Garden & Gun “Southern Women” Book // Mary Margaret Pettway Gees Bend Alabama Quilter

One of the greatest honors of my career was shooting for Garden & Gun’s newest book called Southern Women, featuring over a 100 talented boss ladies in the South. The book is filled with writers, singers, chefs, and artists– all displaying the diversity, talent, and grit of a women residing in this notable part of the world.

It was a joy to capture Mary Margaret Pettway, a forth generation quilter in the Gees Bend community in Alabama. Her work is featured in the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and in Michelle Obama’s portrait hanging in the White House. YES. Michelle Obama.

One of my favorite moments of the shoot was Mary Margaret posing with her best friend in the muscadine vineyard. They’ve been friends since childhood and share a deep bond through art. Look at the pure happiness on their faces.

This project combined my love for humanitarian photography, womanhood, craftsmanship, deep southern roots, Alabama, and storytelling. The book came out October 26, 2019 and is now available in most major book stores! Now grab a copy of the “Southern Women”, it makes for a great gift or coffee table book, and let’s celebrate the great women of the South.