12/18/2025
Yesterday a random instagram scroll had me listening to a Frenchman talking about setting goals for the new year, like the algorithm has me figured out or something, and he said something that made me stop and make a note Immediately.
“Dreaming is the first step toward doing something”
This is what so much of this year has been - allowing myself to dream and build something out of nothing, and then dreaming bigger. I can’t wait to see what the 2026 dreams become.
But first, Christmas.
London Christmas.
Sparkle, lights, markets, history, Stonehenge, castles…
Paris Christmas.
Birthday, New Years, Pain au chocolat, Champagne, Ice Skating, Monet, Montmartre…
All because I was dreaming of fireworks for 50.
AI allows me to dream bigger, think more, and create faster.
What are you dreaming for this Christmas & New Years season? What’s on your list for 2026?
Here’s the prompt for the image below using ChatGPT
“Create an ultra-realistic 8K Christmas portrait using a 55mm lens look with bright, playful holiday studio lighting.
Use the woman’s real face EXACTLY as it appears in the reference photo.
Do NOT beautify, idealize, soften, feminize, age-change, or alter her facial structure in any way.
Preserve:
• bone structure
• jawline
• cheekbones
• eye shape and spacing
• nose shape
• lip shape
• skin texture
This must clearly be the same person as the reference photo.
Only change styling, clothing, pose, and environment — not her face.
⸻
SCENE & STYLING
She is in a whimsical candy-cane Christmas photoshoot, sitting on a white cube block in a playful crossed-leg pose.
Outfit
• Sparkly white long-sleeve fitted pants jumpsuit
• Subtle sequin shimmer
• Scoop-back detail (visible but tasteful)
Hair
• Styled for the holidays (updo or loose style is okay)
• Hair color should match the reference photo unless explicitly changed
Makeup
• Festive glam
• Winged liner
• Warm eyeshadow
• Rosy cheeks
• Soft holiday pink lips
(No facial reshaping or smoothing)
⸻
PROPS & SET
• Giant pink-and-white peppermint lollipop held casually over her shoulder
• Snowy ground with fluffy artificial snow
• Frosted Christmas trees with pink ornaments and warm string lights
• Oversized candy canes framing the scene
• Large shiny red Christmas ornament near her feet
⸻
LIGHTING & COLOR
• Bright, clean, festive holiday lighting
• Natural skin tones
• Vibrant reds, pinks, whites, and silvers
• Sharp focus, shallow depth of field
• Photorealistic texture (no plastic skin, no AI “beauty” look)
⸻
FINAL REQUIREMENTS
• This must clearly look like the same real person from the reference photo
• No face swapping with a generic model
• No facial symmetry correction
• No stock-photo beauty idealization
Identity accuracy is the top priority.”