Studio schedules for Shenzhen cosplay shoots are always tightly packed, but to bring the vision of My Melody Daji to life, a lot of meticulous prep went into pre-production. Once we determined that the overall vibe should take an ultra-sweet route, I selected the classic blue-and-pink color palette for the outfit. The top features an off-the-shoulder design in lustrous light blue, trimmed with white lace around the neckline and cuffs to accentuate figure lines. The skirt incorporates abundant pink pleats and white lace, cascading in delicate layers with every movement. To stay true to Daji's character essence in Honor of Kings, immense care was given to the accessories. The small white apron at the waist added dimensional layering, and the hanging My Melody mini plush enriched the entire look. The headpiece was a headband with oversized pink plush beast ears boasting realistic fur texture, which paired with a long wavy pastel pink wig to make the silhouette visually captivating.
For makeup, I moved away from the original Daji's sultry seductiveness toward a sweet anime aesthetic. Wearing light blue colored contacts, the eye makeup accentuated lower lashes and aegyo sal, with sparkling heart-shaped glitter adorning the cheeks. Since I would be interacting with props like spoons and spatulas during shooting, I specially prepared pink cat-paw manicured nails. The entire set was filled with a sea of pink plush toys, with walls and shelves overflowing with girlish charm, offering a wonderful sense of immersion. During the shoot, choosing kitchen utensils as props created a delightfully cute contrast against Daji's persona. In terms of lighting, the key light used a softbox complemented by reflectors, lowering overall contrast to make the atmosphere dreamier. When posing lying down, special attention had to be paid to the drape of the skirt; I made sure my legs and the lace White stockings extended in clean lines to prevent the framing from looking cluttered. To keep poses natural, I tried holding a cake with both hands, pointing a pink spoon toward the lens, and holding a spatula in one hand, adding storytelling to the images. Close-ups focused on facial nuances and the delicate tailoring of the upper costume. In post-processing, I mainly adjusted the pink saturation to ensure highlights didn't blow out. This set achieved the intended harmony between color palette and environment, and I'm ready to move into post-production for the next look.