A man travels the world photographing people who are not related yet look unmistakably alike

Photographer François Brunelle’s doppelganger photography project began with a moment that stayed with him for years.

As a young man, people often told him he looked just like the funny character Mr. Bean.

At first, Brunelle did not understand the comparison because he did not know the British comedian.

Then one day, he happened to see Mr. Bean on television. The moment left him stunned.

As he watched, Brunelle noticed how striking the resemblance really was. It was not just a small similarity—the facial features looked almost identical.

That discovery sparked a deep curiosity about people who look alike. Over time, this curiosity grew into his long-running doppelganger photography project.

Exploring the fascinating faces of strangers through his doppelganger photography project

Brunelle began to wonder how many people in the world might look nearly identical, even though they were not related.

As a photographer, he believed his camera could capture this surprising phenomenon.

Soon, he developed a project to bring these lookalikes together and photograph their reactions when they first met.

He explained his goal to Upworthy, saying:

“Find, bring together and take a photo of look-alikes, in the hope that, when meeting in front of the lens, they would produce an extraordinary image, being in shock themselves with the presence of their double,”

This vision became the heart of the doppelganger photography project.

A 25-year journey to find human doubles

Brunelle eventually named the project “I’m not a look-alike!” Over the years, it evolved into a worldwide search for people who look almost identical.

For more than 25 years, he has devoted his time to finding these pairs and photographing them.

What began as curiosity gradually became his life’s work. Through the project, he has met countless people who share striking similarities with strangers they had never met before.

The word “doppelgänger” comes from German folk tales. It once referred to an invisible spirit double of a living person. Today, it simply describes two people who look nearly identical.

The people in Brunelle’s doppelganger photography project are not twins. They are not related in any way. Many live in different countries and have completely different lives.

At first glance, some pairs may not seem alike. They might have different hairstyles or body shapes, or one may be taller than the other. But when people look closely at their faces, the similarities become clear.

Many pairs share almost identical facial features. Their noses, mouths, and even the shapes of their eyes can match perfectly.

Eyebrows often curve the same way, and their expressions can feel surprisingly familiar.

The more people study the photographs in the doppelganger photography project, the more incredible the matches appear.

Heartfelt first encounters in the doppelganger photography project

Finding these doubles often begins through simple connections. Brunelle has a website where people can contact him if they know someone who looks like him.

Sometimes friends notice the resemblance and tell the two people for years. Other times, strangers spot each other on the street.

In some cases, someone sees a stranger who looks exactly like a friend or family member.

When these moments happen, people reach out to Brunelle to become part of the doppelganger photography project.

Bringing strangers together for the first time can be an emotional experience. Some pairs already know each other, while others meet in front of the camera for the very first time.

Brunelle described these encounters:

“Some look-alikes know each other already and show no signs of surprise. The others, who meet for the first time, show some excitement and surprise, but this lasts only a few seconds, not enough for me to do a decent photo. Finally, something more deep comes out of the encounters and the images,”

Those brief moments of shock often lead to deeper connections. People begin to talk, laugh, and learn about each other’s lives. In some cases, these encounters even spark lasting friendships.

For example, two women from the Netherlands who participated in the project became very close friends and later wrote a book together.

Why people are fascinated by lookalikes

The doppelganger photography project has captured attention worldwide. The photographs inspire wonder, showing how two strangers can look remarkably alike.

Brunelle believes part of the fascination comes from a simple truth: all humans are part of one large and beautiful family.

The project has also caught the eye of scientists. Researchers studying participants in the doppelganger photography project found that lookalikes often share genetic traits and DNA patterns.

Interestingly, many “human doubles” also share the same height, weight, and even educational levels, says Smithsonian Magazine.

Some share habits and personalities, too. These findings came from a careful study of the photographs and detailed questions about participants’ lives.

With 8 billion people on Earth, it is not surprising that someone, somewhere, could look nearly identical to you.

Brunelle’s doppelganger photography project continues to explore these uncanny similarities.

Through his images, he invites viewers to appreciate the connections between humans and to see that our shared traits may be more common than we imagine.

Follow François Brunelle on Instagram to see the latest moments from his doppelganger photography project and witness strangers mirroring each other in stunning photos.

Watch WGN News below to see François Brunelle’s doppelganger photography project come to life and witness strangers meeting their lookalikes.