The moment I read that lore text about research funding on P2, my mind was flooded with the image of Sandrone—fuming internally yet looking like an irritated kitten hissing due to her deadpan expression. To bring that vibe of venting in an ancient study to life, my photographer partner and I invested serious effort into set dressing.
The setting in the photo was a custom-built classical study. The floor-to-ceiling dark wood bookshelf was lined with faux-antique hardcover tomes; their red and green spines embellished with gilded motifs instantly anchored that austere, scholarly aesthetic characteristic of Genshin Impact Snezhnaya. To honor Sandrone's identity among the Fatui, I did thorough homework on the wardrobe. This dress—dominated by black and white with gold cross motifs and deep crimson flared sleeves, complemented by a white ruffled headdress and lace gloves—carries both the porcelain delicacy of a Puppet and the meticulous poise of an academic.
Hand gestures were crucial during this frame. Raising the pale-green hardcover book in my left hand while resting my right hand lightly clenched was meant to convey a tsundere dynamic—as if she had just slammed the desk in frustration, only to immediately resume her haughty composure. The desk props were arranged with equal intent: stacked volumes, an hourglass, a vintage typewriter, a bottle of Clairin 12, and a flickering candelabra all worked together to evoke the frantic anxiety of racing through late-night reports while funding remains stalled. That typewriter, in particular, was the physical manifestation of sheer resentment toward budget approvals.
As for the deadpan look, I truly gave it my all. By default, Sandrone is someone whose emotions rarely breach the surface, but portraying an irritated hiss without dynamic facial expressions is tricky. During shooting, I relied heavily on my eyes to convey the sentiment. Despite wearing blue contact lenses, I kept my gaze fixed and unblinking—cold, obstinate, and paired with a subtly tilted chin to channel that awkward pride of being deeply annoyed while refusing to break composure. This deadpan cat-hiss was far harder to pull off than anticipated, and I owe a lot to my photographer for guiding me into character.
For lighting, we primarily used warm amber side-lighting to simulate the glow of candles and desk lamps. This light source accentuated the metallic luster of the gold accessories and the aged leather textures of the books, while sculpting rich gradients across the shadows. Shooting this set went beyond recreating the character's visual design—it felt like acting out an organic slice-of-life vignette from her world. Weaving her funding frustrations and grievances about colleagues into every subtle gesture made this an immensely rewarding shoot.