Touching Strangers

001_120.tarishawnsummer2012ca-2 — Richard Renaldi

New York photographer Richard Renaldi grabs strangers off the street and poses them like couples, friends or families. Renaldi began shooting the "Touching Strangers" project six years ago and now has hundreds of portraits of unlikely intimates.

In some photos, the subjects appear as though they've known each other for years. Despite an initial hesitance, the subjects say the sentiment that results is real.

New York photographer turns strangers into friends

Visit Richard Renaldi's website.

Alfredo and Jessica

"Everyone seems to have come away with kind of a good feeling," photographer Richard Renaldi says. "It's kind of lovely. It's lovely."

Michael and Kimberly

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Most photographers capture life as it is, but in these strangers, Richard Renaldi shows us humanity as it could be.

Bill and Travis

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"They're not exactly sure what they just signed up for, and people are a little nervous at first," the photographer says of his subjects.

Tom, Alaina and Charlie

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Richard Renaldi puts the people in these poses, but the sentiment that comes is real -- so say the subjects.

Vincent and Charles

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In some of the photographs, you'd never know the subjects had never met, while others capture an inherent awkwardness.

Elaine and Arly

Even when the subjects seem eager, their body language often concedes a certain hesitance, at least at first.

Reginald and Nicole

While Richard puts the subjects in these poses, the sentiment that comes is real -- so say the subjects.

Jessie and Michael

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"It was sort of awkward, but then sort of not," one subject says.

Julie and Xavier

"I felt like I cared for her," says another subject, adding, "I felt like it brought down a lot of barriers."

Hunter, Margaret and Abigail

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"And it was kind of nice to feel that comfort," says one of Renaldi's subjects.

Sonia, Zach, Raekwon and Antonio

012_64.soniazachraekwonantonio2011fl-2 — Richard Renaldi

"Everyone seems to have come away with kind of a good feeling," says Renaldi. "It's kind of lovely. It's lovely."

Matthew and Jeromy

013_90.matthewjeromy2011oh — Richard Renaldi

New York photographer Richard Renaldi grabs strangers off the street and poses them like couples, friends or families.

Simon and Kiya

014_138.simonkiya2012ny-2 — Richard Renaldi

Renaldi began shooting the "Touching Strangers" project six years ago and now has hundreds of portraits of unlikely intimates.

Atiljan and Tiffany

015_91.AtiljanTiffany2011NY-2.jpg — Richard Renaldi

In some photos, the subjects appear as though they've known each other for years. Despite an initial hesitance, the subjects say the sentiment that results is real.

Keebs and Beth

016_115.keebsbeth2012nv-1 — Richard Renaldi

Even when the subjects seem eager, their body language often concedes a certain hesitance, at least at first.

Nathan and Robyn

017_140.nathanrobyn2012ma-1 — Richard Renaldi

Most photographers capture life as it is, but in these strangers, Richard Renaldi has captured something much more ethereal and elusive.

Chris and Amaira

018_158.chrisamaira2013il-3 — Richard Renaldi

Renaldi shows us humanity as it could be, as most of us wish it would be, and as it was -- at least for one fleeting moment in time.