[Traveler cosplay] Genshin Impact, Launch! Let Me Protect You

Preparing for this Genshin Impact-themed Traveler photoshoot took an immense amount of effort right from the start. From finalizing our makeup tests to the official shoot took us nearly half a month. Starting with the outfits, this white-and-blue ensemble had a very substantial, heavy texture; most fabrics were structured and stiff, featuring hand-sewn pearls and intricate lace at the neckline and cuffs. Putting them on took quite an effort for both of us, especially the dark blue coat, whose shoulder and arm tailoring was rather peculiar and kept catching whenever we sat down. For hair and makeup, the wig featured a silver-white gradient shifting into soft blue; styling the signature ahoge cowlick on top and sculpting the irregular curls took almost two hours with hairspray. We wore blue color contacts paired with pink-toned eyeshadow to make our eyes look bright and spirited. The costume came with numerous accessories, including heavy metallic clasps, while the faux pearl necklace across the chest felt rather icy against bare skin in the cold studio. The shoot was held in an indoor studio centered around a silver throne set against white statues in the backdrop. The throne appeared stately and noble, but it was actually foam-wrapped wood covered in silver foil; the slippery surface made sitting steady quite difficult, yet we had to maintain graceful postures for the camera. Reflective glass flooring covered the stage, flanked on both sides by clusters of pale blue artificial flowers. Regarding our posing, the core concept revolved around the phrase 'Traveler, let me protect you,' which meant creating a palpable sense of mutual interaction. The first and third shots seated on the throne were especially taxing: legs had to be extended straight, the leg bands dug in somewhat uncomfortably, and we constantly had to smooth out folds along the skirts. For the standing mirrored pose in the second photo, we reshot it over a dozen times because the skirts bunched up as soon as they settled, requiring our assistant outside the frame to continually flick and fluff the hemlines. The fourth was a close-up where the photographer asked us to lean closer together, controlling the grip of our hands so as not to wrinkle the fabric or look stiff. The fifth shot had us sitting on the floor with our legs crossed together, bare legs and feet visible; I wore transparent high-heeled sandals while she wore dark blue heels with lace-trimmed socks. Though standing had blistered our heels, sitting down allowed us to display the graceful lines of our legs naturally. The lighting was remarkably bright and transparent, and this high-key illumination complemented Genshin Impact cosplay and 2D aesthetics beautifully, yielding an overall effect beyond our expectations. Once the shoot wrapped, we immediately took off our makeup and shed the heavy outfits and shoes, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief; exhausting as it was, we succeeded in expressing the character's unique essence.