Today I’m going to write a little differently while sharing a holiday look in one of my favorite color combos – black and red. It’s no doubt I love this color combination, because I have done the same combo before (in one of my first posts How to Pull Off Black and Red and in Meet Max). I particularly love this combination around the holidays. The red just cries out Christmas and when you add a little lace it’s divine! While showing you the look, I’m going to make myself vulnerable here and share the reality behind this shoot.
Moments before we began shooting I was bundled up in my coat, freezing. My coat was red (meant to be used in another shoot) and I looked like some sort of fashion disaster. I’m sure nobody in the park would have thought I was a fashion blogger. My hair was falling out of some interesting side style I couldn’t figure out and while attempting to fix my hair in the wind my bra was falling down. Seriously, I love this shirt so much, but a strapless bra? Not so much.
While taking photos I had music playing in my purse trying to forget how cold it was and get me into the holiday spirit. After all, that is why I was sharing this holiday outfit right?! The shots were either coming out way under or way overexposed and I did not have the patience (or warmth) to wait to get it right. Halfway through, the wind was so strong that my eyes were watering, mascara running, and my hair was so far in my face that when reviewing the shots, it just looked crazy. I ended up taking the bobby pins out and flowing freestyle for the rest of the shoot.
At one point I lost patience and said, “That’s enough of the shoes!” I didn’t think we needed 50 shots of the shoes. OK, so I’m exaggerating, but it felt like an eternity when my arms and legs were bare. My husband gently replied, “Babe, you don’t see what I’m seeing. Trust me. I’m trying to get it right.” How sweet he is to be as much of a perfectionist as I am!
In the end, we had to take so many shots to get even a few acceptable to post. Messy hair, ballooning shirt, slipping bra, squinty eyes, running mascara, etc. Now I could be way off topic, but I’m telling you this because behind every shoot there’s a girl (me) and a photographer (my awesome husband), working together (mostly), and trying to get it right (as much as we can). We are everyday people, just like you, with challenges and imperfections. It’s when I embrace those challenges and look beyond my imperfections that I realize I have so much to smile about!
Keep smiling and remember to embrace life’s challenges and imperfections.
It’s what makes us beautiful – and human!
I’m Molly Lawson! I live in Seattle and am an optimist, adventurer, and bold lipstick wearer. I created this space to inspire and empower women with words of encouragement known as #MollysWords and share inspiration through my personal style. I always want my readers to leave with a smile and I hope you do!
Molly, I loved that you decided to talk about the actual behind the scenes of these shots. You look stunning in these photos, mind you, but I quite enjoy the fact that you’ve shown as a vulnerable, more raw and real side of you through your text and account.
Loving the red and black combo!
May | THE MAYDEN
Author
Thank you May! Definitely not the easiest to be vulnerable, but this is who I am and it’s way more than some pretty pictures! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Molly
Such a pretty red lace skirt and love the matching lip! You look beautiful!
XOXO,
Jennifer
http://www.publicistinpearls.com
Author
Thanks Jennifer! I love matching my lip color to my skirts!
Molly
You look so pretty and it was lovely reading this post.
xo
http://thepinkporcelaindoll.blogspot.it
Author
Thank you Carina! You’re so sweet!
🙂 Molly
Love the back lace/bow detail and how well it pairs with your shoes. Great holiday look!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Author
Thank you Amy! The lace back detailing is my favorite!
🙂 Molly
Wow, I recently discovered you blog and I absolutely love it!
You put so much effort in these posts and it looks fab!
X Merel
http://www.andathousandwords.com
Author
Wow, Merel! Thank you for the kind compliments! You’re right – a lot of effort goes into these posts and I’m so glad you enjoy!
🙂 Molly
Super pretty!! Love this look! xo
http://publiclivessecretrecipes.com/2015/12/holiday-snow-globe-cake.html
Author
Thank you Caitlin! Your snow globe cake looks amazing!
🙂 Molly
Molly, you look simply STUNNING in spite of all that was going on! I love the red and black combo, which indeed screams Christmas and is super classy and chic, love it! My hubby does the same when I begin freaking out, he tries to calm me down and more times than not, the pics come out good. Aren’t we so blessed to have them, especially when we can become such divas, haha! #bloggerproblems Anyway, I hope you have an amazing day ahead, beautiful!
XO,
Jalisa
http://www.thestylecontour.com
Author
Jalisa,
You are so kind! I am glad I am not the only one who experiences the behind the scenes mishaps. Glad you have a great husband to calm you down too! I have no idea what I would do without my #InstagramHusband haha!
🙂 Molly
The music and your husband’s support really helped since these photos are fabulous, Molly. Your husband is a great photographer and you the perfect model. I imagine how much you suffered to get all these photos (I suffer many times, too) but the result is fantastic.
Danielle
http://www.spring2spring.com
Author
Thank you for the compliments Danielle! I don’t know what I would do without my husband’s support!
🙂 Molly
I feel your pain. Getting the perfect shot – in the massive wind is so difficult. You look beautiful though, and what a patient husband.
Lisa
Daily Style Finds
Author
Wind is really a challenge, but sometimes it’s really fun! Like when you’re wearing a flowy skirt! Thanks for the compliments!
🙂 Molly
Molly, your photos turned out fantastic and my fave is actually the one with your hair in your face. Just perfect!
The funny thing is, I would have never guessed that you had a bit of a rough time. You make the photos look effortless and that’s why I appreciate your honesty even more!
xoxo,
Olga
Author
Thank you, Olga! I think it’s important to show more than just pictures and I’m so glad this post was well received!
🙂 Molly
Molly! I absolutely love this post! What a sweet husband you have 🙂 Being able to roll with the punches and unexpected obstacles (both in photoshoots and in day-to-day life) is one of the biggest strengths you can have, and you both certainly have that! I’ve definitely had days where my photos just aren’t going right and it’s raining, windy, and my hair is a mess and I just don’t want to take photos at all, so I admire how you push through it! And so happy you tried the music in the purse, hopefully it helps a little more next time when you aren’t battling the elements! You look natural and beautiful in these shots!
Author
Thank you, Lindsey! It gets frustrating at times and is not always easy to push through but I do my best. Your music in the purse idea was GENIOUS! So glad you told me about it!
🙂 Molly
Love this outfit. So christmassy 😀
http://peacheswithpearls.com/2015/12/09/pastels-and-sparkles/
Author
Thank you Ankita! I love holiday outfits!
🙂 Molly
I love this post Molly! It is so true – not every photo shoot is picture perfect and sometimes the hubbies DO know what they’re talking about. I love that you went into those emotional details. Mascara running, bra slipping…the photos still turned out beautiful!
Kelsey Kaplan
http://www.kelseykaplan.fashion
Author
Kelsey, I am so thankful for your kindness and support! Also thankful for our hubbies who help us out and calm us down!
🙂 Molly
Molly, first of all I must say you look beautiful in all pictures! I am also so glad that you mention the behind the scenes struggles.
We are all normal and have our imperfections, but I think that our imperfections is what makes us unique and beautiful. I also like to add, that I had a similar issue yesterday. After work I rushed home to get ready to take graduation photos and it was getting dark fast. Being new to blogging I don’t have all the nice equipment and I definitely do not have a professional photographer lol. There has been a few times that I get bummed out or discourage because I don’t have high quality pictures. This post makes me see the positive side to every struggle that a blogger may face. I am surely new and have other challenges to face, but I am so glad for honest, optimistic, and beautiful people like you to help out!! Great post!!
– Robin
RUNWAYTEACHER.COM
Author
Robin, you always have the sweetest things to say! Thank for you taking the time to comment. And don’t get discouraged about not having high quality pictures. I certainly didn’t when I first started!
🙂 Molly
Oh my, I love this so much! I love that you talked about the behind the scenes! This is a great outfit and your husband is so sweet! Thank you for the post and inspiration, hun!
Author
Thank you Erica! There’s much more to blogging that just what you see! Glad you liked the post. Thanks for the support!
🙂 Molly
OMG!! I started laughing out loud while reading this because you and your husband sounds exactly like my husband and I while taking photos for the blog! Thank god for our patient husbands!!! I loved reading this! Sometimes things don’t go as planned but you are absolutely correct, there are so many things to smile about! When I saw these photos on IG, I thought, “I love the way her hair blows in the wind!” HAHAH!
Loved your honesty and gorgeous smile!!!
xo, Shell
http://acourageousbeauty.com/
Author
Haha I’m so glad you appreciated the post and can relate! I think it’s hilarious how you thought my hair look great when I was being so picky with it!
🙂 Molly
What a stunning combo Molly! You are totally right when you say that red and black makes the perfect festive outfit 🙂 Absolutely loving the lacey heels
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
Author
Thank you Rachel! Red and black is so fun for the holidays!
🙂 Molly
Your top is so pretty, I love the back and it goes so well with the skirt.
Stunning look
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Author
Thanks Laura! I’ve had this top for what seems like forever! Can’t believe I’ve never worn this skirt either! Trying to make good use out of what I have in my closet!
🙂 Molly
What a beautiful festive outfit! Love the bow detail on the back of your blouse!
Fashion Soup
Author
Thanks Alice! Festive attire for the holidays is so much fun to style!
🙂 Molly
When I was reading this post, felt like it matches to my story! 🙂 I live in Chicago called Windy city. It is always windy doesn’t matter what time it is, what day it is. I face this problem every day, while doing shoot, going work , going out etc. I used to get very frustrated. Then I thought, I can’t change the weather, I better learn to deal with it. When you face any challenge, try to work with it instead working against it . 🙂
You look so beautiful. Love the color combo, it’s my fev. Awesome pictures! 🙂
Author
Thank you Rita! We deal with wind a lot here, but I can’t imagine living in Chicago! I’m glad you have learned to embrace it and make it look awesome!
🙂 Molly