Picture Perfect: Mike Furey & Dalton Flint

Photography by Eric Ogden

Dalton: Well, I was planning on doing a shoot for my friend's art publication. I asked my friend, a stylist, if he knew of anyone who'd be good for it, and he said I should ask Mike. He said no, but it was definitely a conversation starter between us. We kept talking and met up for a drunken escapade at a bar and then went to a show afterward.

Mike is very closed off, and I had a problem trusting people, but as we spent time together and started working together, the relationship evolved. This lack of walls feels really free; there are no worries. Mediocre is not in Mike's dictionary, and I really respect that. This relationship has pushed me to make sure that everything I'm doing is something I'm really proud of. It has helped me grow.

Mike: There's always been an ease when we're together -- that's a pretty clear indication of when someone important comes into your life. We gel together so nicely, and we're able to work really well together -- that's really separated this from other relationships I've had. Once we did start shooting together and collaborating on projects, everything fell together. That's when I knew things were special.

It's been a conscious effort of mine to be more open, and great things have come from that. I've been trying to fix things as they come up, trying to avoid any complications.

The future is bright. We're staying optimistic about everything. I'm not thinking 10 years from now, I'm thinking what's going to happen in the next year. There are a lot of things on the horizon for us personally and professionally. Great stuff has come out of this, emotionally and physically, and I expect more amazing things.