We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adam Schluter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adam below.

Adam, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

About 6 years ago, I had just moved to a new town with a girl I thought I was going to marry. We had been together for 3 years and everything seemed like it was falling into place. But then, the relationship crumbled and she broke up with me – Leaving me alone in a new town where I didn’t know a single person. Then… We went into the winter time.

I had just moved to this new town from Mexico, where I didn’t own a phone for 3 years. So I didn’t know how to make meaningful relationships, without technology, in this modern era. I was just craving a real conversation. A real friendship. Something face to face.

One day, I finally hit a wall and was contemplating suicide. When this happened, I knew I had to get out of my home and out of my head or I wasn’t going to make it. With all the money I saved up, waiting tables at restaurants, I booked a ticket to Copenhagen, Denmark (the farthest flight away for the cheapest price) with a crazy idea: I was going to walk up to strangers in every country I could and just say hello. I’d ask for their photograph and then put the camera away to have a genuine conversation with them. No plan. Almost no money left over. Just a hail mary attempt to feel less alone in this world.

This project has now been in 21 countries, having beautiful conversations with thousands of strangers, and saved my life. It has been published three times by National Geographic, was a TED talk, a book and now, we just started filming the show on it – To hopefully share a relatable story with the world and help bring it closer together.

All just to show the world that I am nothing special – Just a guy willing to leave his comfort zone to try and feel less alone.

Adam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Adam Schluter and I have always been a very free spirited traveler. I rarely had money while traveling so I would pick up odd jobs (mostly at restaurants) to keep moving. One day, I met a photographer who inspired me to save up and get my first camera. Once I started seeing the pictures I could take with it, I was hooked and decided to try and show the world the beauty I was seeing every day.

I started Lightcast Photography, a wedding photography company that photographs weddings all over the world. It is now one of the highest rated wedding photography companies in the United States and I still am the sole photographer of it.

I also started Hello From A Stranger, a passion project to help raise awareness to the isolation and mental health crisis we have in our country. This project has been published three times by National Geographic, was a TED talk, a book and now, we’re filming a show on it.

All from just a burning heart and passion to just try to show others the beauty of the world.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The main mission driving my creative journey is to inspire others to leave their comfort zone and connect with the world around them. I can’t be the only person doing it and the world needs all of us to notice it and interact with it, to help so many others feel less alone.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Easily the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that you’re able to do whatever you want with your life. In fact, it’s very beneficial to keep your life as free and light as possible, to keep yourself evolving as an artist and inspiring yourself. 10% of my year is spent on work related pursuits (I make my entire income for the year in less than 3 months). I have 9 months a year off, where it is my only job to seek out inspiration to keep me growing as an artist. I am able to say yes or no to anything I want to, anything I’m not feeling inspired to do. It’s pure freedom and pure bliss.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hellofromastranger.com and www.thelightcastproject.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schluter-5a288338/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0xZywblbqCJvTsThVKCqGw
• Other: (100% of money from the book goes back into this mission) To order a book: https://www.hellofromastranger.com/orderthebook