Preparing for this shoot was far more intricate than imagined, mainly because we wanted to capture an authentic forest ambiance at Maomi Garden in Yunnan for our Yunnan travel photography project. Following the character concept of a Green elf, I specially chose this mint-green long wavy wig paired with a white-and-green lace tulle dress, preparing floral wreath headpieces and a lace umbrella in advance. For makeup, the focus was placed on soft pink eyeshadow and under-eye blush; to complement this ethereal vibe, the overall makeup leaned slightly more 2D, and the contrasting color harmony between the wig and makeup was deeply satisfying.
On the day of the shoot, the sun was blazing, and the garden was blooming in profusion—especially expansive clusters of hydrangeas and seas of pink-and-white blossoms. To complement the lightness of the gown, I deliberately selected several barefoot poses, such as perching on the white swing, resting bare feet beside the rocky brook, and holding an umbrella by the fountain. The photographer excelled at utilizing wide apertures and backlighting; sunlight filtered through leaf canopies to dapple across the skirt hem, creating an extraordinarily luminous frame. Posing barefoot across rocks and grass certainly tested my tolerance—sharp stones poked my soles in some spots—yet to attain that unadorned Mori girl naturalness, every bit of discomfort was well worth it.
For post-processing and retouching, we used Pixel cake. Its distinct strength lies in beautifully preserving skin texture alongside luminous highlight clarity without creating a plastic look on 2D makeup, while keeping the dress's delicate lace patterns remarkably sharp. The overall color temperature was calibrated slightly cooler and greener, amplifying the dreamy mystique of the Green elf. From physical set to final grade, the forest atmosphere came through vividly. Regarding poses, seated and half-crouching perspectives were favored, using flowerbeds as foreground elements so the character appeared naturally immersed in the blooms. The scenery at Maomi Garden was truly ideal for this theme: swings, wooden fences, and stone fountains all felt naturally blessed with a fantasy filter, framing gorgeous shots straight out of camera.