When Amanda Johnson picked up her camera for the third time to shoot a "Stranger Session," she didn’t expect to end up as Levittown’s unofficial Cupid. But that’s exactly what happened after her June photoshoot featuring two total strangers, who also happened to be Levittown locals, ended with laughter, foam, and a bit of romance at the Red Rhino Car Wash in Fairless Hills.
A Stranger Session is a fun twist on traditional photography: a blind date caught on camera, where two strangers meet for the first time and have their interaction documented as if they’re a couple. For Amanda, a Truman High School graduate and a native Levittown resident, this idea seemed like the perfect blend of creativity and connection.
“I’ve done a couple of these sessions before, but this was the first time it really clicked,” Amanda said. “The second this couple met, it just felt easy. You could tell right away they were having fun.”
Teresa Dittes and Dylan Waskiewicz, both 27 and born and raised in Levittown, were the lucky pair selected for the June session. Though Dylan had spent some time living in Georgia, he moved back to Levittown a year ago. Amanda noticed right away that their applications had striking similarities; both described themselves as hardworking, family-oriented, and hoping to sometime soon settle down with a family.
Wanting to break the ice in a fun way, Amanda picked the Red Rhino Car Wash for the shoot. “I thought, instead of the usual awkward park setting, why not throw them into something unexpected and playful?” she said.
With a borrowed truck, some soap, and plenty of water, the session turned into an impromptu water fight. “They were just spraying each other, throwing soap, and laughing like they’d known each other forever,” Amanda said. “I didn’t have to do much directing; they made their own fun.”
The chemistry was undeniable, and by the end of the 45-minute shoot, Teresa and Dylan had exchanged numbers and headed straight to a local bar, still soaking wet.
But the real surprise came after Amanda posted the photos on TikTok. “I uploaded them with the caption, ‘Can you believe these two people are strangers?’ and then put my phone down,” she recalled. “When I checked later, it had exploded with over 300,000 views!”
Since then, the pair has gone on a few more dates, and while nothing is official, they’re enjoying getting to know each other. Meanwhile, Amanda’s social media following has skyrocketed. “I’ve had people message me from Canada, California, everywhere, asking me to do Stranger Sessions in their cities,” she said.
Teresa, a dental hygienist, even found herself the topic of conversation among her patients. “They were like, ‘Weren’t you on the news?’” Amanda laughed. “Dylan had joked about ending up on TV, and then CBS actually contacted us for an interview at the car wash!”
For Amanda, who started her photography journey at Truman High School and turned her passion into a business in 2020, this viral moment has been both surreal and rewarding. “I don’t charge for Stranger Sessions; just a $5 application fee. It’s about connection, creativity, and building friendships,” she said. “These clients become friends. That’s what I love most.”
Now, Amanda is prepping for her next session and hoping more local guys will sign up. “I’ve got lots of amazing women ready to meet someone,” she said. “I just need the guys to step up.”
Anyone interested can find the application pinned to Amanda’s Facebook page, AMJPhotography, or on her website, AMJ-Photography.com.
And as for Teresa and Dylan? Whether or not their story turns into something long-term, they’ve already made memories, and a splash, all thanks to some soap, suds, and a little Levittown magic.
