[Xishi cosplay] Honor of Kings Mermaid's Song: Dragons Hidden in Azure Waves, Pure and Ethereal

For today's shoot of Mermaid's Song, the studio lighting was kept remarkably airy and translucent. During initial test makeup, we noticed the blue-and-white gradient of this garment easily blew out under intense light, so I coordinated with the photographer in advance to elevate the key light while softening the side fill with a large softbox, fully preserving the delicate silver-embroidered dragon motifs. Styling the wig demanded considerable time: the twin pale-blue flame-shaped hairpieces atop the crown were crafted from clear acrylic embedded with LED strips, requiring precise angular adjustments before the lens so their reflections shimmered like aquatic ripples. The blue orb prop in hand was made of acrylic with an internal LED, casting a gentle, ethereal glow when illuminated. To give the hair organic volume without flattening, I tucked several hidden hair pads underneath, taking great care not to compromise its weightless fluidity.

Fine-tuning the seated pose took plenty of experimentation. Because the skirt features a high-low cut, sitting cross-legged directly on the floor tended to bunch the tulle up, concealing the waistline. After testing cylindrical pedestals of varying heights, we settled on the current elevation, which gracefully unfurled the leg lines while keeping my upper torso poised and upright. Xishi naturally carries a sense of airy lightness; hence, in expression management, I focused on keeping my gaze lucid and serene, slightly tucking the jaw with a subtle hint of a smile to avoid any forced, harsh look. Hand placement was equally vital: resting my left hand gently along the knee edge while elevating my right hand toward the chest with relaxed, supple fingers. Calibrating the leg angles was also crucial to elongate the calves and ankles while preventing any awkward compression along the thighs.

Before this shoot, I spent hours studying the official character illustration. The dynamic flutter of trailing ribbons shown in the 2D artwork is notoriously hard to capture in static takes without disheveling the wardrobe. Ultimately, we pivoted from broad dynamic motion to a composed, static stance, letting the fabric's natural drape and specular refraction articulate the water and dragon motifs. The plain white seamless backdrop kept the composition immaculate, allowing the colors of the character and garments to shine. During test shots, noticing the subtle jacquard patterns in the tulle lacked pop, we introduced a low floor light angled upward, instantly transforming the visual depth. The golden waist ornaments also required reinforcement: because the fabric is lightweight, heavy accessories risk pulling the neckline out of alignment, so I anchored them discretely with clear monofilament wire behind my back.

Makeup-wise, the eyeshadow leaned into cool-toned violet-blue hues, slightly elongated at the outer corners and layered with three pairs of lashes to lend striking definition to the eyes before the camera. Highlighting was placed precisely on the nose tip and brow bones, preventing the complexion from appearing muted beneath the white wig. To preserve latitude for post-processing, the base makeup remained clean and dewy without heavy blush. Throughout the session, I constantly reminded myself to maintain clean neck and shoulder lines, as any hunching instantly shatters that serene, otherworldly aura. The overall shoot progressed seamlessly, and I'm thrilled to share this creative process. Favoring quiet composure over sweeping gestures brought the character's soul to life far better than we ever anticipated.