[Citlali cosplay] Genshin Impact's Cute Priestess with a Wooden Bucket and Plushie

This bedroom-themed photoshoot for Genshin Impact's Citlali cosplay was actually a cozy home vibe I personally really wanted to try. Usually at anime conventions or studio shoots, characters need to hold iconic combat poses or serious expressions, but this time I wanted to bring her back into a daily life setting, so I specifically chose a sunlit hotel room for this Indoor photography session.

Let's talk about the makeup and styling details first. For the wig, I selected a white-pink gradient style with a subtle purple tint at the tips, which, paired with crystal-clear blue contact lenses, makes the eyes look extraordinarily expressive. The purple diamond markings on both cheeks are the soul of the makeup; I repeatedly adjusted the edges using eyeshadow and foundation, hoping they would look as if naturally grown on the skin. The costume was custom-made after repeatedly comparing with concept art—the off-the-shoulder cut with ruffles, combined with a white-and-purple corset design, visually feels lightweight yet slightly mysterious. White gloves on hands and standalone leg covers on legs are major pluses for this outfit, especially the purple bows and lace on the leg sleeves, making the whole look much more vibrant.

During shooting, we specifically waited until two or three in the afternoon, right when a strong side-backlight pierced through the curtains onto the bed. While high-contrast light poses quite a challenge for post-color grading, this hard light is precisely what gave the white fabric exceptional texture. My main focus during shooting was interacting with various props, such as the blue-and-white plush toy; holding it helped dissolve camera stiffness and made movements feel natural and relaxed. In one photo, I balanced a vintage-style wooden tankard on my head—it was actually quite heavy, and maintaining balance while keeping an innocent expression for the camera made my arm shake after just a few shots.

Among all these photos, I'm personally most satisfied with the composition sitting on the edge of the bed in the second picture. In the frame, with my legs slightly bent, the leg sleeve design and leg lines are fully exposed, while dappled light and shadow fall across my face and clothes, balancing the center of visual weight without looking forced. The tactile feeling of barefoot on bedsheets pushed the cozy, casual atmosphere to its peak. In terms of camera positioning, we intentionally avoided cliché wide-angle high angles, choosing eye-level combined with slight high-angles instead, which both elongates body proportions and faithfully conveys facial expressions.

A lot of heart went into making this costume and props—the plushie and that large wooden bucket were both hand-modified, hoping to recreate the 2D character's unique blend of mysteriousness and cute dorkiness as closely as possible. Doing cosplay shouldn't just be about looking good; I personally prefer presenting a living, breathing side of the character in front of the lens. No complex set design is needed—just a messy white duvet, a few everyday items, and a bit of sunlight can tell a lovely little story about the character. The entire shooting process was very relaxed without rushing; whenever the light was good, we snapped extra shots, and when it dimmed, I just laid under the covers posing. Although it's just nine photos, a lot of effort was spent behind the scenes conceptualizing the vibe and tweaking props. Usually when attending expos or viewing convention recap photos, people see cool or glamorous freezes of characters, but occasionally returning to a lifestyle-oriented approach like this actually brings the character closer to the audience. I hope this presentation allows everyone to see a different side of Genshin Impact's Citlali.