I’m about to tell you about a project that is totally mind-blowingly awesome, and I am so proud to say that it is the brain child of my phenomenal friend Amber Mahoney, who many of you know as the eye behind the lens at Live it Out Photography. To refresh your memory, here, here and here are some of her gorgeous weddings and engagement sessions.

Amber decided to try something new and challenge herself, and the result of that is The Present Company Project.

Amber says…

“The Present Company Project basically involves me taking a polaroid of a stranger and asking them one of two questions, “If you could ask a perfect stranger anything in the world, what would it be?” or “What is one thing you’d like people to know about you?” I started it as a challenge to myself – I wanted to have a genuine interaction with someone I might otherwise never know. I wanted to stop fitting people into my world, but rather see them as they are. I thought that if I could connect with others on this level that it might make me a better artist, and more so, a better person. It’s uncomfortable (just walking up to strangers) and I usually blush and get a bit awkward, but it’s been a pretty rad ride and I’m not sure how I’m going to decide when it’s time to call it quits.”

It all started with Tyrone, the man you see in the upper left corner, and since then, Amber has met, photographed, and talked to many, many more strangers. She’s documented it all, and in addition to sharing each of these photos and Q & A’s on her website, she’s also contributing to Hello Giggles.

Here’s an excerpt from the story Amber tells about meeting Tyrone. It seriously left me in awe!…

“A few months ago, I headed to Best Buy for a new hard drive. I was stressed about pretty much everything and after looking through about 50 different hard drives that looked exactly the same, I picked one at random, bought it and kind of power walked out the store, head down, into the street. I paused for a second to figure out where I’d left my car, and as I stood there looking frazzled and probably a little insane, I met Tyrone. He was selling Street Sense but he didn’t ask me to buy anything, he just asked me how I was doing. We talked for a while about things strangers don’t usually talk about – what it’s like to live in DC, our lives, our health, family, the things that worry us. And I just couldn’t believe how positive he was about everything. His positivity made me feel positive during a time when I really needed it. And I wanted to thank him. Toward the end of our conversation, Tyrone mentioned two hopes for his life: to learn how to play guitar and find someone to write his life’s story. He told me how someone had stolen his guitar a few years back when he was living in a motel and how he hadn’t been able to afford another. As I drove home I called around my musician friends, asking if anyone had a spare guitar. A few weeks later, I got a text from my friend Jason saying he’d found one.”

Well, Amber gave Tyrone that guitar, and the rest of the story is documented here. If you want to be inspired, and maybe cry a little bit, definitely check it out.

Amber has decided to open this polaroid documentary up to submissions because she’d love to start a kind of mini-movement around this – creating/realizing connections between “others” and ourselves. Next time you’re oot and aboot and see someone you find intriguing, ask if you can take their photo. You’ll be surprised by what happens next. Then send your stories/photos . Amber’s favorites will be featured in the next edition of Hello Giggles’ For Instants and will be in the running to be published in The Present Company Project book!

Thank you Amber for the inspiration!!! You and this project are absolutely amazing!!!

To learn more, make sure to visit The Present Company Project’s website.