[Daji cosplay] Honor of Kings: Oiran Under the Moon Themed Japanese-style photoshoot

The theme for this photoshoot was Daji from Honor of Kings, infusing elements of an Oiran and a fox spirit. During early creative discussions, I told the team that I wanted to break away from Daji's usual sweet, coquetish persona to explore a more mature, lavish style tinged with a hint of danger. Customizing this costume took considerable thought: the outer layer is a modified kimono splicing red and gold, layered over a white bandeau top; to make the visual effect even more striking, the obi sash was adorned with an oversized red peony blossom and layered black-and-gold fabrics, while dangling bells chimed crisply with every step. For the wig, I selected a short style with an orange-yellow to pink gradient, which, paired with that fluffy pair of fox ears, instantly brought out the cunning spirit of the fox. The fan-shaped red-and-gold crown and red flowers on the headdress were also assembled piece by piece in our workshop.

For makeup, to complement the Oiran concept, the eye makeup utilized pinkish-red blending to accentuate the outer corners, while the lips were painted a lustrous, dewy red. Beneath my left collarbone, a red butterfly temporary tattoo was added as a subtle highlight within the frame. The handheld props during shooting were also crucial—the black folding fan adorned with red blossoms and the slender kiseru pipe both enriched the narrative depth of the imagery. With these props, posing felt far more organic; rather than forcing an affected sultriness, I simply followed the natural lines of the props to align my gaze and body language.

Setting up the scene was equally laborious. The backdrop featured a massive full moon paired with a dark night sky and sparse white cherry blossom branches, constructing an environment steeped in Eastern fantasy. For architectural details, we used eaves with circular relief tiles alongside wooden lattice screens and doors, while antique wooden lanterns on the floor held warm light sources to firmly anchor the ambiance. I sat on a platform draped in a white plush rug, surrounded by scattered red tulle that caught and transmitted the light beautifully.

For camera gear, we shot with the Hasselblad X2D II 100C; medium format truly excels in capturing subtle textures and smooth tonal transitions in Portrait photography. During the shoot, lighting was primarily warm-toned to illuminate my face and the fabric patterns, creating contrast against the cool-toned full moon backdrop. Red-and-gold garments stand out vividly in dark environments but easily blow out, requiring real-time balance adjustments. In Capture One, post-processing focused on fine-tuning red and gold saturations while vignetting the perimeter to concentrate the visual center, preserving the delicate embroidery on the fabrics.

In posing design, I avoided simply sitting still, utilizing crossed legs and reclining postures to reveal the garment's side slit while naturally elongating leg lines and adding lightness to the frame. High-angle overhead shots worked wonderfully to extend visual proportions. Controlling the gaze was the most delicate part of the shoot—neither dull nor contrived, carrying the subtle curiosity and allure unique to a fox spirit. Every time the lens swung toward me, I imagined myself seated high in a moonlit pavilion, looking down upon whoever was watching from outside the frame.

The final Japanese-style photoshoot captured our original vision closely. The red packs immense visual punch, yet framed by cool moonlight and the white plush rug, the composition never feels overly saturated or heated. Taking this project from costume curation to the final frame took considerable time, and bringing these concepts to life step by step brought an immense sense of accomplishment.