The process of this Rei Ayanami "Language of Flowers" shoot by Dali Erhai Lake brought even more pleasant surprises than expected. In the morning, the wind at Erhai Lake was strong, the water surface shimmered with delicate ripples, the distant Cangshan Mountains had clear outlines, and the sky was an exceptionally transparent blue. Choosing such a natural light environment to present this look was actually very challenging because the wind caused significant interference to the wig and skirt. However, it was precisely this dynamic environment that gave the shoot an unexpected sense of vividness.
Regarding the styling for this photo set, to fit the characteristics of the "Language of Flowers" theme, we chose a custom halter backless dress. The cut emphasizes the lines of the shoulders, neck, and back, while the front halter design and open back perfectly showcase the character's cool and distant aura. The skirt features heavily layered black lace and wine-red tulle, along with an irregular train that creates a highly dramatic shape under the force of the wind. The cinched waist contrasts with the voluminous skirt, and together with the black ruffled headband and drapes of ribbons, the entire silhouette stands out clearly against the blue and white tones of Erhai Lake.
As for hair and makeup, the silver-blue short wig closely matched the character's iconic features, with the trimming and bang styling softening the facial contours. The makeup focused on emphasizing the eyes paired with red contact lenses, while maintaining a clean base makeup and transparent skin tone. Being outdoors, I paid special attention to making the base makeup waterproof and wind-resistant, ensuring the facial texture remained pristine even under wind and sun exposure. Through hand gestures combined with eye contact, I tried to recreate the character's aloof yet not completely distant atmosphere.
In this shoot, natural elements played a crucial embellishing role. For instance, the flying seagull captured in the second image not only broke the monotony of a static composition but also added a touch of life to the scene. Standing on the rough rocky embankment, whether barefoot or in matching high heels, different foot postures and contacts with the environment visually enhanced the narrative between the body and its surroundings. The photographer captured moments of me adjusting my skirt in the wind or looking back, while close-ups emphasized the collarbone and shoulder lines, presenting a soft warm-and-cool contrast under natural light and shadow.
We also encountered a few small episodes during the shoot; the angle of sunlight changed rapidly, so we had to adjust our positions back and forth to capture the ideal backlighting and side lighting. When props and the wig got messily blown by the wind, we chose to embrace it, fully utilizing the wind-blown hair strands and flowing skirt as bonuses for the shoot rather than trying to avoid them. Overall, the entire team worked in harmony with the atmosphere of Erhai Lake to find the sweet spot where the character meets nature.
The name "Language of Flowers" sounds very soft, but I actually chose a slightly cool and aloof expression to interpret her, allowing the character's cold feel to collide with the soft lake and mountain scenery, thereby delivering a quiet visual experience. A satisfying Cosplay photography shoot requires not only high-fidelity costumes and makeup, but also subtle interaction with the surrounding environment and flashes of inspiration during shooting. This work by Erhai Lake gave me a more three-dimensional understanding of the character and helped me gain more experience in outdoor location shoots.