For this shoot, I chose Cheshire's New Year cheongsam cosplay from Azur Lane, and the costume details were actually much more intricate than expected. The white plush trim on the collar and cuffs required special care to avoid looking messy; before shooting, I groomed the fur multiple times with a dedicated brush to achieve a fluffy yet smooth texture. The gold thread embroidery on the red cheongsam is extremely delicate, but the trickiest part was managing the layering of the high slit and the inner shorts—allowing flexibility for movement while preventing any wardrobe malfunctions. I repeatedly adjusted my leg angles while posing. Those one-legged standing poses in the photos actually took a lot of effort to balance; with my heels pressed inside the red patent leather high heels and my feet constantly tensed, my calves got quite sore toward the end. But seeing the crisp, clean lines in the final photos made it all worthwhile.
The set design incorporated plenty of traditional Chinese elements, such as the golden-leaf tree and red Spring Festival ornaments in the background, along with bamboo steamers and tea sets on the side, complementing the festive tones of the cheongsam perfectly. The red-and-black folding fan in my hand was also specially chosen to add dynamic tension and motion when opened. Regarding shooting angles, the team experimented with several different perspectives—the direct top-down overhead shot in Photo 2 demanded considerable core strength, requiring precise alignment of hair and headpieces when lying down while pointing the toes of the raised leg straight to best showcase the white tights cosplay and lace garter straps. The tilted Dutch angle composition in Photo 4 naturally blended the lines of the body and furniture, creating a lively, snapshot-like feel.
For makeup, the focus was on the eyes. The teal contact lenses echoed the blue-grey gradient hair ends, while subtle reddish eyeshadow was smudged at the outer corners to soften the aloofness of the cool-toned hair and make the character feel warmer and more approachable. For the lips, I chose a lower-saturation red to create visual depth rather than clashing directly with the vibrant red dress. The headpiece with its two red pompoms and large white bow was tricky to balance; I had to keep my neck straight throughout the shoot to keep it from tilting and spoiling the overall look.
When shooting holiday-themed Anime cosplay, the hardest part is conveying a festive yet natural vibe without feeling forced. I kept my expressions relaxed; for example, in Photo 3 while raising my leg and waving the fan, my gaze met the camera with a subtle smile rather than a rigid pose. The combination of white tights and high heels smoothly contoured the legs under side lighting, though careful attention was needed to prevent overexposed highlights, for which the photographer used a softbox to balance the texture. The final result harmonized the red-and-white palette beautifully with the Lunar New Year scene, serving as a special keepsake for this holiday.