# Intimate Stranger Portraits Photographer Richard Renaldi Forces Strangers to Become Close By Sarah St.Jules | Published 2013-07-31 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/richard-renaldi References: [visualnews](http://www.visualnews.com/2013/07/18/complete-strangers-pose-together-for-portraits/) & [renaldi](http://www.renaldi.com/about/) Going against everything that one is taught when they are young, photographer Richard Renaldi asks [complete strangers to pose together](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invitin) for [intimate portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits). Bringing together people who do not know each other is a difficult task, especially when they need to pose naturally. However, Renaldi has been able to do this seamlessly. He has taken people in natural settings such as a bedroom or on a street, and has [photographed them hugging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) and holding someone that they have never met before. It is shocking the level of comfort he has been able to evoke, considering the uncomfortable nature of the shoot. Richard Renaldi has brought people together in unusual situations, and broken the traditional convention that people who do not know each other cannot get along. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 98% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Intimacy in Strangers:** The trend of creating intimate connections between strangers through unconventional interactions presents opportunities for innovative social experiences and bonding. - **Disruptive Photography:** The trend of capturing raw and unscripted moments between strangers challenges traditional portrait photography, opening up new avenues for creativity and emotional storytelling. - **Breaking Social Barriers:** The trend of breaking down social norms and bridging divides between strangers encourages opportunities for empathy-building, community engagement, and fostering inclusive environments. ### Who This Affects Most - **Photography:** The photography industry can explore innovative approaches to capturing uncontrived and authentic human connections, offering unique services and products that resonate with a desire for genuine experiences. - **Social Experiments:** The social experiments industry can leverage unconventional interactions between strangers as a disruptive tool for fostering understanding, promoting unity, and challenging societal norms. - **Creative Arts:** The creative arts industry can embrace the concept of pairing strangers together to create artistic collaborations that provoke emotional responses and challenge traditional boundaries. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Friend-Finding Virtual Hangouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strangely.md) - [Social Connection Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/is-this-seat-taken-campaign.md) - [Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/becoming-familiar.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Statement Street Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1.md) - [AI-Powered Portrait Studios](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-powered-portrait-studio.md) - [Thought-Provoking Interactive Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antibodies-installation.md) - [Interactive Meeting Objects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toku.md)