When photographer Richard Renaldi started putting strangers together to make intimate portraits, he had a wish list. “I had a list of what I wanted to catalogue,” he says on the phone from New York, “in particular, certain types with different backgrounds and races. I remember I wanted a Muslim woman in a veil. And a cop. I knew I wanted a cop.”→ Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Renaldi, who is from Chicago and studied photography in New York, made a conscious choice not to set up the portraits beforehand. “Putting these shots together was a process of discovery. So much was left to chance and serendipity. I did all my casting right there on the street, nothing was prearranged. Sometimes it would take all afternoon: I once spent five hours at the Lincoln memorial. Some I made happen in under 10 minutes.”→ Photograph: Richard Renaldi
This way of working gave him less control over the process, which could make it exhausting and stressful. “I experienced a little bit of dread every time I went out to do a shoot; I had to psych myself up. There’s my own set of anxieties involved, and I suppose that made the work possible. I was looking for a connection – I guess it was something arising from my own upbringing.” → Photograph: Richard Renaldi
His early attempts were not very successful: “I wasn’t so comfortable with the role of director. I wanted more than people were giving me. I was interested in creating affectionate pictures. I want to get across the point that they are strangers, but they could become friends.”→ Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Occasionally, the dynamic worked: sometimes, when he’d done the picture, he’d pack up his gear and walk away, and the people would still be chatting on the sidewalk. → Photograph: Richard Renaldi
How did he pick his subjects? “I tried to identify people who would be open and susceptible to my suggestions. Once I got the first person, I’d go into panic mode, and start looking really hard. Sometimes it would take so long to find the second person, I’d lose the first one.” → Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Some of the subjects would wait for him to tell them what to do. “Or they’d bring their own sensibility,” he says, “make suggestions. I liked that. In the best ones, there’s a moment of trust: they’re trusting me and trusting a stranger. Sometimes I would suggest a way of touching.” → Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Did anyone object? “Some of them were really uptight about it. Some straight men would refuse – straight men were the hardest to work with. Getting an average straight guy to be comfortable touching another guy is really hard. There were enclaves – New Orleans, San Francisco, New York – where it was easy to find people. I made myself go to rural areas, where it was harder.”→ Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Renaldi started the project in 2007 and completed it in 2013. By that stage, finding strangers to create intimate portraits had become a habit. “Occasionally I still see people and think, they’d be great. But then I remember, I’m done with that now.” Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Home Brooklyn, New York Age 27 Occupation Photographer Where were you going? To an interview.
Arly Fox-Daly (right)
Age 50s Occupation Therapist, holistic practitioner, counsellor and aromatherapist Where you were going? I was walking down 6th Avenue going for a bite to eat. A friend owns a beautiful place on 27th St called Waldy’s. Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Home Cape Cod, Massachusetts Occupation Police officer What were you doing? On patrol. The summer before, I told Richard no to getting my photograph taken, but I’m glad I went through with it.
Robyn McMurdy
Home Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Age 14 at the time What were you doing? In Provincetown sightseeing. Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Home Columbus, Ohio Occupation Stylist What were you doing? Leaving a Ke$ha concert at the Ohio State Fair in 2011 (notice the K$ on my tank top). I was sitting with my family eating funnel cakes Photograph: Richard Renaldi
Home New York, NY Age 43 Occupation Accountant Where were you going? I’d had a really miserable day at work, so I decided to clear my mind and walk for an hour before I got on the bus and headed uptown to Harlem. The weather was beautiful. I had just left the Gucci store on Madison Avenue when I was asked to take a photo with a stranger. Photograph: Richard Renaldi
These images are taken from Touching Strangers, by Richard Renaldi, published next month by Aperture, at £30. To order a copy for £24, including free UK mainland p&p, call 0330 333 6846, or go to theguardian.com/bookshop. Photograph: Richard Renaldi
