Ruan Mei from Honkai: Star Rail has always been a character I desperately wanted to portray, and the on-body effect of this blue and white clothing was even better than expected. The costume fabric is a lustrous satin, packed with detailed metallic cutout ornaments on the chest and waist, tailored to fit body contours snugly. In particular, the cinched waistline and high-slit skirt design not only reveal the garment's rich layering, but also beautifully showcase leg lines in seated poses. The wig's bangs were carefully trimmed with subtle curls, paired with golden hairpins to faithfully recreate that gentle yet detached demeanor. For makeup, the eye styling used contrasting red and blue eyeshadow to complement her eye color, while keeping the base clean and translucent to highlight skin texture.
A great deal of thought went into staging the shoot location. The backdrop featured classic Chinese carved wooden latticework windows and a moon gate, with illuminated yellow lanterns and white sheer drapes placed on the left. To echo Ruan Mei's background setting, we arranged abundant pink cherry blossoms and blue-and-white hydrangeas, nestled between blue-and-white porcelain vases and Taihu stone ornaments. The most satisfying aspect was the lighting design: the key ambient light used cool blue tones to evoke a mysterious, tranquil atmosphere, while warm yellow lantern light served as a side-backlight accentuating the subject's edges. This contrast of warm and cool light not only enriched the scene's color palette, but also crisply contoured the silhouette for this Ancient style cosplay shoot.
Props played a crucial role during this shoot. The round silk fan painted with red plum blossoms in my hand and the blue ruan lute beside me were both specially prepared props. When holding the ruan lute, breathing and posture had to be adjusted—leaning slightly, resting fingers lightly on the strings, with my gaze drifting into the distance or toward the strings rather than staring directly at the lens, effectively conveying that subtle sense of detachment. Holding the round fan required a relaxed wrist with the fan tilted slightly; that half-concealed pose was exceptionally photogenic.
Regarding posing adjustments, because of the dress's high slit, I experimented with multiple ways of crossing my legs when seated. Letting one leg drape down naturally while lightly resting the other on top, combined with the elongating line of high heels, visually stretched the leg proportions. Meanwhile, keeping the upper body upright yet not overly rigid, with a slightly tucked chin and relaxed shoulders, cultivated a languid yet poised posture. Completing the entire shoot was actually quite an endurance test, requiring the core and back to stay taut for extended periods while managing facial expressions—not smiling too wide, but carrying a thoughtful, quiet composure.
In terms of visual effects, glowing butterflies and drifting flower petals were added in post-production, blending with the artificial floral sets to infuse a touch of fantasy. This shoot dedicated most of its energy to lighting texture and physical expression, striving to immerse the character into the scene rather than simply striking static poses in this Role-playing game and Ancient style cosplay project. Overall, it was a delightful collaboration where everyone dialed in the details with great precision. The final images turned out layered and evocative, realizing the image in my mind quite completely.