We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Furman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I prefer to control everything involved in a photograph and the only way to do that is if I own the business, can make all decisions and not have to answer to someone who has a different agenda.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I specialize in significant collector automobiles. We shoot for museums, editorial, book projects and collectors. With that said, I feel that I answer to the car I am shooting and not the car’s owner, museum or editor. In doing so, I try to express the car’s essence and not the “opinion” of a third party. I make this clear before we start a project so as not to surprise anyone in the middle of the shoot.

I have been shooting cars for a very long time so it has taken me a while to establish my style and reputation so that those hiring me feel comfortable with my approach.

I don’t think of it as being easy or hard to get things going. There were plenty of times that I thought I might not succeed, but I never gave up. I recognized that as long as I kept trying I would remain in the game. I always felt that I may not be the most talented or creative alternative for someone to choose, but I always knew that I would not be out-worked.

I have always felt that the photographs should be about the car and not about the photographer. To that end, I work tirelessly to make that happen. I try to be as well-prepared as possible and never lose sight of what I am trying to accomplish.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Philadelphia and my favorite place is the Simeone Foundation Automobile Museum. It is the finest collection of sport-racing cars in the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My late mother who always believed in me and did whatever she could to help me succeed.

Website: michael michaelfurman.com coachbuiltpress.com simeonemuseum.org

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