Attempting to replicate this summer swimsuit look, I chose a real swimming pool as the location for this Outdoor photography, hoping to capture the character's ethereal feel blended with sunny vitality. When styling the long pink curly wig, it's important to avoid it sticking flat to the scalp; I slightly thinned the bangs and used hairspray to do some curling and shaping to coordinate with the positioning of the Elf ears cosplay. For makeup, considering the natural light of the outdoor setting, the foundation leans toward being clear and natural, with both blush and eyeshadow selected in pink-orange tones, paired with blue-black colored contact lenses to give the gaze more focus. The eyelashes were pasted in segments, emphasizing the three-dimensionality of the eye contour. The design elements of the costume are quite rich; the blue-and-white blouse is paired with a midriff-baring ruffled top, while the black bow at the waist and the starfish accessory on the side are the finishing touches of this look.
During the shoot, for the first picture, I let half of my body submerge into the pool, where the texture of the ripples forms a visual contrast with the light-colored clothing. The dynamic reflections beneath the water surface make the skin tone appear more translucent, and the posture of my raised hand beautifully conveys a sense of summer laziness. The second picture switches to a kneeling posture, where the angle of looking back clearly outlines the jawline, while utilizing the curved lines of the arm to enrich the composition, perfectly catching that sense of relaxation as the breeze blows through the hair strands. The third picture switches to the wooden deck by the pool, focusing on showcasing the overall cut and layering of the outfit. The sitting posture with legs crossed fully reveals the layered feel of the culottes, and the sparkling pool water background sets off the character to be even more soft and fresh.
Shooting in outdoor light is actually quite a test of light control. The afternoon sun is harsh, so I used a large reflector board on the front to brighten the shadow areas, avoiding too large a color difference between the face and the body. Water-side shooting requires attention to details; I adjusted and treated the lightweight fabric that easily absorbs water. To capture a clear pool environment, the camera's color temperature settings were also fine-tuned to ensure the skin tone presents a natural fairness. When shooting a mix of dynamic and static frames, I not only pay attention to facial expressions but also need to ensure that the form of the wig and skirt hem underwater looks natural. The ripples on the water surface are unpredictable, so continuous snapshots are required to capture the most beautiful waves and sparkles. Although the process of makeup prep and outdoor shooting is quite physically demanding, seeing the bright pool water and comfortable, leisurely postures in the final photos makes me feel that this summer elf-themed creation is highly meaningful.