Taking advantage of the newly opened "A History of Cats at the British Library" exhibition, I immediately went to check it out with photographer @千明Tiasona. The exhibition sets were even more exquisite than expected, with each display area boasting unique lighting and atmosphere, leading to an incredibly high hit rate of great shots.
For this Lolita outfit coordination, I chose the Angelic Pretty Teddy Bear Print Lolita jumper skirt. Underneath, I wore a white short-sleeved blouse with delicate lace trim on the collar and cuffs, paired with a red-and-blue striped bow on the chest. The body of the dress features a classic beige-and-brown plaid, while the lower skirt hem is printed with teddy bears, horse-drawn carriages, knights, and banners with English lettering. Tier upon tier of white lace frills added rich dimension to the silhouette. On my head, I wore a bow headband made of matching printed fabric, paired with white socks and light-colored platform shoes. This styling added a touch of elegance to sweet Japanese cuteness, perfectly matching the vintage aesthetic of the exhibition.
Our first stop was the pink jewelry box set. The entire space was bathed in soft pink tones, featuring a framed cat portrait in a circular frame in the background, draped with giant strings of white pearls. I alternated between standing and sitting on the carpet, surrounded by scattered clear and purple-red crystals, holding a gray-and-white cat figurine as a prop. To match this scene, I tried both standing and cross-legged sitting poses, and the photographer made great use of the soft ambient light to capture the rich details of the dress's print.
The second stop was the stained glass area. The ambient lighting here was dimmer, with a massive stained glass window letting through warm amber light and projecting silhouettes of cats and butterflies onto the scene. Standing with my back to the light source, I had the photographer capture a silhouette effect against the backlight. The smooth, glossy floor reflected the kaleidoscopic colors of the stained glass. This setting demanded very graceful posture, requiring me to extend my body to show off the skirt's full outline, resulting in a mysterious and artistic visual mood.
The third stop was the retro theater area. Deep red velvet curtains served as the backdrop, in front of which hung two classical portraits with gold-gilded frames over geometric parquet wood flooring. Resting one hand against a golden pillar with my body slightly angled, this scene was ideal for full-body shots, where the clash of red and black created powerful visual tension. Afterward, we took photos by the vintage porch. Standing sideways in front of a black wooden door with a brass lion-head knocker, a mail slot, and the number 10, we used simulated daylight. The cooler color temperature here created a striking contrast with the pink set.
The entire shoot went very smoothly. The exhibition's details were well-crafted, and the staff were exceptionally friendly, politely stepping aside whenever they saw the camera. Since we took so many photos, I plan to post them across several updates. As a dedicated cosplay and 2D daily life shoot capturing unique interactions between light, shadow, and scenery, this Shanghai photoshoot booking was deeply rewarding, and the remaining photos will be rolled out soon!