[Jeanne d'Arc (Alter) cosplay] Cold Moments of the Fate/Grand Order Avenger

I started our shoot today with this Dark style Jeanne d'Arc (Alter) look. The silver-white short wig has a very smooth texture, and I styled the ahoge at the crown to ensure it wouldn't easily collapse. The glossy black headpiece has a rather complex structure and needs to be clipped in a very specific position so as not to press down on the bangs. Though the black claw-shaped pendant pieces on both sides aren't large, they sway gently with any head movement, adding a touch of subtle motion.

For the makeup, I focused primarily on the eyes. To align with the character's cold sense of detachment, I intentionally thickened the lower eyeliner, which, paired with the contacts and lashes, helps to ground the intensity of her glare. I chose a soft dusty-rose color for the lips and kept the overall face matte, choosing not to emphasize her malice with heavy blood-red tones, but rather to preserve her cold, aloof composure.

Regarding the outfit, the black faux-fur collar paired with the black cape fabric creates a distinct layering of textures. The thick black metal chain across the chest serves as the visual highlight of the entire ensemble; it's not only decorative but swings naturally as I walk. Paired with the structured leather-like shoulder pieces, it immediately adds weight and volume to the upper body. Without unnecessary, flashy ornaments, the clean tailoring of this outfit relies primarily on the chains and headpiece to establish visual gravity.

I chose a high-angle overhead perspective for the shots to fully capture the upper body's structure without making the composition look top-heavy. In terms of lighting, the first photo was shot under direct, basic white indoor light, which clearly displays the edges of the wig and the glossy sheen of the headpiece—perfect for showcasing the true texture of the fabrics. For the subsequent shots, I introduced a blue-violet ambient light to bring out the cold, elegant, and dark aesthetic characteristic of Avenger-class characters in Fate/Grand Order. The blue light cast onto the silver hair creates a subtle luminescent effect, making the hair strands look incredibly dimensional.

During the prep stage, securing the headpiece took quite a bit of effort. Since the wig is very smooth, clips tended to slide off easily, so I added some non-slip pads to the inside to ensure stability during the shoot. I also trimmed the wig's bangs twice to ensure they wouldn't obscure the eye makeup while still leaving enough room for the headpiece to sit naturally.

For this set, I didn't want to go for an overly loud, heavy-metal look; instead, I wanted to convey the restrained yet powerful aura of an Avenger. Although this character carries extreme emotions, I felt that a quiet gaze and simple posture were more than enough for static photos, without needing to force dramatic poses. Shooting under blue light affects skin tones, so I set the camera's white balance slightly neutral to leave room for adjusting the warm and cool tones in post-processing. Taking selfies while wearing the heavy chain and headpiece was actually quite tiring, as the balance was hard to maintain, requiring careful angling to make the poses look effortless.

The high-quality materials of this costume give it a very solid and rich texture, and the shoulder structure ensures the upper body looks sufficiently broad. Personally, I feel that a few natural folds in the cape tell a much better story than keeping everything perfectly flat and ironed. I am really pleased with the close-ups of my gaze in this set; the eyelashes are sharply defined, and the eyeshadow colors are kept very restrained to keep the viewer's attention focused entirely on the expression in the eyes.

When it came to accessories, I originally debated whether to include a weapon prop. However, I eventually decided that focusing on close-up shots of the face and upper body would keep the visual impact concentrated, rather than scattering the focus with too many elements. Relying solely on the headpiece, chains, and cool-toned lighting, I sought to convey the character's core traits of isolation and pride.

Well, this post serves as a record of this stage of the photoshoot. I'm sure the final product will look even better once the background scenes are fully integrated.