Once the theme for this photoshoot was decided, preparing the outfit and details took quite a bit of time. Considering Sakura Matou's quiet and resilient personality in the Fate series, we deliberately avoided overly gorgeous or complex elements, choosing a soft and light white-toned outfit instead. The texture of the white plush jacket paired with an inner lace crew neck, along with a visually substantial black wide ribbon at the waist, aimed to establish a visual anchor within the simple elegance. The jacket was chosen to be fluffy yet lightweight, leaving ample room for movement. For hair ornaments, pink-and-white flowers, blue butterfly decorations, and red ribbons were used as contrasting accents alongside long purple hair, echoing the character's classic design.
It truly was a "shoot in the rain." The temperature in the park was very low, and although the rain wasn't heavy, it drizzled continuously. While the pictures look tranquil and fresh, my fingers were completely frozen during the shoot, and my hands shook while holding the frame of the transparent umbrella. Being able to achieve a highly polished set of Cosplay photography under these weather conditions warrants the biggest thanks to the photographer who accompanied me that day. The light on the day of the shoot was very diffused, and coupled with the humidity, it was actually quite unfriendly for camera exposure and white balance. Rather than slacking off because of the rain, the photographer diligently hunted for angles, using parked cars by the roadside, road reflections, and cherry blossom branches as foreground frames to create depth of field.
The prop used most in this photo set was this transparent umbrella. The advantage of a clear umbrella is that it satisfies the need for rain protection while visually softening any sense of blockage. The dense raindrops on the umbrella surface combined with the falling cherry blossoms in the background created a very natural filter effect. Especially in certain close-ups and half-body shots—such as looking back under the umbrella or looking down at raindrops—this cool Rainy day aesthetic was spot-on, bringing out the character's quiet and narrative-filled temperament. To keep the visual from feeling overly cold, we also used some blue butterfly props during the shoot to add a touch of liveliness. Having butterflies rest on hair or holding them in hand was a highlight of the initial planning, making the overall look much more vivid.
Choosing to shoot sakura in Sakura Park was a project filled with a sense of ritual in itself. For Sakura Matou, the imagery of "cherry blossoms" is intrinsically linked to her name and journey. Though the real-world weather was cold enough to make one want to flee on the spot, seeing the cool white-and-blue tones rendered on the camera screen, accompanied by white petals blown down by the wind, made all the hard work worthwhile. As a cosplayer, I've always felt that recreating a character isn't limited to wearing the right clothes; more importantly, it's about capturing the character's authentic emotions in a specific environment. This Cherry blossom season portrait recreation during a rainy day feels like a personal answer I'm quite satisfied with.
During photo editing, we kept this cool grey base tone without stacking excessive color filters, prioritizing preserving the textures of rainwater and fabrics. This costume underwent multiple adjustments from tailoring to the outdoor shoot, and the final result fits the setting quite well. If you ever shoot outdoors in this kind of weather, be sure to stay warm—catching a cold really affects your state afterward. I'm deeply grateful to the photographer for their professional, weather-defying spirit, allowing this "advance creation" of cherry blossom memories to be frozen in time. Although getting drenched in the rain was a bit miserable, looking at the finished shots on screen gives me a genuine sense of accomplishment.