Shooting this Traditional Chinese style Qipao set was truly a day of friendly rivalry between sisters. Before the shoot, we had already agreed to create some "combative" interaction, but the moment photographer Siyu said, "give me some fierce dragon rivalry vibes," both of us snapped instantly into character. Just look at the gazes in the photo: I'm sitting on the left with white hair and red clothes, while she sits on the right in blue with dragon horns. Even though we are both wearing modified Traditional Chinese style Qipao dresses, we purposefully turn our torsos away and refuse to look at each other, holding our hands with exaggerated stiffness like two stubborn dragons competing. In reality, we burst out laughing countless times behind the scenes, but in the final photos, this sense of "sisters squabbling" creates incredible visual tension.
I put considerable thought into my own hair and makeup: white hair with crimson highlights, paired with small horns, pointed elf ears, and flame-patterned sleeve covers, which took roughly two hours to complete. The costume is a custom short Qipao with a tailored neckline and waist, naturally accentuating leg lines when seated. Combined with the white fog on the floor, it blends ethereal fantasy with grounded vibrancy. My partner was equally dedicated in her cyan-blue robe adorned with golden dragon motifs; her massive dragon horns prop was quite heavy and left her neck slightly sore after wearing it all day, but we gave it our all for the sake of character fidelity.
Photographer Siyu is truly a master of timing. He had the two of us sit on a wooden daybed, placing lotuses and seedpods in the foreground while arranging red plum blossoms and lanterns in the background, maximizing the classical ambiance. The fog was created with dry ice, which spread out nicely to submerge our legs and hems, creating a floating aesthetic. He focused especially on capturing our expressions—in particular, that proud, tsundere "neither will back down" vibe during profile glances, even though we were both fighting back giggles inside. This chosen photo is remarkably representative: dragon horns, carp tail details, flame motifs, along with traditional Chinese furniture and floral arrangements, all blending together seamlessly.
Speaking of props, my large white tail was crafted from plush fabric with interior aluminum wire support, requiring extra caution when sitting down to avoid crushing it. Her large dragon horns were 3D printed and finished with metallic sheen paint, perfectly matching her tone-on-tone hair ornaments for a commanding look. When the two of us stood together, passersby couldn't help but turn their heads, as Chinese fantasy themes are always popular in cosplay—especially in a classical, immersive physical studio like this.
The shooting process was genuinely hilarious. Siyu kept shouting, "Look colder! More lethal in your eyes!" but the second we looked at each other's faces, our composure shattered. Eventually, we gave up trying to be overly serious and just bantered like we normally do, which unexpectedly yielded a much higher keeper rate. This "dragon rivalry" is mostly playful teasing; after all, we are great friends in real life, and behind the outward friction lies true tacit chemistry. If I had to pick a highlight, it's definitely the harmony between garment texture and lighting—the warm yellow lights striking the white and blue fabrics created a pleasant cool-warm contrast, complemented by the pink lotus flowers in the foreground so the composition never felt dull.
Ultimately, sharing this photo set is about recording every moment of our passion for cosplaying. From hair and makeup to costumes and set decoration, every phase carries our dedicated effort. We didn't chase artificial perfection, but rather strove to capture the vision in our hearts. Cosplaying with my sister partner was a fantastic experience, and I can't wait to schedule another sister duo shoot next time—provided Siyu doesn't make us glare at each other the entire day.