[Mualani cosplay] Refreshing Natlan style in Genshin Impact, revisiting last year's outdoor lawn photos

I dug out this photo of Mualani shot last year, back when I had just received the costume. The outfit features a blue-and-white color scheme, and its refreshing visual style was perfect for the outdoor lawn setting. The top is a halter-style crop top, with a black cut-out section on the chest adorned with gold trim and an X-shaped embellishment. The square gold accessory at the waist paired with cascading blue cloth strips adds layers and a touch of fantasy to the look. The white totem pattern on the stomach had to be hand-painted by myself. To make sure it wouldn't smudge during the shoot, I used plenty of setting spray and carefully adjusted the curvature along my waist and belly before painting so that the pattern fit my body's natural curves.

Below, it's paired with loose blue-and-white color-blocked shorts that echo the top's color palette. On the legs are blue-and-white calf-length boots fitted just above the knees, while the feet feature an open-toe sandal design with blue straps that are both sturdy and decorative. On the arms, I wore gloves, with layered wristguards in yellow, orange, and blue on the right wrist, and a dark blue tassel bracelet on the left. Although there were many detailed accessories, the asymmetrical design added a touch of playfulness. On top is a white short wig with light bangs across the forehead and white-and-blue rabbit-ear-like accessories on both sides, making the overall head shape look light rather than bulky.

The weather on the day of the shoot was great—though not blazing sunny, the soft, diffused light reproduced skin tones and costume colors very naturally. The location was a grassy area with abandoned railway tracks; the space was open, with blurred city buildings and an overpass in the background. Sitting cross-legged on the grass, I could naturally gaze into the distance. With my eyes closed and my right arm raised high, the entire photo conveys a very stretched-out and relaxed atmosphere. At the moment the shutter snapped, my posture wasn't artificially tense, so the body language came across as quite vivid.

Speaking of makeup, since I had to stay outdoors for a while, I deliberately kept the foundation thin so my skin could breathe, while brushing a subtle blush under my eyes to match the character's lively persona. Looking back, preparing for this look took quite a lot of time just trimming and layering the wig, and attaching and adjusting the accessories required meticulous care. My knees and upper arms had a few reddish marks during the shoot, which turned into proof of working hard on that summer location shoot for outdoor photography. The photographer was skilled at using environmental elements in cosplay photography; the blurred background in the distance perfectly focused attention on the subject.

Over a year has passed, and my understanding of the character seems to have evolved further. Every time I look back at this photo, I recall the nervous anticipation while getting ready and the relief when the shoot wrapped up smoothly. Choosing outdoor natural light to capture this character's vibrant energy was definitely the right choice. From prop fidelity to facial expressions, I feel that shoot successfully preserved the character's unique traits. For fans who love cosplay, bringing a beloved character into a real-world setting is deeply meaningful in itself—and this photo serves as a perfect miniature of that time: simple, clean, and genuinely real.