Woke up early this morning to freshly bake a batch of Pancake props for the photoshoot, which we all shared and ate right after wrapping up—the whole session went so smoothly! Because I made the props myself, I had complete control over the shooting rhythm without waiting on pre-ordered items or having to adjust to unfamiliar prop textures on the spot, making me feel exceptionally relaxed.
The theme of this shoot was the Doctor from Arknights. To match the character's vibe, I specifically prepared an outfit with vintage elements: a white wig paired with wire-frame glasses, a red-and-white striped lace headpiece, and a white puff-sleeve blouse tucked into a navy blue skirt adorned with yellow grid lines and daisy accents. To enrich the visual layering, I also paired it with White stockings and Mary Jane shoes. Before the shoot, I put extra thought into the hair and makeup—grooming the wig's hair flow and ensuring the blush and lip tint stayed translucent to blend into the warm lighting.
We chose a retro café furnished with wooden bookshelves and rattan chairs as our location. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass windows onto the table, naturally creating a contrast between warm and cool tones, so simply tweaking the camera's white balance and angles yielded great shots. We prepared several distinct poses during the shoot: the first with me holding a plate of Pancake treats while seated and looking focused into the lens; the third looking down while stirring jam in a glass jar with a wooden spoon, paired with a red mug and red book to create a relaxed reading mood; the fourth holding the headpiece with both hands while seated and looking to the side; and the fifth standing while lifting the skirt with one hand—an angle that perfectly showcased the leg lines and stocking details, giving the overall composition an upright posture. Lastly, we captured a close-up of the hands holding the cup and reaching for the jam.
The greatest fun during the shoot was interacting with the props. The plate of Pancake treats was freshly made on a skillet that morning; to ensure a nice color, the heat was carefully controlled so the surface achieved an even golden-brown without burning. Stacked six layers high, it was garnished with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and a sprig of mint, accompanied by a small dish of matching berries. Holding the pancakes in my palms felt completely natural because real food provides genuine weight, which works vastly better than plastic replicas or 3D prints. Drinking coffee was also genuine, so my expressions required no forced effort and remained delightfully relaxed.
Among the final edits, my favorite is the standing pose lifting the skirt to reveal the legs—the White stockings paired with the pleated hem look both elegant and lively. Set against the vintage backdrop, the entire color palette is unified in warm golden tones. These photos were taken purely with a camera and only underwent minor color grading in post to subtly lift the shadows, preserving the natural wooden textures and fabric grain without excessive liquifying. After finishing these shots, the Pancake props were divided among the crew and friends on set without any waste, wrapping up a truly enjoyable photoshoot experience.