[Gongsun Li Cosplay] Honor of Kings "Mist of Parting Sorrow" Outdoor photoshoot: Capturing Details from the Shoot

The styling of "Mist of Parting Sorrow" carries immense visual impact, and I put a lot of effort into this Outdoor photoshoot for Gongsun Li Cosplay (from Honor of Kings). The makeup mainly featured a red-and-blue gradient eye look paired with long dark blue hair, while the red-dotted horn accessories and golden hairpins added a touch of playfulness. The costume is dominated by cyan, white, and gray tones accented with red touches; the cloud-pattern embroidery on the chest and the jade tassels at the waist boast wonderful texture.

The bottom half features a mini-skirt paired with a high-slit, flowing long train. This train looks gorgeous while walking, but it's exceptionally easy to trip over—I stepped on the hem several times during the shoot and had to stop to rearrange it, nearly tumbling over.

What gave me the biggest headache was the long-handled umbrella prop. When opened, it reveals an ink-wash painted canopy; when closed, the tip resembles a soaring bird—exquisitely designed, but genuinely heavy. When striking the pose in Photo 1 (raising one leg with arms outstretched), I had to rely on the umbrella to counterbalance my center of gravity. Combined with the weight of the outfit itself, my arms grew very sore. When posing on rough rocks, I also had to tread cautiously so the fabric wouldn't snag and tear on the stones.

Photos 2 and 3 were shot beside traditional wooden architecture; leaning against the pillars accentuated a tall, slender silhouette, and the over-the-shoulder gaze from behind the railing was perfect for capturing umbrella details. The warm wood tones created a striking contrast against the cool-toned attire. However, the greatest challenge was the natural daylight—shifting rapidly between overcast and sunny conditions, causing fast facial light changes that required the photographer to constantly tweak angles and reflector positions. It was quite windy during the outdoor shoot; the lightweight sheer tulle, while breathable, blew across my face constantly, forcing us to reshoot many poses. A seemingly effortless pose actually required countless shutter clicks behind the scenes. White garments are also notoriously prone to dirt, so I had to lift my train whenever moving to avoid mud and rock stains. To highlight the gradient dyes on the collar and sleeves as well as the waist tassels, I repeatedly adjusted my footing.

Posing on the rocks while maintaining aesthetic leg lines required constant muscle tension, leading to a sudden cramp midway that forced me to sit down and massage it out. Reviewing shots on camera playback, we occasionally found stray hairs blown loose by the wind or messy garment creases, prompting immediate makeup touch-ups and costume adjustments before shooting again. The structured shoulders looked crisp and sharp but felt rather constrictive; taking off the outfit at wrap was an instant relief. My personal favorite is the composition where the umbrella rests against one shoulder: using the canopy to block harsh direct light created a defined light-and-shadow boundary across the face, lending extra depth to my gaze. To complement the cyan-gray palette and ink-wash aesthetic, we chose dark gray rock faces and wooden structures as backdrops, which accentuated the subject's texture, while moss and grass on the ground served as natural foreground elements. Looking at my muddy shoes and disheveled skirt train after the shoot, I realized this is the authentic flavor of an outdoor shoot.

Since this is my beloved signature hero, I naturally wanted to recreate her faithfully. Styling and setting the wig for this location took considerable time. The design truly tests core posture because of the waist cutouts and rigid tulle shoulder structures, demanding constant mindfulness of body posture. Before shooting, I practiced eye expressions in front of the mirror many times; because the eye makeup was deep and intense, catching the right light gave my expressions richer emotional layering. This is the true charm of 2D cosplay: completely immersing oneself into the character, wandering through ancient architecture with the sacred umbrella in hand. While not flawless, this moment gave me a tremendous sense of accomplishment.