Sometimes it feels like you know a person that doesn't know a thing about you
Being a blog reader is a bit like that too I think XD I had an amusing "brush with fame" kinda moment some years back where a gym parent excitedly told me she read some of the homeschooling stuff in my blog and she was really excited to meet me and ask me some questions about stuff which I was quite happy to answer but we both definitely found it weirdly interesting/interestingly weird as she knew a "lot" of stuff about me (ie whatever I choose to write about that she'd happened to read) but I barely knew her name XD
I prefer candid shots as well and my photo collection is full of them (interspersed with some playfully posed shots which are my second favourite. It drives my parents and inlaws mad as they prefer their nice posed fake-smile shots XD
I've had some interactions like that in Yerevan where people have spotted me from my photography posts online and being like "Are you Antony?"
It's a weird feeling sometimes but also quite motivating. I don't have much social media presence so anyone actually looking at my stuff tends to be quite a surprise.
Haha glad you find it more motivating than unsettling XD And yay for getting a bit of traction!