[Citlali cosplay] Genshin Impact's Natlan sunshine, capturing exotic vibes in an outdoor scene

As a Genshin Impact player, being able to do a shoot for Citlali is a very joyful thing. This time, I successfully scheduled photographer @XiheWhoDoesNotShoot to capture this set of photos outdoors. We specially selected an outdoor scene with characteristic terracotta-colored buildings and various tropical succulent plants; the overall bright and transparent color tones coordinate perfectly with the atmosphere of the Natlan map. To restore this character to the maximum extent, besides the purple-pink gradient wig, the mark on the forehead, and the black horn ornaments, this dark blue and bright purple gradient cropped top paired with a gauze hem was also one of the key points, and the unique lace-up Roman shoes added a lot of exotic flair.

Outdoor natural light is always a challenge for cosplay photography, especially since the sunlight on that day was very intense. To capture natural diffuse light, we found several seats facing different directions for test shots. Fortunately, the surrounding large areas of terracotta red walls acted as a natural fill light, making the skin tone look more layered. Although this outfit looks refreshing, the layers of fabric and accessories were actually heavier than expected; after shooting all day in it, my ankles were indeed a bit sore.

In terms of movements and expressions, I mainly wanted to present the character's temperament that sits right between mature and playful, such as gently resting a hand on the forehead while sitting, or looking back when standing naturally. I kept drinking water during every shooting break, as the hot weather is quite exhausting. Despite the tossing around during the process, seeing the final work present rich colors and crisp textures made me feel that all the previous hard work was totally worth it. This is probably the charm of Cosplay—allowing one's favorite virtual character to have a concrete visual record in the real world.