[Traveler Lumine cosplay] Liyue Lantern Rite: New Year fanwork Shoot

From the moment I decided to shoot this SanFen House New Year Lumine fanwork outfit, it took about a week to coordinate props and finalize studio set details. The Lantern Rite theme this year was exceptionally rich; whether it was the lines of the Chinese-style window lattices or the leaf vein textures of the red maple, everything naturally carried a lively and warm festive feel. For lighting, I chose a warmer color temperature to simulate the cozy feeling of celebrating the New Year at home amid thousands of glowing lights, rather than relying on a cool cinematic tone, making the visual atmosphere feel much closer to Liyue Harbor.

First, regarding the costume, the tailoring of this set is truly unique. The main body features a white base with gold thread decorations, and the neckline is spliced with a thick, plush piece of faux rabbit fur—the fur collar's fluffiness and texture are amazingly soft. The coat cut has a slight short-cape silhouette, which, paired with leather gloves at the cuffs, looks both warm and sharp. Small blue and white pom-poms accent the waist and edges, adding a playful touch to the entire outfit. The pants are a neat short cut, and combined with the thigh straps, they beautifully showcase leg lines in full-body shots. Paired with brown and white boots, the overall style blends cool elegance with a touch of cuteness, alongside an adventurer's lively energy.

As for makeup, to capture the character's essence, I opted for a clear base with subtle aegyo sal under-eye highlights, naturally textured eyebrow strokes, and earth-toned eye makeup that extends slightly at the outer corners. The key was keeping a clear and friendly look in the eyes. For the lips, I used a soft pink glossy lip tint to give a healthy, vibrant complexion that complements this cheerful, endearing styling. The wig was trimmed to create a rich, layered, feathered texture, with bangs styled into a neat curve. Paired with two white pom-poms on the headband, it visually heightens the crown of the head and flatters the face shape immensely.

The set design and props were the true highlights of this shoot. Classic Chinese wooden window lattices were set up in advance, adorned with couplets and golden "Fu" (fortune) characters symbolizing peace and prosperity. To create richer visual layers, red maple leaf decorations wrapped around the window lattices, with strings of red lanterns extending into the background, enriching the color palette. On the wooden table in the foreground sat gold ingots and plump, rounded persimmons; the orange persimmons resonated with the red maples behind them, conveying a wonderful auspicious blessing. Two super cute white long-haired bunny plushies were placed beside the plate and persimmons as accents, instantly bringing the scene to life with a cozy feeling of celebrating the New Year alongside beloved household pets.

Regarding pose design, my initial agreement with the photographer was to keep things lively rather than stiff or distant. So in the first photo, I leaned forward slightly, holding a woven bamboo lantern in one hand and a big stick of bright red candied hawthorns in the other. The metallic sheen and glistening sugar coating of the candied hawthorns looked especially tempting under the warm light, instantly evoking the feeling of strolling through a New Year temple fair. Performing this pose required keeping in mind Lumine's light, agile character nature, so instead of putting weight heavily downward, I controlled the tilt from my core, allowing my arm movements to look natural and effortless.

Next is the front shot holding the gold ingot. This pose is more formal, primarily showcasing the coat's silhouette and the metal and leather details across the chest. To create a "please accept this New Year blessing" look, I angled my body slightly toward the front left, tucked my chin subtly, and wore a gentle smile. The snowy white rabbit plush beside me formed a nice visual balance at the lower part of the frame, preventing top-heaviness and adding a strong homey touch.

The third photo specifically arranged an interactive perspective of reaching toward the camera. Holding the candied hawthorns horizontally at chest level, focusing the lens on the outstretched palm while softly blurring the red maple trees in the background created a strong narrative feel. This outstretched hand simulates offering candied hawthorns to a friend or reaching out for a high-five. This composition closes the distance between the photo and the viewer, looking warmly approachable, almost like the character stepped right out of the screen.

Overall photography exposure was kept bright to maintain visual clarity, with subtle highlight bloom to simulate vibrant sunlight. For post-processing, I didn't make heavy color adjustments, focusing mainly on skin tone optimization—shifting it from a cool pale white to a translucent warm peach, making it blend harmoniously with the red maples and wooden table. The biggest challenge in shooting New Year fanwork of anime characters lies in cross-dimensional blending: combining anime hairstyles and facial features with traditional Chinese studio settings naturally isn't easy. I deliberately avoided overly dramatic expressions, interpreting her instead with a gentle, everyday smile.

To match the Lantern Rite theme, I rewatched official Genshin Impact cutscenes of Liyue's Lantern Rite beforehand, observing the micro-expressions and subtle habits the character displays during this festival, translating those feelings into my actual movements. In past anime cosplay shoots, I often over-exerted my expressions, but now I prefer a minimalist approach—recreating the character's innate gentle and kind nature through detailed settings, so viewers feel this isn't a staged shoot, but a real young girl celebrating the New Year in Liyue.

Looking back at the pictures after finishing the shoot, my favorite elements were those props. The warm yellow light glowing through the woven bamboo lantern, the vivid red of the candied hawthorns, and the shining gold ingot in my hand together assembled all the festive elements of Lantern Rite. Furthermore, SanFen House's costume fabric was very refined—though a fan design, it felt anything but cheap. The fur trim on the collar and the golden embroidery on the fabric were intricately crafted, making it highly durable to look at and exceptionally photogenic on camera.