How many times have you heard 50 is the new 40 (or even the new 30)? One of my shoots last week was a woman, 58 years young, who shocked me when she divulged that info before leaving my studio at the end of the session. She looked great; not in a plastic LA, or Upper East Side (for the east coasters) way, but in a real, I work out and try to keep it together kind of way.

What resonated most? Even with the confidence she had to do nudes, it was her husband’s love, support, and push, that got her here (he made the initial call), through the shoot (he watched with adoring eyes as I captured his queen for posterity), and beaming after seeing the contact sheets. He asked her “Who is that?” while looking at the small images under a magnifier with a smile from ear to ear and a glimmer in his eye. Love and confidence know no age.

I will add that she has three adult children and no plans of telling them. This secret between husband and wife will be just one more notch in the checklist of what keeps them young and in love.