[Ruan Mei cosplay] Honkai: Star Rail: A Poetic Freeze-Frame of Ink Fragrance and Teal Robes

This shooting plan for Ruan Mei from Honkai: Star Rail took a lot of thought from preparation to execution, and we finally completed this set of photos successfully right before the college entrance examination season. For the costume, a main color palette of deep cyan and light white was chosen, paired with a high slit and asymmetrical shoulder design, along with a pearl choker and black gloves. This was to uphold the solemnity of Chinese aesthetics while maintaining the character's signature cool and detached nature. To pursue realistic texture, the embroidery on the clothes and the metallic luster of the accessories were meticulously verified one-to-one.

For the set design, a Chinese study scene was specifically constructed. The custom calligraphy banners hanging everywhere, combined with antique wooden racks, paper lanterns, and a large number of artificial fallen flower props, were meant to present an atmosphere blending Chinese-style cosplay and modern Xianxia. During the shoot, quite a few smoke cakes were used, letting the smoke catch side-backlight through the semi-transparent calligraphy banners. This light and shadow effect truly enriched the visual layers of the entire environment and made the silhouettes in the frame more three-dimensional. The round fan, oil-paper umbrella, and scrolls close at hand fit seamlessly with the entire scene.

Since this set of photos happened to coincide with the exam season, the initial decision to choose this theme was also to use these scrolls, brushes, and ink elements to offer encouragement to all the candidates. Studio shoots with smoke heavily test the preliminary composition, as banners and fallen flowers can easily obstruct the frame, so I did a lot of trial posing in front of the lens. For example, when holding a scroll in a standing pose, the wrist needs to be slightly relaxed to avoid looking stiff. For those shots of sitting and holding the umbrella, I had to actively cooperate with the photographer's high-angle overhead shot, adjusting the position of my legs and the angle of my ankles to give the frame a better extension. The black-and-white gloves and meticulous high heels styling also forced me to pay attention to the extension angle of every limb, ensuring visual fluidity for this ACG photography.

This can be considered handing in a satisfying exam paper for myself. I hope everyone in front of the screen can remain composed in life and fully enjoy their own highlight moments. May all of you achieve your desires and have everything go smoothly in this journey of Ancient style photography.