Shooting this set of Rei Ayanami cosplay in a vintage western-style house actually took quite some time. Preparations began early in the month, delayed twice due to weather, until we finally caught this sunny afternoon where gentle beams of sunlight filtered through the windowpanes onto the lace tablecloth.
First, regarding makeup and styling, this light blue wig was quite tricky to work with. While Rei Ayanami's bangs are originally straight, to match this Vintage style scene, I specifically asked the stylist to trim them with an airy, wispy texture, creating a slightly feathered yet cool, aloof effect. For the outfit, I selected a deep blue vintage halter dress paired with a choker and armbands; though different from the original plugsuit, I felt this adaptation blended much better into the setting.
What took the most effort on set was the scene arrangement. I asked a friend to help set up the table: the white lace tablecloth underneath was specially chosen with intricate hollow patterns. The vintage books on the table—especially the one printed with "PARIS" and the adjacent Eiffel Tower miniature—added wonderful exotic flair. The white porcelain teapot, teacups, silver candelabra with lit white candles, and even the small red hydrangea potted plant were all painstakingly repositioned bit by bit against the window light. These details not only added visual layering to the frame, but also gave the entire photo set a quiet, timeless charm unique to a bygone era.
Sitting on that white carved high-back chair, my back actually grew rather sore from staying upright, but keeping tension was necessary for clean lines on camera. To avoid looking stiff from staring directly into the lens, I opted to close my eyes or gaze softly out the window, resting my fingertips gently against my chin. The post caption mentioned wanting to stay together forever; while shooting this set, I was truly struck by that fleeting impulse to freeze the present moment.
Regarding the character herself, I have always loved how Rei Ayanami, despite speaking few words, carries warmth within her heart. I barely smiled in this photo set, relying on resting my chin in my hand and static framing to encapsulate these emotions within the light. In post-processing the skin, I asked the retoucher not to over-smooth it, preserving authentic skin textures because flawless perfection often strips away the character's soulful spirit.
Placing the character into a non-canonical setting was a personalized Portrait photography creation and an extension of a cosplayer's interpretation of Neon Genesis Evangelion. With seamless synergy between styling and photography, the final results exude rich texture. I hope everyone can feel this tranquil Atmosphere.