Photographer Sam Evans-Butler's collection sees men with their 'relationship souvenirs'

By Charlie Lankston For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:42 EST, 23 February 2015 | Updated: 15:06 EST, 23 February 2015

A new photo series shines a spotlight on a group of men and their most cherished 'relationship souvenirs' - objects or items which hold a special place in their heart because they evoke strong memories of their experiences with a particular former lover.

New York-based photographer Sam Evans-Butler captured a group of different mean, each posing in their own environment, be it their home or their workplace, posing alongside a meaningful memento leftover from a former relationship, from stolen lighters to detailed tattoos.

'I once saw a film in which a character kept a diary that was composed mostly of a list,' Mr Evans-Butler said of his inspiration for the project.

Special souvenir: This T-shirt is the only item that set designer Dylan (pictured) has kept from a past relationship

Meaningful ink: Matthew, DJ, got a tattoo that his boyfriend paid for to commemorate their favorite song "I Found A Reason" by Cat Power

Business relationship: Erol (pictured) opened a coffee shop with his former partner and continues to run the store today

Shady: Paul, a painter, stole these sunglasses from his boyfriend during a messy break­-up, despite the fact that he didn’t actually like them

'Things that were pleasing, beautiful, fanciful and fleeting. It made me think about the objects that we are left behind with when a relationship ends, the memories they come to represent and the emotions they stir up.'

The images were first featured in Hello Mr magazine, which has partnered with Mr Evans-Butler in order to encourage other men to share pictures of themselves with one of their personal relationship reminders on Instagram, using the hashtag #YourSouvenir.

'When Sam pitched the idea to editor Ryan Fitzgibbon, the story really spoke to him because he himself had a "souvenir" from his ex and felt that this was a story that would speak to a lot of people,' Hello Mr's Assistant Editor Francisco Tirado told BuzzFeed.

'In these simple stories, the series explores that peculiar fondness we feel for an object, despite the not-so-fond feelings we might not have for the person associated with it.'

Baring it all: Dan, who works in marketing, kept this framed DC Comics art which was given to him by his former boyfriend

Editorial team: Fran (L), an editor, decided to keep his former partner's T-shirt after their break-up took a turn for the nasty, while Will (R), also an editor, kept a monogrammed flask

Feline fine: Mark, a furniture designer and builder, still cares for and loves a gift given to him by his first boyfriend - a cat named Amiga

Bejeweled: Nick, a photographer, kept this necklace which was made for him by an ex

For some of the men, the mementos that they have kept signify happy times spent with someone who remains important to them, like blogger Nathaniel, who, despite the break-up, is still incredibly close with the ex boyfriend who gifted him a handmade bowl.

'My ex used to be a ceramicist,' he explained. 'After we broke up I considered breaking this bowl he made me for my 21st birthday, but it managed to stay with me for 3 more years, and now my ex and I are best friends.'

While some of the men pictured hold fond memories of their time spent with their previous partners, others admit that they took or stole their souvenirs as a means of lashing out at their former lover following a bitter break-up.

Fran, an editor, confessed that he had never intended to keep a T-shirt lent to him by his ex, but that he decided to hold onto it after their split turned sour.

Stealing his style: Drew, a chief creative officer explained that he 'hung on to' his ex-­boyfriend’s cape, adding, 'he bought it, and I stole it. Capes are my signature look now'

Pop-up: Jon Jon, a DJ, kept a card, pictured far right, which was given to him by a former lover

Significant souvenirs: Sam (R) snuck into his ex’s apartment after the break up to drop off a box of stuff left behind, and left with his ex’s favorite lighter, while Nathaniel (L) kept this handmade ceramic bowl

Nasty or nice? Stylist Adrian admitted that he is unsure whether this picture drawn for him by his ex was intended to be mean spirited

'I totally had every intention of returning this shirt,' he explained. 'But I actually really love how soft it is, and then he said something rude about me on Twitter.'

Others remain on the fence when it comes to their personal souvenirs; stylist Adrian said of a drawing left on a wall in his apartment that he wasn't sure whether the comical sketch was meant to be 'mean spirited' or whether it was left as nothing more than a token of times gone by.

And while some of the mementos are small items, such as lighters, cards and T-shirts, others are rather more significant - with one man, Erol, naming his relationship souvenir as a small coffee shop, which he and his former partner opened while they were still together, and which he continues to run today.

Similarly, Mark, a furniture designer and builder, still cares for and loves a gift given to him by his first boyfriend - a cat named Amiga.