For this shoot, I took on a summer-themed look for Myrtle from Arknights.
In terms of costume and styling preparation, I went with Myrtle's iconic long red hair styled into twin pigtails. The elf ears were trimmed beforehand for a snug fit, looking completely natural when worn. The complete outfit consists of a pure white ruffle crop top paired with a matching sheer skirt and platform sandals with white fuzzy trim. In addition, the pearl necklace and the pearl anklet served as perfect finishing touches, noticeably elevating the outfit's delicate feel.
We put a lot of thought into the set design. The floor was paved with blue-and-white pool-style tiles, and a wooden folding beach chair was set in place. Under the parasol was a patch of shade, surrounded by tropical greenery and classic lifebuoys to enrich the background layers. The most fun touch was the little yellow rubber ducks casually scattered across the tiles and around the chair, adding plenty of playful charm and splashing summer vibes to the frame.
I struck two contrasting poses for this Summer Film set. In the first shot, I rested one foot on the beach chair while raising a blue-and-yellow toy water gun, giving the impression of getting ready for battle or waving hello to the camera. This angle not only showcased the garment's tailoring and waistline nicely, but also naturally extended the leg lines, looking lively and dynamic. In the second shot, I sat on the chair with both hands resting on my cheeks, creating a lazy, laid-back afternoon leisure feel.
In terms of character personality, Myrtle in the game is cheerful, sunny, and always eager to help, so I wanted this set of photos to avoid feeling overly aggressive or heavy. Integrating her optimistic spirit into a refreshing summer setting brings a lighter, more breezy feeling to viewers. Maintaining good energy is crucial even for a relaxed studio shoot like this—the strong lighting and incandescent lamps made the costume a bit warm, but everyone kept up their best form throughout for the sake of the final result.
On the technical photography side, instead of using complex softboxes, we opted for slightly harder lighting angles to simulate the direct feel of midday sunlight. Using a reflector to fill in light on the face preserved skin texture while making the blue tiles and yellow rubber ducks in the background appear crisp and vibrant. In post-processing, we kept skin tones natural without excessive smoothing, striving to capture an authentic poolside holiday feel rather than an artificial studio look.
Regarding prop handling, I had previously tested holding the water gun behind my back or resting it on my head, but ultimately settled on holding it slightly to the front side. This kept my face unobstructed while creating a striking color focal point in the composition. We also adjusted the folding chair's angle multiple times to ensure it was easy to step on without looking unstable.
Looking back at these photos, it was not only a recreation of the character's look, but also a fun experience in scene building. The overall atmosphere and the final results completely exceeded my initial expectations. I hope this sharing on outfit coordination, prop placement, and lighting techniques offers helpful inspiration for anyone who loves shooting summer or poolside styles!