A photographer pretended to be in love with strangers she just met — and the pictures say a lot about intimacy

"Vulnerability, and daring to let go, are signs of strength."Courtesy of Marie Hyld

After years of swiping, scrolling, and double-tapping her way through an endless feed of "polished" posts, Marie Hyld found herself yearning for something real. So, camera in hand, the 24-year-old photographer set out to find it.

The product of her search is a breathtaking project titled Lifeconstruction, a series of photographs that show Hyld embracing, kissing, and spending time with various individuals. While their intimate poses may suggest that these people are Hyld's lovers or longtime partners, they're actually all strangers whom she met moments before each photo was taken.

We recently got in touch with Hyld to find out more about her project, which was first featured on Broadly Denmark. Take a closer look at her fascinating work below.

Editor's note: Some of the images below may be considered NSFW.

The photos in Hyld's series depict moments of intimacy that a couple may experience, from the sensual to the beautifully mundane.

Her project takes a refreshing look at vulnerability.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

Although Hyld posed with strangers, her pictures look surprisingly believable.

The number in the lower left corner of each image represents the amount of time Hyld spent with each person before the photo was taken.

Feigning intimacy in this short period of time proved challenging for everyone involved.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

Some of the pictures were taken in as little as 10 minutes after Hyld and the participant first met.

The idea behind this project arose out of Hyld's experiences on social media, which she found unfulfilling.

The photographer likened social media to an "empty shell."Courtesy of Marie Hyld

Hyld told INSIDER that she was tired of seeing the "same polished posts, pictures, and updates" online and on apps. When she realized she was "gasping for something real," Hyld decided it was time to take matters into her own hands.

Inspired to explore intimacy through her photography, Hyld set out to find willing participants on Tinder.

It was an interesting, and subversive, choice.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

On her Tinder profile, the photographer described how she was interested in meeting up with her matches and photographing them as if they were a couple in love. She also made it clear that the photos would be made public.

"I just started swiping away, and it was really interesting to see the people who were into the idea and accepted my proposal," Hyld previously told Broadly Denmark. "I pretty much matched with everyone I found. They were all into the idea."

When we asked why she decided to use Tinder, Hyld told INSIDER that "it was super easy to reach out to people" on the app and "find someone open-minded for [her] creative ideas." The photographer also met her boyfriend of four years on Tinder, about a year after she started using the app. "We both still have it and swipe occasionally," Hyld said. "It's a hilarious world."

Each encounter challenged Hyld to let her guard down and allow herself to be vulnerable with the person she just met.

She had to be fully present in the moment.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

Hyld told INSIDER that she was often "filled with anticipation and excitement" during these sessions with her Tinder matches. "You could kind of smell the anxiety," she said. "It was amazing and horrible at the same time. I felt alive."

She continued: "This anxiety always morphed into a form of creativity. [...] We knew that we needed to create this product together, to push our limits and jump out of our comfort zones."

"I think we lack that face-to-face time today," she previously told Broadly Denmark. "We're never really present in our interactions. As I see it, it's getting worse and social media is largely to blame for it. It's ironic that my project basically couldn't exist without Tinder."

And no two experiences looked or felt alike.

Some days were easier than others, Hyld said.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

Hyld intentionally avoided planning each encounter ahead of time. Instead, she focused on letting go and doing whatever "felt right" on the day of the interaction, drawing inspiration for her project from her surroundings. Each experience varied depending on the person Hyld met, where he or she lived, the connection the photographer had with the participant, and, "to a certain extent," Hyld's own mood.

"I had days where I felt that I simply didn't have the energy and motivation to connect with my deeper, heartfelt self, and days where I felt like digging all the way into my own and the stranger's core," Hyld explained to INSIDER.

Due to the nature of her project, Hyld constantly had to push and expand her limits.

She often asked herself, "Am I OK with this?"Courtesy of Marie Hyld

"Once or twice I was quite shaken due to a participant crossing my limits," the photographer said. "But I was kind of prepared for that to happen, and I can now say that it has helped me get to know myself better."

The photographer also found it difficult to juggle her "real" relationship with 13 "pretend" ones.

But her boyfriend was incredibly supportive the entire time.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

"[My boyfriend] has always been super uplifting and motivating," Hyld told us. "It was confusing and overwhelming for me to juggle with one wholehearted relationship and 13 superficial ones in that compact space of time.

"But [my boyfriend] touched my heart deeply by giving me the space and freedom I needed to make this project," the photographer continued. "He knows me so well. And he knows that he has to let me be free to unfold my creativity in whatever form it might take."

Hyld said this project has taught her how to be vulnerable and let people in.

This series encouraged her to embrace new experiences.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

"It takes vulnerability to create intimacy," Hyld said. "I couldn't have created these photographs with my guard up. I had to let them down."

She continued: "I had to allow myself to be vulnerable and let in the strangers I met. And in that process, I also learned that vulnerability, and daring to let go, are signs of strength."

And over time, the photographer realized "how easy it was to build up an intimate, sincere space with strangers."

But you have to embrace the discomfort of opening up.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

"I've never tried to reach out like this before," the photographer told us. "I've always kept to myself, thinking that everyone probably wanted it that way."

Hyld encourages everyone to embrace intimacy, despite "how intimidating it might feel."

You may just find a genuine connection.Courtesy of Marie Hyld

When asked what she has learned since starting this project, Hyld said she now understands that "pretty much everyone" needs intimacy in their lives in the same, primal way they need "food to silence hunger." She believes we "should always dare to reach out" to create intimacy and "depth" with the people around us.

"It's important to search, find, and fill yourself with something real," Hyld said.

"Shut down those electronic screens."Courtesy of Marie Hyld

On social media, "it's so easy to keep your relationships on a superficial level," Hyld said. "But if you want something deep, something real, you've got to toss away your phone, reach out, and create it."

Hyld has even continued to see one of the participants in her series after she completed her project, although she did not specify who this person is.

She calls this person a "non-defined acquaintance on a soul-connected level."Courtesy of Marie Hyld

"We just had a connection on a deeper level which would be absolute madness not to pursue," the photographer told us. "A meeting like that is a pure rarity. I'm glad I didn't let it go."

To see more from Marie Hyld, check her out on Instagram, Facebook, and website.

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