A lot of thought went into the design and presentation of this Hiyuki cosplay look. In terms of clothing, the classic contrasting combination of white and true red is highly eye-catching. To highlight the character's clean-cut yet slightly noble traits, the top features an off-the-shoulder design, which, paired with a fine chain around the neck, visually elongates the neckline. The waist structure is relatively complex; the belt patched with black-blue fabric and metal pieces not only needs to be properly secured but also must ensure that the overall proportions remain coordinated when moving around the scene. The outer red skirt utilizes a fabric with a certain stiffness, giving it an excellent drape when hitting the ground, while combining it with a translucent mesh shawl makes the Chinese-style cosplay dynamic without looking overly complicated.
The wig part was actually the greatest test of patience. Long white hair is highly prone to frizz, especially when crafting the high ponytail and side-swept twin-tails structure. I had to repeatedly use a curling iron to style natural curves and fix the volume with styling spray. The red and white tassels of the hair accessory are the finishing touch; during the shoot, I was quite worried they would block my face, but fortunately, the final positioning achieved the desired effect. For makeup, to match the cold temperament, I chose a lighter foundation palette to enhance a fair skin complexion. For the eyes, I discarded heavy, intensely colored eyeshadows, instead using earth tones to deepen the eye sockets and silver highlights to illuminate the inner corners, making my gaze appear sharper and clearer, which looks very spirited alongside the character's hair color.
During the shooting process, I am most satisfied with the third photo holding the sword. This weapon is relatively long, so finding the balance holding it with one hand wasn't easy, requiring cooperation from both hands to manage the center of gravity. When striking the pose of holding the sword horizontally, the core of the waist must be tightened to stabilize the center of gravity, cooperating with the lens to showcase that aura of cutting down everything. Personally, I also really like the moment in the second picture where my hand touches the white flower; it's a relatively serene image, forming a contrast with the coldness of the third one. To create a sense of storytelling, a paper umbrella inscribed with calligraphy was specially prepared on-site. Although it wasn't fully shown in the handheld shots in the end, scattering it at the edge of the frame also added to the overall oriental charm.
The wooden window lattices and white long gauze curtains of the shooting location were also great helps. Natural light filtered through the rear window, creating a beautiful backlighting effect. To compensate for the shadows on the face, side reflectors were used on-site. Although this complex ambient light places high demands on the photographer's framing, it gave the final photos a strong cinematic feel. The plum blossom branches in the frame naturally extended to the side of the character, filling the empty spaces while seemingly initiating a certain dialogue with the character herself. Although the overall cosplay photoshoot was physically demanding, especially carrying that gear around to find angles, looking at the final edited photos, all the effort was well worth it.