Shooting this official Cartethyia cosplay photoshoot in the studio today was a truly extraordinary experience. To honor her character design in Wuthering Waves, we built an elaborate set merging deep-sea elements with giant seashells. Starting early in the morning, hauling the massive shell props, laying reflective ground film, and arranging blue corals and swimming fish figurines felt like shipbuilding indoors. The moment the studio lights were dialed in and the shimmering caustic water reflections danced across the floor, all our exhaustion vanished instantly.
In terms of hair and makeup, Cartethyia's elf ears and forehead mark were the key focal points. Affixing the elf ears was a true test of patience: carefully blending them onto the ear contours with scar wax and prosthetic adhesive, then layering cosmetic shading step-by-step ensured they looked seamless even in high-definition macro close-ups without sacrificing comfort. Because the cross-shaped emblem on my forehead was painted with specialized pigment, I held back from making exaggerated facial expressions between takes, wary of creasing the base or smudging the lines. The wig was a pale-blonde cascade of loose waves; to preserve its airy bounce, I kept a fine-tooth comb and hairspray handy, combing through stray flyaways with every shift in pose.
The wardrobe details deserve special mention. This blue-and-white dress features black corset lace-up strapping across the bodice, a prominent blue ribbon bow at the neckline, and flowing, semi-sheer chiffon bell sleeves. Honestly, while chiffon looks gorgeous in photos, sliding against the water-slicked studio floor makes it prone to snags, so I had to lift my cuffs whenever shifting positions. Treading on clear high-heeled sandals demanded extreme caution: the wet floor film was slick, and whether lounging inside the shell or kneeling across the water, my ankles bore heavy strain. I had to keep my insteps taut to hold balance while maintaining a calm, relaxed facial expression to convey the effortless tranquility of a mermaid.
The photographer dedicated immense effort to light metering. With extensive specular reflections bouncing off the floor, standard lighting setups would easily flatten facial depth. We dialed in a softbox angled from high above as the key light, supported by bounce boards below—not only illuminating my face evenly, but also casting stunning blue caustic halos across the water. For composition, I kept my limbs elongated, whether waving gently from within the seashell or kneeling along the water's surface playing with the fish props, striving to conjure a weightless, floating dreamscape within a confined space.
Shooting a heavy, location-mimicking studio set in summer tests both stamina and willpower. Wearing thick, multi-layered fabric under prosthetic makeup while holding graceful poses on a slick, reflective surface left my legs numb multiple times. Yet reviewing the frames on the camera monitor, that cool-toned, refreshing chill and Cartethyia's singular, ethereal grace practically radiated off the screen. I thoroughly cherished this creative journey—a beautiful memento to freeze the tail end of summer.