The main focus of this shoot was capturing the gentleness of a Hydro maiden and her interaction with single-hand props. Therefore, I specifically chose a pink-to-blue gradient Hanfu-style chiffon dress paired with a soft pink gradient wig to align with the character's gentle water-element features in Genshin Impact. The costume features multiple layers of lightweight chiffon, which look wonderfully translucent under the garden's natural light.
Regarding the single-hand prop photography poses, during the shoot I mainly experimented with different movements centered around two props: a round fan and a handheld lantern. A round fan is a flat prop, so simply holding it flat can make the image look stiff. Thus, in the standing posture of the second photo, I deliberately raised the round fan to shoulder height and tilted the fan face slightly, creating an angled visual structure relative to my body. At the same time, shifting my body weight to my right leg with the left leg slightly stepping forward, paired with the wide cuffs, visually elongates full-body proportions.
Many cosplayers tend to hold their arms stiffly when holding props. In my experience, bending the elbows slightly without pressing arms tight against the body allows the wide-sleeved robe to drape naturally, which not only looks relaxed but also better highlights the flowing characteristics of this Hanfu cosplay attire. In the full-body movement of the third photo, I slightly opened both hands to let the sleeves fan out, coordinating with the breeze and a gentle body turn to capture the moment the skirt fluttered. This makes a fantastic cover pose, showcasing both the dynamic beauty of the outfit and making the single-hand fan holding pose look smooth and crisp.
The lantern prop differs from the round fan. Because the lantern has volume and weight, holding it with one hand puts arm support to the test. In the fourth photo's seated composition, to avoid arm tightness, I chose to raise the lantern slightly higher to create a storytelling atmosphere of gazing afar with a lamp. Looking away from the camera and down diagonally greatly enhances narrative depth. Holding the lantern combined with wide Hanfu sleeves nicely fills empty hand spaces, focusing viewer attention onto costume details and facial expressions.
As for setting synergy, this shoot was mainly completed in a traditional Chinese garden, where lattice window walls and red overhead lanterns made great backdrops. The warm red of the lanterns formed a strong visual contrast with my cool pink-and-blue outfit, preventing the overall image from looking dull grey. In composition, I deliberately overlapped my body with scattered eaves and dark wooden beams in the background, utilizing spatial perspective to keep the solo portrait from looking overly thin.
To capture these natural single-hand prop movements, the photographer and I went through a lot of coordination on shutter timing. Especially when the skirt caught the wind, the photographer needed to quickly trigger burst shooting or use AI autofocus on my face to ensure facial focus remained sharp while arms and props were positioned just right. Compared to static poses, single-hand prop poses captured dynamically tend to feel much more vivid and authentic in Anime-style photography.
The wig I selected this time featured a light blue gradient at the ends, echoing the inner blue skirt of the costume. In pose design, one must consider not only hand props but also wig and headpiece movement. For instance, gently shaking my head created a sense of flow with the flower accessories on the double buns and the blue gradient tips, adding a weightless dynamic feel to still photos.
For this outfit, properly tying the sash and organizing the chiffon layers were prerequisites for beautiful movements. Since the Hanfu outer robe has very wide sleeves, if the fabric crumpled during motion, the visual output would be greatly compromised. Thus, during prep, we repeatedly adjusted the waist sash position to ensure that when raising my arms, the outer chiffon skirt flared naturally without bunching around the hips.
These poses and outfit setup deliver great results whether on an overcast afternoon or under a sunlit eave. Headpieces and wigs remain central to capturing this Sangonomiya Kokomi cosplay demeanor; paired with cute anime-style makeup, they reliably maintain the character's gentle essence. Since outdoor shoots are often constrained by light and setting, using single-hand props to guide sightlines and shape posture serves as a highly practical reference for Traditional style outdoor poses.
I hope my sharing of single-hand round fan and lantern poses in this traditional garden provides useful inspiration for your traditional outdoor shoots and anime character photography!