This was my first time officially shooting a full cosplay photo set, choosing Barbara's Christmas-themed styling from Genshin Impact. Honestly, as a guy crossdressing for this Male cosplay, the preparation brought quite a bit of pressure. I have always loved the character of Barbara—her lively yet tender personality really captivates me. With Christmas just around the corner at the time, I decided to bring this festive holiday look to life in a Christmas portrait.
The location was set at Mahou Shoujo Studio, where the scenery was utterly dreamlike. The white wrought-iron bed, translucent sheer drapes, and plush white rug on the floor matched Barbara's aesthetic perfectly. That day, I wore a blonde wig with subtle waves, donned an antler headband, and clipped red-and-black plaid bows on both sides; the antler design was definitely my favorite part of the entire styling. To faithfully recreate the character, I wore blue contact lenses, applied maiden-like makeup with delicate pink undertones, and added noticeable blush to the apples of my cheeks.
The outfit followed a classic Christmas red-and-white color scheme, featuring an off-the-shoulder cut trimmed with white fur, and an ornate red-and-black plaid bow accented with a golden star on the chest. The cinched waist flared into an umbrella-shaped skirt edged with gold piping and black accents, finished with a white plush trim along the bottom. To complete the look, I wore white tights (White stockings) paired with red high heels. For props, I brought along red and green gift boxes and a large, beautifully textured golden bell.
Facing the camera initially, I felt completely at a loss, unsure how to pose naturally and cutely without looking awkward. Particularly when lifting the skirt hem or posing seated on the floor, doing female cosplay as a guy naturally felt stiffer, requiring me to overcome a lot of self-consciousness. The photographer was incredibly patient, guiding me to hold the gift boxes or ring the golden bell, imagining that I was distributing Christmas gifts to everyone. Gradually, with every shutter click, I settled into character, and that initial nervous tension faded away.
In post-processing, we preserved a bright, translucent lighting feel; the contrast between the white bed and the red dress was remarkably striking. From picking the costume and testing makeup at the beginning to communicating lighting and adjusting poses with the photographer on set, the entire journey gave me a much deeper understanding of cosplay. It's not just slipping into an outfit to snap a few photos, but a deliberate process of studying and sculpting a character from head to toe. Although there were many imperfections in my first run—such as poses that weren't dynamic enough and expressions that needed improvement—looking at the final shots, I felt I took a meaningful first step. Looking back at this photo set from two years ago now, I still vividly recall the thrill of that shoot. Every time I revisit these pictures, I remember the dedication of adjusting poses again and again for a single shot, inspiring me to move forward with greater calm and confidence on my cosplay journey.