Having just finished shooting this set of Cartethyia photos, from completing the makeup and styling to entering the studio for the shoot, I have always felt this design has a great sense of breathing room. From the post, I can see that everyone might also be attracted by this ethereal yet slightly playful design, so today I want to record some thoughts and details before and after this shoot.
The overall conception of the costume leans towards lightweight and ethereal, with the most core visual focus definitely being that semi-transparent cape with a gradient from white to aqua blue. To achieve this elegant and distinct effect in the photos, we specially adjusted the position of the fan during the shoot, letting the wind blow up the hem of the fabric to simulate the floating feeling of jellyfish in deep-sea ocean currents. The neck accessory and the black base skirt add visual weight, pulling apart the layers by utilizing a cool color scheme of black, white, and blue along with a small amount of gold embellishments. During Photography, special attention was paid to the light transmission of the semi-transparent fabric under indoor lighting, as well as the refraction of ripples under different angles. Only after repeatedly adjusting the positions of the props and small accessories did we capture this effect that seems to carry a bit of water-surface sheen.
I am also quite satisfied with the details; the branch-shaped headpiece combined with the small blue flying fish, along with the pointed elf ears, brings a very strong fantasy coloration. The white thorn-like rings wrapped around the wrists and ankles, plus a thin gold chain around the ankle, allow these small accessories to maintain a high level of completion for the overall look even without wearing shoes. To display the character's inherent elegance and vividness, apart from standard standing poses in the studio, the photographer and I also explored many sitting postures. For instance, curling up with knees hugged on a white square box, or sitting sideways on a wooden stool with one leg lifted—these poses can beautifully spread out the large area of the trailing skirt hem while highlighting the leg and body line aesthetics we want to showcase in this set of photos. The prop held in hand is also an extension of the overall vision; holding it in hand or casually placing it beside me adds a few layers of aura to the person.
This time, the shoot was conducted in a basic gray-and-white background studio with very clean lighting setup. The benefit of a minimalist background lies in completely avoiding stealing the spotlight, leaving all visual focus to the character's makeup, styling, and demeanor. The position of the studio's softbox was calibrated very accurately, which could both penetrate the blue transparent cape on both sides of the shoulders and make the facial makeup look exceptionally clear and natural, with the skin's glossiness handled ideally. Actually, before the shoot, I was somewhat worried that this look might be a bit niche, but with the coordination of the stylist and photographer, we continuously tried different angles, light, and shadow. When seeing the final photos at last, that unique cold elegance of the character and the Moe anime girl temperament were completely integrated together.
Honestly, every time shooting this kind of attire with flowing elements yet carrying a sense of restriction is a test of physical stamina. That pair of elf ears is magnetic, so movements cannot be too vigorous, and the head ornaments also carry a certain weight, requiring me to keep my head steady at all times. When making movements like one leg dangling or hugging knees on the wooden stool, we often had to reshoot many times to maintain balance while ensuring the patterns of the trailing skirt hem were fully displayed, constantly adjusting hand movements and the focus of our gaze. The effortless posture presented in the final photos is the result of numerous attempts behind the scenes, but this creative process itself brings a great sense of achievement and is also a joy of getting closer to the character's core as a cosplayer.
As for the character temperament, this costume always reminds me of the feeling of a sea breeze sweeping past—crisp yet inclusive. The stiff black bow tie and metal chains bring a touch of angularity, while the nude-colored sleeves on both sides of the shoulders and arms and the lightweight, transparent skirt hem neutralize this cold hardness, forming a wonderful balance. Through this shoot, I hope to convey that mysterious, elegant feeling of the character, along with a tiny bit of curiosity about the world, through the language of imagery. Photography gave us a stage for secondary creation. Sorting out these behind-the-scenes thoughts and materials today is also drawing a full stop to this period of earnest preparation. Preserving this mood focused on styling design and lens performance makes me feel that all the effort was well worth it.