[Haruka Shino cosplay] A Quiet Afternoon Beside the Goldfish Pool

For this shoot, we chose a Retro dessert shop featuring a glass goldfish pool (Kingyobachi), initially aiming to use the dynamic movement of swimming fish to accentuate the character's quiet tranquility. Because of the character's unique lore (Haruka Shino cosplay from Arknights), I dedicated significant effort to the makeup—first selecting pink-purple contact lenses paired with deep red eyeliner to outline a subtly languid contour. The wig featured a gradient orange-red styled with large wavy curls at the ends, while the custom dark brown bow on top offered great volume to flatter the face shape. The outfit was a reddish-brown plaid dress paired with a white lace necktie, harmonizing beautifully with the warm yellow lighting of the shop.

The biggest challenge during shooting was capturing candid shots through the glass. Dealing with surface reflections on the glass required adjusting body angles—both to avoid catching the camera's reflection and to ensure swimming goldfish aligned perfectly in front of my eyes or fingertips. The photographer utilized glass refraction and reflections to overlap the outside streetscape, indoor chandeliers, and swimming fish in water, crafting a surreal visual composition. The second high-angle shot utilized reflections to candidly capture pedestrians outside the window, lending an accidental narrative depth to the scene.

Aiming to match the character's cool, aloof temperament, facial expressions were kept mostly devoid of smiles, relying on eye focus to convey presence. In post-processing color grading, I deliberately darkened the surrounding stone walls and wooden cabinets while preserving the warm yellow light sources, deepening the contrast between red and brown to accentuate the warm, radiant glow on the face. The entire shoot lasted about three hours, continuously interacting with goldfish at various water levels until finding the ideal silhouettes. The shop's pineapples, bananas, and peaches served as props that unexpectedly enriched color saturation without overpowering the subject, making the overall composition feel fuller and more vibrant. As an immersive creative attempt for an Anime cosplayer, this photoshoot experience was truly special.