Wrapping up this Nian shoot only after the New Year was definitely a bit overdue. The original plan was to finish it before the holidays, but every photography studio was completely booked solid, leaving me no choice but to find an open slot after the festivities. Little did I anticipate losing control of my appetite over the break; stepping on the scale revealed a gain of several pounds, forcing me to suck in my stomach relentlessly during the shoot. Now I'm practically begging everywhere for a tutorial on how to eat without gaining weight!
Today's outfit is Nian from Arknights. The sleeveless cut of this Traditional Chinese style cosplay qipao is genuinely unforgiving on the arms, especially after feasting during the holidays. The red dragon embroidery and green frog closures feature beautiful tactile textures, presenting a crisp, clean look against the white base. For canonical fidelity, I prepared red coral-like dragon horns and pink elf ear prosthetics. The wig is silver-grey with crimson peekaboo highlights, braided along the forehead to keep the overall silhouette neat and sharp.
Cosmetically, the eye makeup took center stage. Violet lenses paired with pinkish eyeshadow—swept heavily across the lower eyelids and complemented by dramatic false lashes—delivered an unmistakable visual impact on camera. For the lips, I applied a lustrous glossy tint; smiling while sticking out my tongue in her iconic expression was instantly adorable and mischievous.
Prepping the wig took considerable work, as silver synthetic fibers can look frizzy under studio illumination if not smoothed down, so I ran a flat iron through the ends beforehand. When assembling this Chinese-style look, prop curation matters immensely: the color scheme of the horns and elf ears must echo the red and green accents of the dress to avoid visual clash. I also added green beaded bracelets and red ribbons—modest accents that injected fluid elegance when raising hands or turning around.
This styling is exceptionally fun for duo shoots with friends. I roped in a fellow cosplayer from the same faction to collaborate; snacking and feeding each other snacks on set made the behind-the-scenes moments pure hilarity. We spent a long time dialing in the studio ambiance, discovering that slightly warmer lighting maximized that traditional Chinese festive atmosphere. Because of the sleeveless cut and the deliberate choice to go bare-legged without stockings, the visual focus leaned into pure, airy lightness.
During post-production retouching, I kept adjustments modest, primarily slimming facial contours and tucking in the cheeks slightly. After all, post-holiday weight gain is a stubborn reality that only post-processing can salvage! The tailoring of this dress is form-fitting with a snug waistline, so anyone planning to wear similar Chinese qipaos should definitely do a fitting run beforehand, as mobility can be fairly restricted.
Pulling off a cosplay shoot demands substantial stamina, particularly when balancing two dragon horns that tilt out of place at the slightest movement. During breathers, I took them off immediately to give my neck a break. In terms of composition, I coordinated with the photographer to focus on half-body portraits and close-ups, which suit this clean, bright lighting. Wearing stockings might have made the ensemble feel visually heavy, so going bare-legged kept the silhouette much cleaner.
I'm thoroughly pleased with how the final frames turned out. Even if it arrived a bit later than the pre-holiday window, good things are worth waiting for, and this post-New Year set brings satisfying closure. Whether shooting on location or in a studio, always prioritize warmth and energy management—wearing heavy headpieces and ear props for extended periods really takes a toll. Lastly, I can't help sighing: if only I were born with a metabolism that never gains weight!