background.

Reko Ponton Photography

A smiling man and woman wearing snorkeling masks in the ocean, with a partly cloudy sky above.
A young woman with dark hair and tattoos, wearing a white crop top with lips print and yellow shorts, sitting on a white brick structure outside an In-N-Out Burger restaurant, holding a yellow and black radio, with a blue sky in the background.
Woman with dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt with lips graphic and yellow shorts, holding a boombox on shoulder, sitting on a white brick platform in front of a building with a sign that says 'N-N-Out'.
A young woman with black hair and multiple tattoos is standing outdoors, holding a yellow and black boombox. She is wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic of lips and a silver chain necklace, yellow shorts, colorful sneakers, and white socks. Behind
Four women standing together outdoors on a city rooftop, laughing and smiling, with tall skyscrapers in the background.
A man and woman sitting on the hood of a red convertible car parked on the city street sidewalk, with a brick building and a large black and white graffiti mural that says 'NA'.
A smiling older man and woman standing outdoors near a pink car, with a red barn and green fields in the background. The woman has her hand on her chest and is wearing glasses and a watch.
A man with a black cap squatting near a colorful graffiti wall and an elderly man wearing a tiger-striped outfit and long white beard walking past in an outdoor park with trees and other people in the background.
A man with a backpack standing on a riverside walkway, looking at his phone, with muddy water in the river and green trees on the opposite bank.
A man in a white t-shirt and a black baseball cap is standing at a table outdoors, gesturing with his hands in a horizontal position. There are green trees in the background, and umbrellas and chairs nearby.
A man in a gray t-shirt, green pants, and black cap striking a dramatic pose with arms outstretched on a paved sidewalk. Behind him, several people walk past, some with backpacks. There are trees, bushes, parked motorcycles, bicycles, a sign with the
People on stage during a church event with a large screen behind displaying the words 'It's all in the name' and images of landmarks.
A young boy with short brown hair, wearing a black shirt with white polka dots and a large white bow tie, sitting at a table inside. He is resting his head on his right hand and looking at the camera.
Close-up of a young child's face with wide eyes, light brown hair, and a neutral expression, with a woman partially visible in the background.
A young man and woman sitting close together in front of a painted tree wall art and framed landscape paintings, with the woman hugging the man from behind.
Two friends laughing and enjoying each other's company indoors, with artwork hanging on the wall behind them.
Two women hugging each other in a lush green outdoor setting, smiling happily.
A family of seven standing outdoors on fall leaves with trees and a wooden building in the background during sunset.
Group of six people, five women and one young boy, standing on a dirt path outdoors during dusk. They are smiling and dressed in casual and semi-formal clothing, with some wearing boots. There are trees, a white fence, and a building in the backgroun
A woman with dark wavy hair and a tattoo on her left arm, wearing a white top and a cream-colored cardigan, stands outdoors among green foliage, looking at the camera with a slight smile.
A woman in a blue dress lying on a fallen tree over a creek in a wooded area.
A woman with long dark hair, wearing a white shirt and a motorcycle helmet with a clear visor, illuminated by red and blue lights.
Group of people working in an auto repair shop, standing in front of vehicle lifts, with tools and equipment in the background.
A group of people at an auto repair shop celebrating as they lift and hold a man horizontally in the air. The man being lifted is smiling and extending his arm, while another person supports his legs. The background shows a garage with tools, equipme
Two men standing with crossed arms in a parking lot surrounded by various cars and trees with fall foliage.
Group of six people standing in a workshop or garage, gathered around a small device on the floor. They appear to be in a discussion or training session, some holding papers and wearing casual work clothes.

I’m a photographer — and a lifelong observer of people.

Over the years, I’ve learned something that never changes:

The images that become priceless are rarely the perfectly posed ones.
They’re the quiet, honest moments in between — the way your child laughs without holding back, the way a family naturally gathers, the confidence that shows up when you are fully in your element.

Those are the photographs that last.
The ones that become part of a legacy.

My path into this work has been shaped by experiences that taught me how quickly moments become memories.

I began documenting life in high-stakes environments as a combat medic with the infantry in the 101st Airborne Division. From there, I moved into photojournalism — learning how to anticipate real emotion, not manufacture it.

My work eventually brought me into weddings, family storytelling, and milestone portraiture, and later to the Cayman Islands, where I became an underwater and scuba photographer — capturing beauty and movement in places where nothing can be forced, only understood.

Today, based in Nashville, My Wife and I bring all of that into one purpose:

To create timeless, personal imagery for families and individuals who value privacy, intention, and lasting quality.

That is why Reko Ponton Photography is not built around quick sessions or generic packages.

It is a private, boutique portrait experience — designed for clients who want more than photographs, it begins with an Interior Design and Photography Consultation and ends with Art on the walls of the spaces you live in.

You deserve something enduring.

Book a Design Consult to build your Session with Purpose

Hey, I’m Reko.

We also offer: The Island Family Story

Cayman Islands | Limited Availability

Some stories can’t be told in one place.

After five years living and working in the Cayman Islands, I now offer a
limited, immersive family experience designed to document connection, adventure, and presence — above and below the water.

The Island Family Story is a fully photographed, multi-day experience that blends island life, shared moments, and intentional storytelling into a finished body of work designed to live with you long after you return home.

This offering is available to a small number of families each year.

→ Learn more about The Island Family Story

What to expect while working together

  • The Planning Phase

    Everything starts with clarity.

    We begin with a conversation to understand what your looking for and what we can provide.

    My wife, Interior Designer, and I, Photographer, do an in-home, office, or whatever space you live in. —consultation — to get clear on what you’re creating and why it matters to you.

    We decide what you need where, a 60X40 Acrylic or Canvas print over the couch, a 3 to 9 Image set for the babies nursery.

    Then we plan the photo session with intention.
    Location + atmosphere that fits your story (urban, natural, studio, or in-home — chosen for meaning, not convenience)

    A focused shot plan so nothing important is missed, without over-directing or over-posing

    Simple wardrobe guidance that elevates the final work
    (no overthinking, no Pinterest panic)

    We photograph with your walls, spaces, and future artwork in mind from the very beginning.

    This way, nothing is accidental.
    And nothing is left to chance.

  • During the Session

    You’re never left guessing.

    From the moment we start, I guide you with clear direction and natural prompts — so you look like yourselves, just a little more at ease.

    Nothing stiff.
    Nothing forced.

    We keep the session relaxed and human:

    moving naturally

    talking and laughing

    slowing down when it matters

    If kids are part of the session, we follow their rhythm.
    Because forcing it is how you get frozen smiles — and the in-between moments often become the video snippets families end up treasuring most.

    The goal is simple:

    You leave thinking,
    “That was actually fun.”

    Not,
    “We made it through.”

  • After your session

    Within 48–72 hours, you’ll hear from me to schedule a viewing of a curated set of your strongest images and video — intentionally selected so you’re never sorting through hundreds of near-duplicates.


    For Families:
    We’ll schedule an in-person viewing of a curated set of your strongest images and video to determine what images will be printed for the pre-selected areas of your spaces.

    For Brands:
    You’ll receive a refined proof gallery of the strongest visuals and supporting video, chosen with usage, consistency, and longevity in mind — so everything is ready to work where you need it.

    From there, the next step is clear:
    Finalize your artwork or deliverables and, if needed, schedule installation.

    In other words —
    your images don’t disappear into a folder.

    They live where your life happens.

Book Your Design Consult Call

Still have Questions?

Book Your Design Consult Call