[Dolia cosplay] Honor of Kings Ocean Maiden's Underwater Shooting Diary

Let's dive into the behind-the-scenes of this Dolia photoshoot today! Ever since confirming this character, I kept pondering how to capture that organic synergy of coexisting with water, so we specifically staged the set in the water.

First, the styling and wardrobe preparations: To maintain an airy volume for the Blue-haired girl look underwater, the wig not only received generous styling product, but its inner mesh was meticulously teased. The iconic ahoge on the crown was reinforced with an internal wire frame so it wouldn't droop no matter how much I moved. Hairpieces incorporated pearl strands, red coral, and white seashells; the seashell and starfish ornaments near the collarbones were anchored to the dress using waterproof monofilament to prevent them from dropping off during wide movements. For eye makeup, crystalline blue contacts were paired with expansive pink blending from the lower eyelids toward the cheekbones, accented with delicate scale-like sparkles to make the entire face appear vibrant and ethereal in natural light.

Stepping into the water brought far greater challenges than expected. Submerged in the water, balancing center of gravity was tricky, and once the skirt became drenched, it grew exceptionally heavy—every back-arch or outstretched gesture required deep core strength to stay steady. To capture that natural, interactive charm in Photo 2, I tried relaxing completely to yield to the water's buoyancy, pretending I was truly a siren living beneath the waves. Water splashing into the eyes stung severely and caused contact lenses to shift, meaning I had to surface every few seconds to reset and apply eye drops.

The gown is made of lightweight sheer chiffon, which clings closely to the skin when wet, so the photographer and I constantly coordinated camera angles and lighting. Surface glare could easily blow out facial exposure, requiring careful angle control when using external strobes to preserve the translucent clarity of the water. Sitting in the shallows and cupping both hands upward in Photo 3 aimed to convey an intimate, effortless connection with water—a posture requiring immense leg control to sit firmly without drifting.

Post-processing focused primarily on restoring that luminous translucency under natural light, subtly enhancing water ripple refractions and ambient bokeh while avoiding heavy skin smoothing to preserve the authentic touch of water droplets clinging to the face. Through this attempt, despite the physical exhaustion of moving underwater and the heavily tangled wig, the ocean-blue palette of the final frames was profoundly satisfying. Photo 1's close-up spotlights the detailed styling, Photo 2 captures playful charm, and Photo 3 embodies the seamless harmony between costume and environment. Embodying this character brought invaluable lessons in Underwater photography, and I will keep exploring diverse techniques to create even better imagery.