This shoot featured the Perfumer Treasure-spitting rat cosplay from the Identity V and Fabulous Beasts collaboration. The overall concept leans heavily into soft pink tones, and the shoot took place under blooming cherry trees as an outdoor Cherry blossom cosplay session. The styling involved numerous intricate details: the wig was a long pink wavy style, shaped with a hairdryer and hair wax to ensure it remained neat even in gusty outdoor breezes. The white animal ears on top were shaped with aluminum wire beforehand so they stood upright steadily without tilting when turning my head. For eye makeup, since the character is an auspicious mythical beast, the eye shape was drawn softly rounded and accented with fine glitter along the lower eyelids to bring out a lively and translucent gaze. A soft pink shade was chosen for the lips. The outfit is a pink backless dress featuring turquoise ribbon lace-up details at the cuffs, crafted from a fabric with a subtle sheen. To flatter the lines of the back and the dress texture, maintaining an upright, poised posture was essential throughout the shoot.
The round fan was the core prop of this styling; its semi-sheer fabric embroidered with floral motifs created a radiant halo in backlighting, bringing exquisite texture. While shooting, the hand holding the fan had to be steady with the wrist curved softly to avoid rigidity. To compose the best frontal shot with the fan, we repeatedly adjusted the angle between the fan and my face, veiling the lower half to evoke mystery while leaving sufficient room for communicative eye contact with the camera. The natural light around 4:00 PM was ideal—the setting sun filtered through cherry blossom branches into warm backlighting, catching the edges of the wig to produce a soft, glowing halo. When the wind blew, petals drifted down quickly, requiring continuous repositioning to capture the perfect frame. The beaded bracelets and tasseled hairpieces made delicate clinking sounds as I moved, which, paired with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, created an immersive ambiance.
Applying makeup and putting on accessories before the shoot took nearly two hours. Styling delicate curls is challenging, especially when mounting large animal ears, which required sectioning and securing the hair meticulously. Threading the ribbons through the cuffs also required patience. I was initially concerned that backlighting might leave my face too dark, but adjusting the reflector's position and angle ensured that the hair highlights from the backlight made the entire look appear even more ethereal. To achieve optimal results, the photographer and I tested numerous angles, balancing the profile silhouette and the proportion of the fan veiling the face. We shot over twenty takes for the veiled-face pose alone, micro-adjusting the handle repeatedly to prevent the fan from covering the eyes or catching awkward glare.
Maintaining proper posture was a constant priority, as the backless design reveals back lines directly and looks unflattering if one slouches even slightly. A gentle breeze passed through during the session, sending cherry blossom petals fluttering down; candid captures rely heavily on luck, and fortunately, we caught that natural moment. In post-processing, color grading was unified to harmonize the pink wig, pink dress, and cherry blossom backdrop, slightly lifting shadow details for a clean, translucent feel. While the shoot was physically demanding, the synergy between the styling and the natural scenery was very high. I explored both closed-eye and open-eye poses: closed eyes with a slightly lowered head felt deeply atmospheric, while looking directly into the lens holding the fan fostered stronger interaction. The shoot was a delightful experience, and I am glad this photo set captures the character's agility and elegance.