Preparing for this fan-concept D.Va Qipao cosplay took quite a while. When I first received the costume, my primary goal was to capture that classical Chinese aesthetic while preserving D.Va's unmistakable gamer-girl vibrancy. Because it's a qipao theme, I subtly softened the eye makeup, stepping away from overly sharp contours to embrace gentle curvature while retaining warm brownish cosmetic contacts to preserve her iconic character traits. Trimming and styling the wig took considerable thought as well; instead of her usual exaggerated styling, I went with soft, loose tresses to complement the qipao, topped with a headband accented with white blossoms and pink tassels to lend an elegant, gentle grace.
We picked a white cyc studio in Huizhou for the shoot. The beauty of a white studio lies in clean, pristine lighting. For key lights, I requested the photographer use large softboxes to grant the skin a luminous, translucent glow while keeping the primarily blue costume rich and saturated. The outfit is packed with delicate accents: white lace across the shoulders, pink trim, cutout chest straps, and a pink knot with dangling tassels at the waist. To prevent compositions from looking static, we brought along a prop—that pink-and-gray toy blaster.
My photographer and I brainstormed posing at length. People usually imagine D.Va sitting inside her mech, sporting a headset and gaming away, but a qipao fan concept unlocks a totally different setting. In the first frame, I chose a two-handed grip on the blaster paired with a playful wink—not just to radiate sass, but to inject dynamic tension into the composition. The blaster is quite substantial; holding it with both hands meant leaning my center of gravity forward slightly and engaging arm muscles to keep it rock-steady. The camera was lowered subtly to create perspective along the blaster barrel, keeping the pose lively rather than rigid. Winking requires fine facial muscle control: beyond keeping the open eye bright and lively, the upward curl of the smile must remain natural to avoid looking forced. We took over a dozen rapid exposures to lock down that single sparkling frame.
The second shot transitioned to a serene posture: holding the blaster in one arm, turning subtly in profile, and smiling directly into the camera. Shifting weight onto the back leg and relaxing the shoulders produced an elongated, poised line, beautifully displaying the tailored silhouette of the dress and the blue gradient peeking through the wig tips. The weather was rather warm that day; despite air conditioning in the studio, the combined heat of the dress and wig raised the ambient temperature. To keep makeup pristine, we did multiple touch-ups, especially around the forehead and nose.
White studio photography truly tests garment texture and physical dimensionality. To dodge blown highlights, we continuously calibrated the balance between fabric drapes and key strobes. The blend of pastel blue and pink looked dreamlike under diffused light. I always mentally rehearse my postures before stepping on set—where to rest hands to avoid visual clutter, how to angle the blaster without obscuring facial contours. These micro-details make all the difference. Reviewing the proofs made every drop of effort worthwhile. The set radiates Hana Song's confident bravado from Overwatch alongside the playful tenderness of oriental grace; paired with the pink firearm, it translated remarkably well in the studio setting. I hope this creative tribute brings everyone a fresh, delightful visual treat.