A couple of days ago, my partner and I finished shooting this summer special edition of From Me to You during Meizhou outdoor photography.
The first uniform set is the most recognizable white shirt, red bow tie, and blue skirt. To recreate Sawako Kuronuma's pure charm, I specifically chose a pleated skirt and white knee-high socks. The moment I put them on, the emotion felt right. Paired with that blue-and-white sports tote bag and the guy's red tie, the frame instantly carried narrative depth. The classic red-blue-white color blocking felt visually soothing against the backdrop of green hydrangeas.
For the second set, we changed into blue blazer uniforms. Combined with the red telephone booth and white iron bench at the location, the ambience instantly shifted from daily campus life into a slightly sweet romance anime. This blazer tailored cut was a real test; we spent considerable effort finding the right color shade. Weaving through hydrangea bushes adorned with wooden fences and white chairs, any random snapshot captured that distinctly Japanese youthful vibe.
My synergy with Shota Kazehaya cosplay was already very natural, from looking down to straighten shirt corners to holding hands and looking back in the woods—every eye contact felt effortless. During shooting, we constantly explored that delicate aura between Sawako and Kazehaya: pure yet shy, yet unable to resist leaning closer. Teasing each other on set helped us adjust into character state rapidly. Especially in the looking-back shot, using hanging tree branches and blurred hydrangeas for foreground bokeh while pulling subjects slightly further away made the frame feel clean yet tinged with dreamy atmosphere.
We specifically prepared these iconic campus uniforms for shooting Sawako and Kazehaya from From Me to You. His refreshing short black textured cut paired with my waist-length straight black hair matched original character settings closely. My ensemble featured a classic white shirt with a neck bow paired with a blue pleated skirt. To reflect Sawako's pristine freshness, I specifically chose clean pure-white long stockings. Furthermore, skirt length selection proved crucial: too short would lean gal style, easily shattering character purity. Falling right above the knees and paired with black leather loafers, the full ensemble flattered body proportions. He wore a white casual shirt with slightly rolled sleeves, paired with a red tie and blue trousers, looking exceedingly clean and bright.
Beyond the white shirt set, the light blue blazer jacket we changed into was equally iconic, reflecting more formal academy-style attire in original settings. Putting on the blue blazer brought out a slightly more composed temperament. Standing together before the red telephone booth, blue blazers set against the red booth created striking yet harmonious contrast. We also used a white transparent umbrella prop; holding the umbrella in front of hydrangeas conjured up a poetic scene reminiscent of a rainy first encounter.
Regarding interaction details, besides those mentioned earlier, there was also that shot where both of us leaned close looking down together—Shota Kazehaya looking down at Sawako or both looking at some small item. This natural proximity heavily tests familiarity between cosplayers. With tree branches sheltering us from above, it conveyed a tranquil sense of security. Capturing the looking-back snapshot proved hardest: coordinating steps while maintaining a naturally surprised expression required walking back and forth several times to seize the most organic frame.
Regarding photographic equipment, we utilized a large aperture lens to emphasize subjects and soft natural light to evoke a filmic texture. For post-processing, instead of artificially boosting saturation, we performed minor yellow-reduction and brightening adjustments, yielding a light, breathable visual tone. Slightly blurring foreground hydrangeas not only highlighted the main subjects but added a hazy romantic atmosphere to the frame.
Truthfully, when shooting campus anime like this, the hardest part isn't recreating costumes, but conveying that awkward, innocent, yet curious tension between two people. Laughing too much makes it look like an ordinary daily photo; remaining expressionless throughout loses character essence. So we chatted while shooting, striving to capture those serendipitous moments—glances meeting, stealing peeks, or an inadvertent hand-hold. Finishing this set, my partner and I felt this school-style Anime cosplay truly requires filters, lighting, attire, and emotional state working in unison. Every shutter press is a homage to memories and original work. If anyone wants to shoot similar concepts during Meizhou outdoor photography, I recommend this hydrangea blooming season, and remember to prepare outfits in advance.