Strangers Meet During Viral ‘Notebook’-Inspired Photoshoot (Exclusive)

For four years, photographer Brooke LeVesque has built a career capturing meaningful moments through her camera lens.

But in October 2025, she took a creative leap, joining in on the rising trend of stranger photography after a friend asked her to photograph her brother-in-law as part of the unique matchmaking experience.

What began as a simple favor quickly evolved into something more intentional. Rather than focusing solely on producing beautiful portraits, the 25-year-old wanted her sessions to capture genuine human interaction. 

To bring the vision to life, LeVesque designed an application for singles in her area, where participants answer questions about their personalities and interests. The only requirement is that they live in or around Ocala, Fla.

“I’ve had over 1,600 applications so far, which just shows how many people are craving something real – a genuine spark, not a swipe,” LeVesque tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Using those responses, she carefully pairs individuals for her shoots, and when they finally get to meet, she emphasizes that “they are 100% complete strangers” who “do not even know each other’s names.”

Going into this series, however, LeVesque never anticipated that her stranger sessions would capture so much attention.

“My comments are full of strangers rooting for strangers. People saying things like, ‘I believe in love again,’ or, ‘They need to get married,’” she shares. “It’s wild to see how much hope people find in these sessions.”

Her second stranger photoshoot, featuring 27-year-olds Ali Oswalt and David Barrett, unexpectedly went viral – amassing over 3.5 million views on TikTok for the pair’s undeniable spark and LeVesque’s Notebook-worthy imagery.

Despite the rainy backdrop, Oswalt and Barrett immersed themselves in the experiment, refusing to let the weather threaten their chance at finding love.

“Ali and David’s photoshoot was memorable for many reasons,” LeVesque says. “They immediately connected, to the point where they couldn’t stop talking to one another.”

During the session, the pair discovered a shared love for country music as they slow danced in the sand, successfully attempted the Dirty Dancing lift, jumped off a dock into Lake Weir, and even shared a kiss. 

“It felt a little awkward at first, but I am a very confident person, so I automatically switched the script and made it feel super comfortable for the both of us,” Oswalt tells PEOPLE. “We both then shared lots of laughs and great conversation.”

Despite initial nerves, Barrett recalls the experience feeling like a movie, saying that when he first saw Oswalt, “she was so beautiful it took me a second to focus, but once I did, I didn’t want the session to end.”

After sharing Oswalt and Barrett’s captivating session online, viewers begged LeVesque for an update on whether the pair’s connection extended beyond the frame.

However, after “getting to know each other more,” Oswalt tells PEOPLE they decided they’d “be better off as just friends.”

Nevertheless, Barrett described the experience as fun – saying it was “like nothing I’ve ever done or felt before” – and is still holding onto the hope of finding his future wife.

Although Oswalt and Barrett’s photoshoot didn’t end as viewers had hoped, LeVesque has since completed four more stranger sessions and remains optimistic that they will yield even stronger connections.

“I hope people watching feel that little spark of hope again – the reminder that connection is still out there, even in such a disconnected world,” she explains.

“These sessions aren’t about perfect matches or fairytale endings; they’re about taking a risk, being open, and letting yourself be seen.”