A photographer finds total strangers who look like they could be twins and the pictures might make you do a double take

Sophie-Claire HoellerMay 9, 2020, 17:02 IST

Maurus Oehmann and Rudi Kistler.François Brunelle

François Brunelle has always been fascinated by people's faces, and how complete strangers could look alike.
He's been photographing complete strangers that look uncannily similar for 20 years now.
To date, he's shot 250 pairs of look-alikes in 25 countries for his project "I'm not a look-alike."
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

They say everyone has a doppelganger somewhere, but is that true?

Judging by François Brunelle's series, "I'm not a look-alike," the answer may just be yes.

Brunelle has spent 20 years seeking out strangers who look alike, transitioning from film to digital cameras in the process.

To date, he's photographed 250 pairs of look-alikes in 25 different cities for his project, both finding his subjects himself on the streets of Montréal, Canada, where he's based, or having doppelgangers reach out to him to be photographed.

In some cases, companies, brands, or even countries, help him with his project, such as when the Colombian government had him shoot a campaign with the slogan "Let's choose to see what we have in common."

Keep scrolling to see pictures of the most similar-looking strangers he's found.

Read the original article on Insider

His main takeaway? "People are mostly the same wherever you go. We're all different, but at the same time, we all have the same preoccupations. Do I feel well? Do I look good? Is my hair OK?" he said.

Tamara Stomphorst and Sandra Meines. François Brunelle

His main takeaway? "People are mostly the same wherever you go. We're all different, but at the same time, we all have the same preoccupations. Do I feel well? Do I look good? Is my hair OK?" he said.

Brunelle sees the project as a collaboration, as his subjects are just as invested in the work as he is. The photographer says that through this series, he's made 500 new friends.

Michael Malone and Charles Hall Chasen. François Brunelle

Brunelle sees the project as a collaboration, as his subjects are just as invested in the work as he is. The photographer says that through this series, he's made 500 new friends.

He always shoots pairs in the studio together, asking them to bring simple outfits. He usually asks them to get close and touch each other, thus making them look less like strangers.

Julie Arsenault and Jean Lambert. François Brunelle

He always shoots pairs in the studio together, asking them to bring simple outfits. He usually asks them to get close and touch each other, thus making them look less like strangers.

He took his first look-alike photo in 2000, with two men that he knew, and continued to shoot people that he recruited himself. However, once word of his project spread, people around the world started submitting themselves as doppelgangers for him to shoot.

Daniela Rincon and Luisa López. François Brunelle

He took his first look-alike photo in 2000, with two men that he knew, and continued to shoot people that he recruited himself. However, once word of his project spread, people around the world started submitting themselves as doppelgangers for him to shoot.

He says that being a look-alike does not necessarily mean looking identical — it's more about maybe getting confused for one another at the mall.

Diego Morena and Yesid García. François Brunelle

"Sometimes people come in and I think they look the same — I don't even know which one is which. But after an hour or two, I don't think they look the same, it's very strange," he told Insider.

Martine Chase and Donmar Williams. François Brunelle

"Sometimes people come in and I think they look the same — I don't even know which one is which. But after an hour or two, I don't think they look the same, it's very strange," he told Insider.

Initially, he thought these strangers would meet each other in the studio for the first time and be in shock, but more often than not the subjects themselves don't really see the similarities.

Sarah Fournier and Alan Madill. François Brunelle

Initially, he thought these strangers would meet each other in the studio for the first time and be in shock, but more often than not the subjects themselves don't really see the similarities.

While he says he'd prefer to look more like James Dean than Mr. Bean, the idea to get doppelgangers in a room together for a photo shoot took root.

Agnes Loonstra and Ester Scholten. François Brunelle

François Brunelle says he's always had a knack for seeing similarities between strangers, but his interest was piqued when he saw himself on TV. Apparently, he looks a lot like Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean.

Pedro lópez Soto and Kaotico Albert Pueyo. François Brunelle

François Brunelle says he's always had a knack for seeing similarities between strangers, but his interest was piqued when he saw himself on TV. Apparently, he looks a lot like Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean.

How Tesla's cargo capacity stacks up against other iconic front trunks in the car industry: From Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, and more

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

A photographer finds total strangers who look like they could be twins and the pictures might make you do a double take

His main takeaway? "People are mostly the same wherever you go. We're all different, but at the same time, we all have the same preoccupations. Do I feel well? Do I look good? Is my hair OK?" he said.

Brunelle sees the project as a collaboration, as his subjects are just as invested in the work as he is. The photographer says that through this series, he's made 500 new friends.

He always shoots pairs in the studio together, asking them to bring simple outfits. He usually asks them to get close and touch each other, thus making them look less like strangers.

He took his first look-alike photo in 2000, with two men that he knew, and continued to shoot people that he recruited himself. However, once word of his project spread, people around the world started submitting themselves as doppelgangers for him to shoot.

He says that being a look-alike does not necessarily mean looking identical — it's more about maybe getting confused for one another at the mall.

"Sometimes people come in and I think they look the same — I don't even know which one is which. But after an hour or two, I don't think they look the same, it's very strange," he told Insider.

Initially, he thought these strangers would meet each other in the studio for the first time and be in shock, but more often than not the subjects themselves don't really see the similarities.

While he says he'd prefer to look more like James Dean than Mr. Bean, the idea to get doppelgangers in a room together for a photo shoot took root.

François Brunelle says he's always had a knack for seeing similarities between strangers, but his interest was piqued when he saw himself on TV. Apparently, he looks a lot like Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean.