I’m so excited to finally announced a “pet project” by all definitions that Jess Graves and I have been working on for months…

Southerners and Their Dogs.

Musician Tedo Stone, Conrad and Lady Bird 

Chef and restauranteur Ford Fry, Shiloh and Boomer 

Chef Michael Gulotta and Cyrus 

Designer Smith Hanes and Jack

This is a photo and writing project featuring the South’s most interesting men and women – chefs, musicians, writers, makers, designers, etc. – and their canine companions.

I’m so proud of the portraits we’ve created up to this point and there is so much more to come! We’ll continue to photograph, interview and update the site as we go (words by Jess, photos by me). Go check out the site for the collection thus far with photos and anecdotes by some of our favorite southernern fokls (some short, some long, some serious, some silly). And make sure to follow us on Instagram for more photos and outtakes!

Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Raised in:
Army brat, so all over the U.S. I spent many years in Newnan, GA but consider Atlanta my home.

Lives in:
Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite cocktail on your current menu:
Tikicillin: Chamomile Scotch, lemon, Thai Syrup, Ginger beer concentrate, Yellow Chartreuse, Laphroaig, coconut.

Last drink you ordered:
50/50 Gin martini, 2 olives.

Now would ya look at that:
Meet Mercedes O’Brien, Cocktail Coordinator of Kevin Gillespie’s Gunshow and Revival. She runs the cocktail program for Gunshow and consulted/built the menu for Revival. I snapped this while shooting the All-Girl Army: Atlanta’s Baddest Women Behind the Stick story for The Love List.

• Modcloth sunglasses, top and skirt. “Modcloth and thrifting is the name of my game.”
• Belt found at Value Village.
• Chinese Laundry heels.
• Tattoos by Danielle Distefano of Only You Tattoo and Malia Reynolds of Memorial Tattoo.

Photographed on Harbour Island, Bahamas

Raised in:
Spring, Texas

Lives in:
Jasper, Georgia

Favorite meal from second visit to Harbour Island:
The winner is our final evening’s dinner at The Landing. Avocado, beet & Stone crab (with coconut almond butter & sunflower sprout) and goat cheese ravioli (with poached shrimp, tea soaked raisins, burnt butter and pine nuts), washed down with a few glasses of rosé. Second place goes to the lobster quesadillas for lunch at Sip Sip paired with their delicious passion fruit Sauvignon Blanc sangria.

Now would ya look at that:
My bestie Tig snapped this of me on our way to the dinner mentioned above.

• Hat and locally made bracelet bought on the island at the Valentines Marina shops.
• Kate Spade ‘Lady Marmalade’ studs.
• Knockaround ‘Fort Knocks’ Polarized sunglasses.
• J.Crew giraffe necklace (similar) and dress.
• Steve Madden sandals.

Photographed by in Knoxville, TN by Cody Bennett

Photographed in Talking Rock, GA

Raised in:
Spartanburg, SC

Lives in:
Nashville, TN

Favorite place in America:
That’s a tough one. I’d probably say my dock at our home in Charleston but I also had my life changed when I went to Arches National Park in November.

Now would ya look at that:

• Electric ‘Knoxville XL’ sunglasses.
• Original Penguin polo.
• Railcar denim.
• Hook & Gaff watch, designed by his brother Gash Clayton.
• Wolverine ‘1000 Mile’ boots.
• PBR!

Photographed in Knoxville, TN by Cody Bennett

Raised in:
Knoxville, Tennessee

Lives in:
Miami, Florida

Favorite adventure you’ve been on this summer:
I recently completed my first year in residency and moved from Memphis to Miami to complete my final three years of Anesthesiology training. I’m looking forward to acclimating to the “Capitol of Latin America” and exploring the fun opportunities my new city has to offer. It is mighty different than Tennessee but will surely be doing my best down here to show everyone the charm of Tennesseans.

Now would ya look at that:

• Warby Parker ‘Downing’ totoise sunglasses.
• Zara suit.
• Brooks Brothers shirt.
• The Tie Bar tie.
• Lucien Piccard Rioja watch.
• Zara shoes.

Photographed in Jonesborough, TN

Raised in:
Erwin, Tennessee

Lives in:
Charleston, South Carolina

Favorite detail about your Southern wedding:
My favorite detail about my southern wedding was my Bride, she was beautiful in her dress and her hair and makeup was awesome. She danced, we drank, and there were no regrets on not having enough fun. I also loved the way we could mix the everyday farm/barn materials with the elegant suit and formal dress without anyone questioning or thinking it was odd. Being able to “suit-up” and still sit on a bail of hay, sip moonshine from a Mason jar, and stand on the top of a beautiful hilltop over-looking the Appalachian mountains while getting married isn’t a themed wedding here, its just a Southern Wedding at its best.

Now would ya look at that:
Jason on his wedding day.

• JF J. Ferrar suit.
• Apt. 9 shirt.
• MADE Cam Newton tie.
• HeidiLeeDesign tie bar.
• Nixon watch.
• Dockers belt.
• Cole Haan wingtips.
• Wickensnuffers custom flask in backpocket.