Preparing for this Wuthering Waves Hiyuki cosplay took considerable care and effort, from garment prototyping to wig styling. The long silver-white hair required extensive setting and grooming to capture that natural, subtly textured flow, and the blue-and-white ribbon hairpins on both sides were repeatedly adjusted to ensure they stayed dimensional and full before the camera. The costume features a striking color-block design of pure white and deep navy: an off-the-shoulder short-sleeved top trimmed with dark blue piping and graphic chest prints, paired below with a gradient-tinted lightweight chiffon skirt that flutters with an airy drape as I walk. The look was finished with white harness bands around the thigh and white platform sandals accented with translucent straps and blue details.
The shooting location was deliberately set inside a studio featuring Japanese wooden architecture and paper shoji screens, complemented by pine bonsai trees and stone lanterns; this vintage atmosphere served as a wonderful backdrop to elevate the character's temperament. To harmonize with the scene's lighting, we used the warm yellow glow filtering through wooden lanterns as the key light. This warm illumination cast against the cool silver hair and blue-and-white attire created a vivid contrast between light and shadow, instantly giving the images rich compositional depth.
Shooting this set was physically demanding. In the first shot, I half-sat on stone steps, holding the slender straight sword pointing downward at an angle in my right hand; keeping my core firmly engaged was essential to showcase the elongated lines connecting the sword and my posture. The second shot had me sitting on the wooden floor with legs crossed and raised, holding the longsword horizontally across my lap with both hands. While this pose appears relaxed and languid, actual shooting required continuous leg adjustments to preserve the graceful drape of the skirt and the elongated lines of my figure, all while ensuring the sword grip remained natural rather than rigid. Although the sword was a prop, its long dimensions definitely left my wrists sore after holding it for a while.
As someone who cosplays regularly, I believe body language and emotional expression during photography are just as crucial as the accuracy of costumes and props. The overall tone of this set leaned toward coolness and serenity, so I kept my facial expressions restrained, maintaining calm eyes without exaggerated gestures, hoping this understated approach would convey the character's distinctive presence in this setting. Every creative shoot is a fresh journey; I learned a tremendous amount about harmonizing sets and lighting this time, and I am especially grateful to the photographer for their patient guidance and lighting setup.