Just days after the Start of Autumn, temperatures hadn't dropped at all, so aligning with the ACG ongoing cool festival project, I booked a studio session to capture an Azur Lane-themed summer beach resort style set.
Rather than heading out to an actual beach, we built a blue-and-white striped seaside backdrop inside the studio, hanging a tropical landscape tapestry along the wall, complemented by warm string lights and a wooden lounge chair that dialed the vacation ambiance to the max. The outfit centered on a loose white off-the-shoulder top paired with matching white shorts; the lightweight fabric looked exceptionally airy under the studio lights. On my feet were clear strappy high-heeled sandals—while the heels weren't overly tall, standing for extended periods still took a toll. To inject playful charm, I placed a few colorful cartoon stickers across my legs. Makeup focused on flushed cheeks and pinkish eyeshadow, evoking that sun-kissed, sun-dazed glow of a summer afternoon. The wig was a long, sleek silver-white cut topped with a headpiece featuring a translucent sun visor brim, which pulled the entire look together instantly.
Once the shoot began, the photographer had me ease into the mood on the lounge chair. Initially, I reclined halfway, resting one hand casually along my leg while using the other to gently tug at the neckline; because of the loose cut, a subtle pull flatteringly revealed collarbone and shoulder contours, which the photographer captured quickly. Later, I adjusted into leaning back with legs bent and crossed, planting one foot on the edge of the lounge chair—an angle that dramatically elongated my legs. In the standing frames, slightly opening my arms allowed the long sleeves to drape naturally while locking eyes with the lens, radiating relaxed, languid ease.
Honestly, while this look seems minimal, capturing tactile depth tested the lighting setup. The deep blue studio backdrop readily absorbed light, but luckily the key light provided clean penetration while side rim lighting contoured my silhouette, preventing the white fabric and skin tones from fading into the background. Shooting refreshing summer themes taught me that one must embrace relaxed energy while maintaining engaged core tension—especially when reclining on a chair, where the lower back needs deliberate support to prevent slouching. The stickers on my knees were a spontaneous touch, as subtle details often make static frames far more lively.
The entire shoot ran for about three hours, alternating between various poses and requiring constant wig maintenance, as silver-white strands easily show flyaways under bright lights. Still, reviewing the camera playback, the crisp harmony of blue-and-white stripes with clean white garments felt incredibly refreshing, completely sweeping away the stifling autumn heat. It stands as one of my favorite recent studio sets—even without a real shoreline, thoughtful set design and chiaroscuro recreated the blissful serenity of a coastal getaway.