For this shoot, I created a custom Chinese-style Rem, which is also a submission for the Doujin Creation Festival and 2D Vision Project. Since custom elements were added, I apologize in advance for any OOC moments. Wearing this light-blue floral Qipao paired with a white ruffled apron and over-the-knee White stockings made the overall styling feel very complete. The character, originally designed as a maid, presents a unique Chinese girl charm when fused with Qipao elements, fitting the theme of 'the little chef also wants to eat Chinese cuisine.'
During the shoot, I used a full-length mirror at home with fill lights brightening the room, against a backdrop of a cozy plush rug, anime figures on shelves, and my cat occasionally wandering into the frame, creating a natural home atmosphere. For poses, I intentionally chose three compositions: hands on hips, pointing at the legs, and sitting, mainly to highlight the slit hemline and the lines of the White stockings. Particularly in the second photo, to emphasize the stockings and leg proportions, I adjusted my standing spot before the mirror many times—tilting my body slightly and pointing toward the skirt slit, which visually elongated the leg line and better showcased the delicate charm of combining a traditional slit Qipao with White stockings. In the third photo, sitting on a chair with my cat peeking over, keeping my back straight, and naturally extending both legs was also one of my favorite compositions.
Lighting was quite sensitive during the shoot; this light-blue floral fabric is relatively lightweight, and backlight transmission could easily wash out the textures, so I tilted the overhead fill light slightly higher to soften facial shadows. The White stockings naturally reflect light and brighten the lower body, but to avoid overexposure, I carefully monitored the fill light's brightness to preserve the fine knit texture of the White stockings. Using the pink phone case to cover my face was meant to convey the casual ease of a selfie while directing the viewer's focus to the outfit styling. Fixing the blue twin-tails and pink ribbons on my head also took considerable effort to keep them from obscuring the neckline.
Since this is a custom concept, I styled everything according to my own vision while preserving the original blue color palette. Based on Rem's maid persona from Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, I added a small apron as a bridging element, combining maid outfit features with the elegance of a Qipao. Releasing this for the Doujin Creation Festival with the 2D Vision Project in mind, the outfit leans into everyday casualness with a touch of subtle charm—without an overly exaggerated big skirt, directly using the white apron to echo Rem's classic color scheme. During retouching, I focused on enhancing skin texture and overall luminous transparency, giving the floral prints and ruffles tangible texture while correcting the color cast of the White stockings under warm lighting. The figures and cat in the background added lively touches of life, making the whole frame feel less like a studio shoot and more like an authentic, cozy glimpse into everyday life at home.