Miriam Sushman began taking pictures one summer before beginning her studies in graphic design at Philadelphia College of Art, now known as The University of the Arts. She was first inspired by days spent reading Life and Look magazines as a child. A copy of Diane Arbus's book contributed to her fascination with this new media. During college she continued to take classes in photography and spent many hours in the darkroom.

While working as a graphic designer in New York City she decided to make photojournalism her career. Photography encompassed for her something visual while being able to explore new worlds. Sushman was always curious about different cultures. She had been an avid reader of newspapers since age eight. While watching a parade saluting India in New York City she noticed some Hare Krishna children. She wondered what it was like to grow up Hare Krishna. This became the subject of a photo essay while taking her first photojournalism class at the New School in New York City.

Sushman began working for a weekly in upper Manhattan and then with very little notice left her home of five years to begin her first job as a staffer at a small daily in Middletown, Connecticut. This was followed by a period of freelancing in New Jersey and another position as a staffer at a newspaper in State College, Pa. After receiving a masters in photo communication from Ohio University in 1993 and completing two
internships in Knoxville, TN. and Boca Raton, Fl. she moved to Israel where she worked as a freelancer.

During this time Sushman pursued several documentary projects: "Jewish Residents of the Muslim Quarter in Jerusalem" and "Bedouin Women of the Negev Desert." Sushman enjoys working on projects that deal with religion, social issues and groups of people passed over by the media. Her clients include non-profit organizations, newspapers and magazines. Sushman has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 2000. She is currently working on a book project about Wisconsin's small dairy farms.