[Maomao cosplay] The Apothecary Diaries, Shennong's Hundred Herbs Beneath the Night-Roaming Lanterns

When shooting Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries this time, I purposely chose a night scene setting with high-hanging red lanterns, hoping to recreate an atmosphere that possesses both worldly hustle and bustle and a touch of mystery.

The pink satin outer robe I wore was chosen after a long search before the shoot; the hidden floral leaf patterns on it present different light-and-shadow textures under the lighting. The deep red wide borders and waist binder effectively suppressed the frivolous feel of the pink. In truth, Maomao rarely wears such vibrant colors in her official lore, but to match the visual tension of this traditional Chinese scene, a slight adjustment was made. The layering between the inner white bandeau and the outer robe is the focus; the draping feel of the neckline needs to maintain its shape while walking and posing, so keeping the back straight during shooting was very important. The most time-consuming part was the wig: the blunt bangs and the iconic low-hanging twin-tails. To make them look natural, the direction of the hair strands and the curvature of the hair ends secured with green beads were adjusted over and over again for fear of looking stiff and unnatural. The gold hair accessories on both sides of the top of the head were also clipped in tightly, without allowing the slightest looseness.

In terms of accessories, the long earrings alternating between gold and emeralds and that gorgeous gold-bearded beaded necklace are actually quite heavy, but once worn, the overall feel instantly transformed. The blue circle lenses are the soul; every time I wear such high-visibility colored contacts, I need to adapt to changes in vision.

During the shoot, I constantly reminded myself to maintain Maomao's slightly aloof yet sharp demeanor. In the first photo, hand against the wall, head slightly tilted looking at the lens, wanting to convey a cool and aloof feel; in the second photo, gathering up the wide pink sleeves, trying to let the dark patterns of the sleeves occupy the main subject of the frame, turning the body sideways, utilizing the warm light of the red lanterns casting upon the face. Those glowing paper lanterns in the background are truly exceptional softboxes; the warm-toned halo wraps around the entire person, creating an extraordinary sense of atmosphere.

Portraying the character Maomao is actually very interesting; she understands pharmacology, loves testing poisons, speaks little, but is extremely clear-headed inside. Standing beneath the red lanterns, watching these interweaving lights and shadows, it feels as if one can truly enter her world filled with herbal fragrance and bizarre events for a brief moment. I hope this photo set conveys this unique character charm.