This time, I sorted out the finished photoshoot of the Incantation group (Marisa and Alice from Touhou Project) to share with everyone. When planning, we decided on a Japanese indoor style infused with rich natural light, so we booked this shoot with photographer @DeFocus:Bu and my partner @她的睫上痣.
For props, we prepared lilies and books, paired with a raw wooden desk and bamboo blinds backdrop, instantly filling the visual frame with the tranquil ambiance of Gensokyo. In terms of costume details, Marisa's oversized hat with a black-and-purple bow and white lace collar, alongside Alice's voluminous light blue layered skirt trimmed with cascades of lace, were all designed to evoke a Victorian doll-like aesthetic. During the shoot, we deliberately fluffed up the wigs so that when the backlit lighting struck the hair strands, it would create a soft, glowing halo effect in this Backlit atmosphere.
The photographer utilized natural light from the window, adjusting the blinds to cast striped slashes of light that draped a soft halo over the entire frame. Combined with the unique optical texture of the lens, the final photos took on a hazy, dreamlike quality, reminiscent of scenes viewed through memory. Especially in the duo close-ups holding flowers, the photographer constantly reminded us not to look directly into the camera, but rather to look at each other or toward the ground, creating a more natural emotional flow.
I cosplayed Marisa. Although Marisa is canonically somewhat boisterous and carefree, in front of Alice, she always reveals a gentle and steadfast side. Sitting before the low table during the shoot, we barely spoke, yet that tacit understanding in our glances and gestures quickly built a compelling sense of narrative. Looking at myself in the photos, I felt we truly captured some of the character's core inner traits.
For makeup, we preserved the authentic texture of the skin as much as possible, subtly accentuating highlights and shadows only around the eyes to give facial features dimension while keeping them soft, perfectly matching this unembellished Japanese photography style. In truth, the hardest part during shooting was overcoming awkwardness, especially in intimate close-up shots; but for the sake of the final image, everyone remained deeply focused—which is probably the greatest joy of doing cosplay.
When finally organizing the photos, I found that the storytelling and lighting quality of this set exceeded all expectations. Without relying on excessive, flashy post-processing, we brought this Touhou Project Incantation group MariAli 99 vision to life entirely through pre-shoot styling and on-set lighting.