This shoot was set in a Chinese courtyard-style scene, where bamboo shadows, calligraphy scrolls, and wooden lattice window frames matched Nagato's white-and-pink floral modified Traditional Chinese style Qipao exceptionally well. The large animal ears on my head and the fluffy pom-pom tail behind me were all adjusted by hand; to make them look more natural, thin iron wires were used as support so they stayed upright no matter how I turned my head. The white jacquard fabric emitted a subtle pearlescent sheen under soft lighting, which, paired with red Chinese frog buttons and long tassels, captured both the dignity of a Japanese deity from Azur Lane and a hint of playfulness.
The most challenging aspect during the shoot was posing. In the photo, kneeling while holding the white plush puff was meant to simulate a "cuddle pillow" feeling. However, because the dress is a rather form-fitting Traditional Chinese style Qipao, seated poses required extra caution to prevent accidental exposure, so black thigh rings were added over the White tights cosplay as an accent—both elongating the leg lines and keeping the overall palette from feeling monotonous. The sitting pose in Photo 2 is a composition I personally love: holding a blue book pretending to read in the courtyard, with red ankle ties echoing the tassels at the collar. The combination of white over-the-knee socks and a short hemline really flatters proportions, and the photographer noted this angle beautifully brought out both the Qipao's waistline and the texture of the white tights.
For makeup, I skipped overly heavy eyeshadow this time, only sweeping a hint of purplish-red at the outer corners of my eyes paired with pink contact lenses to make my gaze softer. The wig was a long straight black wig with blunt bangs; to fit the animal ears seamlessly, fine wefts were concealed at the crown so wearing the ears wouldn't look unnatural. The shooting process tested my endurance, as sitting on the white plush rug, while soft, compressed over time, requiring me to keep my center of gravity steady for each pose so the plush tail wouldn't tilt.
Regarding props, the little yellow plush doll turned out to be an unexpected highlight. It was originally just placed aside, but in the photos, it created a bright contrast with the white outfit. In the second photo, I placed it right next to my leg to add a touch of childlike whimsy to the Anime-style photography frame. The oil-paper umbrella and books were arranged on the spot, not strictly adhering to the original art, but rather emphasizing Nagato's gentle yet mysterious aura. For Traditional Chinese style cosplay, lighting is crucial. Softboxes combined with side-backlighting illuminated the face while casting natural shadow transitions on the white tights, avoiding overexposure that washes out fabric textures.
The whole set took about two hours to shoot, with continuous touch-ups and wig adjustments throughout, but seeing the clean texture of the White tights cosplay and the intricate patterns on the Qipao made it all worthwhile. Additionally, form-fitting Qipaos tighten easily when crouching or sitting, so snap buttons were pre-installed at the waist to prevent creasing when turning or lifting arms. If you also enjoy outfits combining traditional elements with 2D anime style, taking pure white as a base accented with vibrant local colors creates a very clean visual. The calligraphy backdrop and bamboo branches in the final shot were from a backdrop cloth I brought myself; to enrich the scene, I placed a faux peach blossom branch in the corner, creating distinct foreground and background depth.