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Adam Schluter<\/a> is a self-described introvert who felt a deep longing to sidestep technology and get back to forging genuine, face-to-face connections with people. So, he picked up his camera and began walking up to people, striking up conversation, and taking their portraits. Schluter\u2019s project, Hello From a Stranger<\/a>, was born. He has captured over a thousand portraits in more than 20 countries around the world, and his life has been forever changed. <\/p>\n How \u2018Hello From a Stranger\u2019 Began <\/p>\n Years back, Schluter moved to a new town with his then partner. After going through a heartbreak, Schluter found himself in a new place with no friends. <\/p>\n \u201cI had no clue how to make new friends and ask for help when I needed it most,\u201d he tells PetaPixel. \u201cAnd I knew I wasn\u2019t going to survive by just sitting there all alone.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cSo finally, with money I saved up waiting tables at a restaurant, I booked the cheapest flight I could to get the farthest away,\u201d he continues. Schluter says he saved up just enough to buy his first camera and flight. <\/p>\n He came up with a plan \u2014 just walk up to strangers, say \u201chello,\u201d and try to have a genuine, sincere conversation with them. <\/p>\n Schluter says he wanted to \u201cinspire the world to put their phones down and talk to one another again and to raise awareness about the loneliness epidemic in America. <\/p>\n \u201cI was terrified,\u201d he recalls, \u201cbut I quickly found that because I was nervous, it created a vulnerability that allowed the whole world to open up to me when I needed it most.\u201d <\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t just Schluter who needed it \u2014 many of his newfound friends are not only excellent portrait subjects, but they are people with their own struggles who need someone to talk to. It turns out that a camera and a bit of heartfelt conversation can go a very long way. <\/p>\n Schluter has been sharing the photos from Hello From a Stranger online for years on his website<\/a>, and the project will even be transformed into an upcoming television series<\/a>. <\/p>\n How an Introvert Became a World-Traveling Photographer <\/p>\n Packing up your life and hitting the road to take photos of strangers is a big swing for even the most extroverted people. For someone like Adam, it was terrifying. But he just did it. <\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I had no fall back plan, which was essential in getting me to break through my fears to just try. I felt completely alone and was in a country where I didn\u2019t know a single person, with my mental health at rock bottom,\u201d he tells PetaPixel. <\/p>\n \u201cIf I didn\u2019t put myself out there to try and feel less alone, I honestly didn\u2019t think I was going to get through it. So I just walked outside, looked around and noticed a guy standing against a wall, smoking a cigarette with a scarf. I thought it was an incredible photograph so I swallowed my fears and slowly walked up to him, said hello and asked for his photograph.\u201d <\/p>\n The man said no. <\/p>\n \u201cI started with rejection,\u201d Schluter says.<\/p>\n However, he learned a valuable lesson. He was uncomfortable, but he pushed through, he could push through. <\/p>\n The more strangers he approached, the more comfortable it became. Rejections went from a very common occurrence to a rare one. <\/p>\n \u201cThe world really has been the most instrumental tool in helping shape the person I am today,\u201d the photographer says. \u201cI have been taught so much through the wisdom of strangers, over such a large sample size. And I would honestly say one of the biggest lessons I\u2019ve learned, time and time again, is how similar we all really are. No matter how different we may look or sound from one another. No matter rich or poor. In a small village or in a big city.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cEspecially now, the world is in such a very vulnerable state with the disconnected nature of things so there are so many people with the same needs \u2014 almost all of them being linked to the quality of relationships in their lives. Just by being humans together, we have so many shared values, shared needs and shared experiences that it would be foolish to not try our best and learn from each other.\u201d <\/p>\n He has also learned that the world often reflects what you put out there. <\/p>\n \u201cTreating people with respect is a universal language that transcends any other language barriers. I have been shown the deepest levels of joy in the deepest parts of poverty. I have learned more about what it means to be grateful from the people with the least.\u201d <\/p>\n Photography As a Means of Connection <\/p>\n \u201cPhotography is a really beautiful medium because it really just shows others the way you see the world,\u201d Schluter says. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s really beautiful with portraits because you\u2019re showing strangers the exact way that you see them \u2014 a way they usually have not been able to see in themselves for quite a long time.\u201d <\/p>\n He says that often, the way he sees people and the pictures he captures of them are more beautiful than how most people see themselves in a mirror. It\u2019s a powerful gift to give someone. <\/p>\n But even more important than showing people they are beautiful in their unique way is simply seeing them. While it\u2019s terrific for people to feel good about themselves, it is vital that they feel seen. <\/p>\n 90 Dinners With Strangers <\/p>\n While much of Hello From a Stranger involves travel, Schluter continues to build stronger bonds in his small town. After returning from his first trip, he realized that he still hadn\u2019t solved the original problem \u2014 he didn\u2019t have any friends where he lived. <\/p>\n During his trip to Europe, he learned that a big part of getting to know someone was sharing a meal, so he went around his small town, meeting new people, chatting, and inviting them to dinner. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was absolutely terrifying and incredibly awkward,\u201d he says. \u201cI honestly didn\u2019t think a single person would show up.\u201d <\/p>\n To his surprise, 11 people showed up to this first dinner to share some burnt mac and cheese around a folding table. <\/p>\n \u201cEveryone who came shared that they were feeling the same way [as me], not knowing how to make meaningful relationships without technology and actually getting face-to-face with people,\u201d he says. He promised to continue these dinners, even if only one person showed up. <\/p>\n \u201cNext month, we\u2019ll be having our 90th dinner, still in my backyard, and have had thousands of people come to them over the last 6 years. I called them \u2018Monday Night Dinners\u2019 as an homage to a dinner my mom had done with our family growing up,\u201d Schluter says. <\/p>\n For those who don\u2019t live near someone like Adam Schluter, he says the methods he used can work anywhere for anyone. <\/p>\n \u201cIt starts by introducing yourself to people. Say hello to your neighbors. It\u2019s simpler than it might seem but it will take you putting yourself out there first,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n \u201cI think photographers should be more interactive and communicative with each other. Introduce yourself when you go to new cities on forums. Ask if people want to meet up so they can show you their favorite spots. Have a beer or a meal with them afterwards. Share your photographs and ask people to share their photographs with you. Be curious about people\u2019s process and ask questions about their perspective,\u201d Schluter continues. <\/p>\n The world is \u201cfull of so many good people,\u201d he says. The trick, which is really no trick at all, is putting yourself out there. <\/p>\n Old-School Camera Kit for Forging New Bonds <\/p>\n Schluter describes himself as an \u201cold grandpa\u201d with technology. \u201cI\u2019m very slow at adapting or changing,\u201d he says, admitting he still barely knows how to use his iPhone. <\/p>\n \u201cI started this project on an older Nikon D750 with the cheapest lens I could get \u2014 I was broke \u2014 a 50mm f\/1.8 lens I got for a couple hundred bucks,\u201d the photographer says. <\/p>\n He used this for the first couple of years of Hello From a Stranger before upgrading to a mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z6, which he still uses. He has shot every image since on the same lens, a Sigma Art f\/1.4 prime. <\/p>\n Schluter says that the move to mirrorless helped his workflow quite a bit, as he had to pay less attention to focus. The eye-detect on a camera like the Z6 works great. <\/p>\n While Schluter does not necessarily think any specific part of his kit, camera, or lens is essential in and of itself, he says that his familiarity and experience with his particular gear is hugely beneficial. <\/p>\n \u201cI know the camera and lens so well that I already know what the photograph will be when I see a moment,\u201d Schluter says. \u201cSo that saves me a lot of unnecessary work and time.\u201d <\/p>\n He also admits he has gotten very good at working fast, so he can quickly capture an image without losing the precious moment or becoming distracted. <\/p>\n Moments That Stand Out <\/p>\n Schluter has talked to thousands of people over the years and could \u201cspend a few months talking about the incredible moments\u201d he has experienced during the project. <\/p>\n \u201cThere have been so many special moments and stories throughout the world I was lucky enough to stumble upon,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n \u201cBut this whole project really took a huge shift when I had a moment with a stranger in Milan. A young refugee who originally told me that no, I couldn\u2019t take his photograph, but then ended up opening up and changing his mind in a vulnerable moment.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I showed him the photograph I took of him, he took the camera from me, held it close to his face and looked at me with tears in his eyes and said \u2018No one has ever asked to take my photograph before.\u2019 The power of feeling truly seen.\u201d <\/p>\n Schluter describes another memorable experience meeting an older man along the Canadian border in northern Idaho. <\/p>\n \u201cHe told me he was a stand-up comedian, and I asked him how he got into that. He said he was in Vietnam and, when he returned from the war, he had PTSD and was trying to find something to bring some light into his life. I asked him, \u2018Rick, if you don\u2019t mind my asking, what was it like the first night you got to Vietnam?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cHe said \u2018Adam, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in a trench. I had two soldiers behind me, trying to sleep whenever they could find a minute. Claymores in front. Barbed wire in back. It was terrifying. It was pure hell. That first night, I drifted off out of pure exhaustion, into a quick dream. And, in the dream, I was looking down a winding dirt road, with a beautiful country home at the end of it. Huge pine trees out in the world. Total paradise. It was so beautiful\u2026 For that one moment. I woke up and I was still in hell.’\u201d <\/p>\n After Rick stood silent for a moment, he asked if Adam could come with him for a few minutes. Adam agreed and hopped in Rick\u2019s truck. <\/p>\n They drove down a dirt road for a spell and, after rounding a gentle turn, Rick asked Adam to look ahead. \u2028<\/p>\n \u201cThere, right in front of me, was a winding dirt road with a beautiful country home at the end of it. Where he and his wife had lived for the last 30 years.\u201d <\/p>\n Rick said, \u201cThis is exactly what I dreamed of that night.\u201d <\/p>\n Everyone Has a Story to Tell <\/p>\n While people like the refugee in Milan and Rick in Idaho came to Adam\u2019s mind when asked about standout memories, everyone has left a unique impression on the photographer. <\/p>\n When specifically trying to capture a compelling portrait of a stranger \u2014 or new friend, in some cases \u2014 Adam says he always looks for something unique, \u201canything that makes them stand out, [even if] just a little.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cBig earrings, a tattoo, a three-piece suit, unique glasses, purple hair \u2014 anything that shows a little more personality than the average person,\u201d Schluter recommends. <\/p>\n He also carefully considers lighting. <\/p>\n \u201cI am cursed by seeing the world in photographs and am an all natural light photographer. So the lighting always creates the photograph, and the photograph usually finds the story,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n Schluter also notes that it\u2019s fascinating how often people sit in places that \u201cperfectly match what they\u2019re wearing,\u201d almost always without realizing it. <\/p>\n While he is a photographer at heart and carefully considers the potential image when deciding who to approach, as he and Hello From a Stranger have evolved, Schluter says he spends less time photographing and more time just speaking to people. <\/p>\n \u201cBy doing this so many times, the whole project became less about taking a photograph \u2014 since I didn\u2019t have to hide behind my camera anymore \u2014 and more about genuinely connecting with people. Having real conversations, and actually getting to know them.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cSo now it\u2019s rarely about the photograph anymore,\u201d Schluter continues \u2014 it\u2019s more about just saying hi. <\/p>\n Photography Saved Schluter\u2019s Life <\/p>\n While Hello From a Stranger is a huge success and Schluter\u2019s personal and professional life has gotten so much better since he scrounged together his last dollar to escape what had become an unsustainable situation for him, it is essential to remember where and how it started. <\/p>\n \u201cThe project not only saved my life and helped me share the impact with the world, but it also allowed me to develop so much more as a person,\u201d the photographer says.\u201dIn ways I would have never been able to without the ups and downs I\u2019ve gone through with this. To break through so many of my own personal fears and do a lot of trial and testing with them, in real world situations all over the world. It\u2019s completely changed me from being terrified to talk to strangers to now having a deeper intuition and confidence in the process. Allowing me to just be myself and not worry about the outcome. It\u2019s taught me how to ask for help when I need it, how to inspire others with a passion and vision and how to hold space for others when they need it.\u201d <\/p>\n But most importantly, Schluter says Hello From a Stranger has given him a deep sense of purpose. <\/p>\n \u201cI could never question if life is worth living anymore,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n However, he quickly says he struggles to believe he has done \u201canything special\u201d with his project. <\/p>\n \u201cI honestly feel I\u2019m just being human with others, as anyone can do,\u201d Schluter says. <\/p>\n \u201cSo there is quite a bit of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, to be honest. It\u2019s hard to believe that I could have an impact when I started in such a low place and still have ups and downs with my mental health. But the encouragement and impact have given me so much purpose and community that I just keep going and giving it all back. The moments I am actually able to be proud are at the \u2018Monday Night Dinners\u2019, when I invite strangers to have dinner in my backyard. Stepping back and seeing hundreds of people coming together and genuinely getting to know each other is really special. And humbling.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m incredibly grateful for all this project has given me but most importantly, it\u2019s created so many relationships that are my true definition of success,\u201d Schluter concludes. <\/p>\n More From Adam Schluter and \u2018Hello From a Stranger\u2019 <\/p>\n Adam Schluter\u2019s Hello From a Stranger project has changed lives, including his own. The project is becoming a six-part series focused on Schluter\u2019s spontaneous travels and the connections he has built worldwide. <\/p>\n Each episode will be 100% unscripted, and each person whose story is highlighted will be someone whom Schluter had met just moments before. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n He hopes the show will highlight each person\u2019s beauty and help others feel more comfortable being vulnerable and making new connections with strangers. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hoping to show an honest display of the quality of humanity in this world and share the truth about how people really treat you when you put yourself out there,\u201d Schluter says. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/hello-from-a-stranger-2.jpg\")
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