Preparing for this pool sailor suit themed photoshoot actually took much less time than I expected. Fortunately, the weather and lighting on that day were extremely cooperative, making the entire shooting process very smooth. This sailor suit style swimsuit is something I prepared a long time ago; the pure white short top paired with the iconic blue-striped sailor collar and the yellow-and-red neckerchief looks highly photogenic. To match the overall vibe, the headpiece uses a blue-and-white striped sailor hat of the same color scheme, along with the signature pink ribbon hair accessory and cross hair clips, making the whole look even more refreshing against the sea-blue pool water. The yellow scrunchie on the wrist not only echoes the neckerchief but also fixes the cuffs during water activities to prevent them from slipping and affecting the look.
Maintaining the perfect state of makeup and costume in a pool is actually not easy. Especially in the strong afternoon light, the reflection on the water surface is very intense, and the continuous ripples of the water challenge the focusing, requiring the photographer to constantly adjust camera angles to find the right fill light position. To present the most natural summer feel, I chose to stay in the shallow water area, using a blue-and-white lifebuoy and a pink heart-shaped inflatable swim ring as props. When sitting on the swim ring, it's important to control the body's center of gravity and stretch out the limb lines as much as possible, so that a truly relaxed and extended frame can be captured when the shutter clicks. For the shot where I stand in the water and stretch out my hand toward the lens, I repeatedly adjusted the extension direction of my arm and the facial angle during the actual shooting, just hoping to create a sense of interaction that transcends the screen.
For this kind of water-themed cosplay photos, the choice of props and clothing is also highly critical. If the top is too heavy or the fabric absorbs too much water, it will cling completely to the body once soaked, affecting the overall silhouette and appearing heavy instead of crisp. The fabric of the sailor suit top this time was relatively light and breathable, maintaining a certain crisp structure even after going under water. Paired with the exposed waist and midriff design, it offers a better sense of visual refreshment. In Figure 3, the pink-haired model in the background was accidentally blurred in, but it conversely created a subtle anime storytelling vibe, like a chance encounter at a pool party, which also fits the theme of being a “recorder of a romantic life.”
For the color selection of the props, I deliberately avoided overly intense colors, focusing on blue and white as the main tone to allow the overall presentation to exude a clean, translucent atmosphere. The mosaic tiles beside the pool also have a very fresh color, matching the costume's color palette beautifully. Sunlight passes through the water surface, refracting into delicate ripples of light and shadow on the pool bottom and on my body; this is probably the most wonderful look of summer. The cool, refreshing feeling presented by this entire set of photos can be considered a summer gift to myself. Although the shooting process had some twists and turns, seeing these final results makes me feel everything was completely worth it for this piece of Anime-style photography.