Going to Liuhua Lake Park in winter to shoot this set of photos for The Shorekeeper cosplay really nailed that cool yet lively vibe of the character. The temperature had dropped in Guangzhou at that time, and the wind on-site was exceptionally strong; blowing in the wind outdoors in this outfit was simply freezing me to death, but for the sake of the final photos, I grit my teeth and pushed through.
During the shoot, I was constantly thinking about how to fit the character's setting. Aside from the basic makeup and hair, what I put the most effort into was actually the blue-and-white gradient costume. It has a lightweight, translucent texture, and the hood uses a shimmering fabric that creates tiny sparkles under the sunlight. Meanwhile, the addition of the silver spiral armlet and necklace adds a touch of sharpness and mechanical beauty to the otherwise soft blue-and-white pairing. The armlet was actually quite hard to secure, and I had to be careful not to let it slip off during the shoot, but fortunately, the slight skin-pinching effect and the metallic luster turned out just right. The blue butterfly prop was also the soul of this set; it was not just an embellishment, but a focal point guiding my gaze and action interactions.
The shooting location was chosen at Liuhua Lake Park, which is highly suitable for this kind of natural and mysterious style of cosplay. We walked around the lakeside to find several scenes, including lawns, rocks, wooden railings, and the waterside. Personally, I like Photo 6 the best, which was shot next to the wooden boardwalk by the water. The natural light close to dusk was very soft, backlighting the hood and silver armlets. With the background lake completely blurred into a deep dark backdrop, the character subject stood out prominently.
In terms of photography, this set was shot by two photographers, Lao Miao and Xiao Xiongmao. Lao Miao's shots (Photos 1 to 6) lean more toward combining the environment with the subject, using a wide aperture to create layered bokeh in the background. For example, in the half-body shot hidden in the bushes in Photo 5, the blurred flowers and leaves in the foreground serve as a framing device, locking the focus on my face and raised hand, instantly maxing out the atmospheric vibe. As for Photo 4, where I lay next to the landscape stones, the light filtering through the gaps in the leaves created partial highlights, giving it a highly cinematic quality.
As for expression, I tried my best to capture a sense of "tranquility" and "melancholy." I kept my hand relaxed while touching the butterfly, avoiding overly rigid poses. However, in some photos requiring larger movements, because the hem of the costume has a lot of tulle and ribbons, it was easy for them to get caught by the wind or bushes, and I also had to pay attention to the alignment of the clothing and exposed edges to keep the overall styling clean and sharp.
Honestly, shooting in such a thin Cosplay outfit outdoors in winter is a real test of stamina, and every gust of wind made me want to pack up on the spot. However, seeing the cool-toned skin and hair color in the final cuts, coupled with the winter Liuhua Lake with its sparse evergreen plants, this somewhat bleak and quiet environment unexpectedly harmonized with The Shorekeeper's temperament—which was a pleasant surprise.
Besides the cold weather, there were many small details to handle, such as the wig easily getting messy in the outdoor wind, and the makeup wearing off due to oil or sweat, requiring constant touch-ups. These are actually the daily realities that must be faced when producing real-life cosplay photos. But being able to restore this character with real scenes, light, and shadow was a wonderful experience in itself. This outdoor portrait photography session has given me a new understanding of combining outdoor portraits with natural light, and I look forward to sparking better chemistry with characters and scenes next time.