This photoshoot features a Custom design Lunar New Year Chinese style look for Fu Xuan cosplay, completed just in time for the Year of the Snake New Year. Wanting to create a visual presentation that preserves Fu Xuan's intrinsic aura while infusing the joyful warmth of the Spring Festival, I made several adjustments to the costume and props. For the attire, I selected a red-and-white Lunar New Year Chinese style winter outfit featuring white fleece-trimmed edges and a red embroidered vest, mixing fleece and velvet textures to hold up the warm winter sensation. The wig is light pink-purple, styled into her classic rabbit-ear buns, paired with a golden crown and red tassel pendants. The diamond gemstone on the forehead was specially chosen in glossy resin, refracting starry sparkles under the warm light. For props, I prepared a treasure chest of gold ingots, a red scroll inscribed with "Happy New Year", and a small wooden plaque reading "Joy" and "LUCKY", all designed to heighten the festive atmosphere.
The shoot took place in an indoor studio set, decorated with traditional Chinese round windows, red plum blossom branches, and golden wheat ears to cultivate a rich Lunar New Year Chinese style atmosphere. The lighting mainly utilized a warm orange key light paired with a large ring fill light positioned behind me, casting a distinct rim light and a dreamy backlit effect. Combined with a fine mist and suspended dust sprayed before the lens, natural light flares and Tyndall effects emerged across the frame. During shooting, we focused on capturing specific poses: in the shot holding the scroll, my hands naturally rested clasped over it, with a confident, poised gaze and a well-aligned frontal composition ideal for a cover photo. In the shots with the treasure chest and gold ingots, I explored various hand placements—like gently rubbing a gold ingot between fingers or resting a hand lightly on the chest lid—subtle gestures that conveyed the character's composed yet subtly playful demeanor.
In Cosplay photography, facial lighting control is crucial. I used dual lights to illuminate my facial features, paired with loose powder to suppress glare, ensuring the skin remained translucent and matte without greasy shine under warm lighting. The makeup was also customized: warm red-brown eyeshadow was winged outward along the eye corners, paired with yellow contact lenses to deepen the gaze. For the lips, I chose a medium-saturation orange-red that avoids overpowering other features while harmonizing with the costume's red elements. Although the wig styling was intricate, setting spray and hairpins secured it firmly throughout the entire day without losing shape.
Although this theme is a Custom design, I strived to retain Fu Xuan's signature blend of ethereal grace and intellect, merely softening her presence against the festive New Year backdrop. The shoot went very smoothly; the photographer understood my desired light-and-shadow effects intuitively, guiding me through side glances and half-veiled poses (like Photos 3 and 5), creating subtle, evocative compositions that easily catch the eye on social media. However, for the main feature image, I personally prefer the frontal shot holding the scroll, as the composition is balanced, rich in festive elements, and clearly showcases every detail of the styling.
Having done Cosplay photography for so long, what I find most fascinating is using imagination to explore different dimensions of a character. In Honkai: Star Rail, Fu Xuan is meticulous and stern, but on such a joyous holiday, imagining her dressed in softer fabrics and holding a chest of gold ingots to deliver blessings is a delightful interpretation. I hope everyone viewing these photos can feel the Lunar New Year Chinese style warmth and the unique charm of this Fu Xuan cosplay.