[The Shorekeeper cosplay] Dream Intertwined in Blue and White and Light on Piano Keys

For this shoot of The Shorekeeper, I actually envisioned the scenes in my mind many times, and today those ideas finally turned into real photos. During hair and makeup prep, I kept thinking about how to present that ethereal feel, especially with the white veil and blue-and-white gradient skirt hem, where matching star-shaped decorations enriched the overall colors. As everyone teased, since I decided to cosplay this character, I indeed painted my nails with the same clear, translucent blue—a little personal touch for this styling that also enhances atmosphere when holding props.

Regarding the handling of the costume and wig, the blue wig this time wasn't made of a shiny material, but had a softer matte texture that blended naturally with the overall white base tone. Wearing the veil required adjusting gravity too—if too light, it lacked drape; if too heavy, it pulled on hair strands easily. That long trailing ribbon was practically the soul of the shoot; even a light breeze or minor body movement brought rich dynamic effects to the frame.

The location chosen was an indoor studio shooting setting decorated with a white piano and flowers. The piano keys and white outer shell neatly echoed the costume, while blue and white floral arrangements dotted on the piano lid constructed a very pure visual space. To better showcase the layers of this outfit, the photographer used more top-down and high-angle positions this time, magnifying ground patterns and the spread-out drape of the clothing.

Speaking of specific pose demonstrations, we tried two different states. The first shot sitting on the plush carpet felt more relaxed and sweet; free from the restraint of shoes, it better showcased the character's intimate, everyday side. I also especially love the barefoot setting, which, paired with the blue butterfly prop in hand, drew the visual center toward my face and hands. The latter two shots featured white strappy sandals while sitting on the front edge of the piano; paired with the loosely arranged skirt hem, it presented a casual, cool demeanor, which heavily tested body flexibility during shooting.

Because the overall colors were very soft, lighting requirements were extremely high. We had to avoid blown-out highlights that would ruin the veil's texture while ensuring facial skin appeared fair and translucent. The makeup artist on set continually helped touch up makeup, fearing sweat might wet the wig or cause facial oiliness. The blue butterfly prop was actually very delicate—holding it in hand offered partial coverage while helping create cute expressions.

This set of photos barely underwent heavy post-processing, as the raw light and shadow were already very clean, aligning with my goal where "atmosphere" triumphs over "heavy retouching." Because the clothing was light, I paid close attention to maintaining proper posture during shooting so the fabric wouldn't look bulky. I usually pay attention to muscle tone as well, so when exposing calves and arms, I tried to present a relaxed yet defined state without looking overly frail.

Regarding prop arrangement, the photographer integrated picture frames and plaster statue elements into the background, giving the frame a touch of classical charm. Although the main subject used modern color schemes, the collision between classical scenes and fresh attire produced a wonderful chemical reaction. When shooting the top-down angle in Photo 2, the skirt hem spread beautifully, allowing the blue trailing hem to ripple across the carpet like water waves—a real design highlight of this outfit.

Oftentimes, shooting cosplay isn't just about putting on a costume, but feeling the atmosphere within that context. As "Anbao" (The Shorekeeper), I feel that gentleness, resilience, and delicacy are the inner core of this character. Although I cannot perfectly recreate every single move from the game, being able to pass this blue and white intertwined coolness and warmth to the lens through combined efforts in hair, makeup, props, setting, and photography makes me truly happy.

The prop team's temp setup was quite meticulous as well. I spent a long time picking artificial flower colors on the piano, requiring them to match the skirt's color palette without stealing the main subject's spotlight. Ultimately choosing this blue-and-white gradient floral arrangement with dark leaves placed on the white piano created fantastic shots from literally any angle. Special thanks to the photographer's perspective for fully expressing our concept.

As a cosplayer, every photoshoot release is a new form of self-expression. I love this quiet and immersive shooting experience—no need to say anything intentionally, just entering that emotion and letting the character's state flow out naturally. The nail color, light blue hair, flowing skirt hem—all these combined details represent my little tribute to this character.