Shooting Nanakusa Nazuna outside the Poly World Trade Center during CICF went incredibly smoothly overall. Nanakusa Nazuna has a very distinct character design in Call of the Night; conveying that easygoing, casual demeanor blended with an air of mystery required a lot of deliberate nuance in body language. In the first full-body shot leaning against the metal railing, to express her relaxed, slightly languid posture, I consciously shifted my weight onto one leg. Standing with slightly crossed legs not only made the leg lines appear more elongated, but also allowed the pleats of the deep blue skirt and the texture of the over-the-knee White stockings to show up at their best. For the sailor uniform fabric, I selected a stiffer, structured material so that when shooting under outdoor natural light, the garment wouldn't sag and could hold a crisp silhouette. The white stripe along the collar and the sleeve cuff details were meticulously straightened before shooting to ensure everything looked sharp and pristine in frame.
To capture the character's temperament, I put considerable thought into makeup. The foundation aimed for a clean, porcelain finish, while the real highlight was the eye makeup. Vibrant blue contact lenses were the soul of the look, paired with pink-toned eyeshadow and exaggerated aegyosal highlighting to fully channel an anime non-daily aesthetic. The wig was also carefully trimmed and conditioned beforehand; the thickness and curved contour of the blunt bangs and long face-framing sideburns framed my face perfectly while maintaining a soft, silky sheen under the sun. The second bust shot was a candid moment captured while chatting with the photographer between takes—hands folded in front of me with a softer gaze, forming a lovely contrast with the cool, aloof vibe of the first photo.
The natural daylight was abundant that day. The asphalt road and the glass curtain walls of the Poly World Trade Center formed a strong modern urban backdrop, whose cool-white ambient tones complemented the deep blue sailor suit seamlessly. Even though it was bustling with crowds outside, using the metal railing as foreground and finding the right camera angle created a clean frame with deep, spacious perspective. While White stockings paired with black loafers is a timeless combination, it can easily make legs look thicker on camera, so I stayed mindful of leg tension and pointed toes to optimize visual proportions.
Arriving at the CICF venue, the surrounding energy always makes it easy to immerse oneself into character. Although a deep blue sailor suit is a classic uniform style, capturing the character's authentic essence hinges on attention to accessories. I polished and conditioned the flat black leather shoes beforehand to ensure a natural leather sheen on camera. The biggest challenge with outdoor photography is shifting light; to avoid the harsh, unflattering top-down noon sun, we deliberately waited until the afternoon when the light softened. When exploring angles by the railing, the photographer's low-angle framing nicely elongated my proportions, giving tension to an otherwise simple standing pose. The choice of White stockings also mattered: I picked a semi-sheer style with good stretch so they wouldn't look chalky white in outdoor light, giving the skin a breathable, natural appearance instead. During posing, I intentionally caught subtle shifts in micro-expressions—from the cool aloofness of gazing directly into the lens in the first shot to the gentle warmth of tilting my head in the second, creating a richer storytelling arc across the photos. This shoot was not just a costume display, but an outward projection of the character's inner psyche. Beyond accurate costumes, hair, and makeup, maintaining body poise and expression control is equally essential. Facing the camera, one must adjust shoulder tension and chin tilt according to the emotion being conveyed. I'm personally very happy with this set—it captured both Nanakusa Nazuna's cool confidence and her youthful cuteness, while achieving the exact texture I envisioned for the sailor suit and wig.