On the day of the outdoor Pool photoshoot for Dorothy cosplay Swimsuit, the sunshine was even more intense than expected. To match this Goddess of Victory: Nikke outfit, I prepared a long pink wig in advance, did side braiding, and added a white bow hair accessory; the pre-shoot styling preparation really took quite a bit of time. The wig is very prone to getting messy in the strong outdoor wind, and coupled with the blue-purple contact lenses, I had to carefully adjust in front of a small mirror between every shooting interval to ensure my gaze and hairstyle were in a perfect state in every photo.
Underwater shooting was much more exhausting than being on land. To capture the textured feel of rippling water, I stood in the shallow area wearing this white ruffle Swimsuit; once the fabric absorbs water, it becomes heavy and clings to the body. Fortunately, the material of the outfit this time was relatively lightweight and thin, and it dried fairly quickly with the wind or under the sun. The laser iridescent wings prop on my back was the core focus of the entire styling, refracting multi-colored sheens under the illumination. To ensure the wings could maintain an unfolded posture even in the water, I deliberately adjusted the tension of the straps so they could retain a decent three-dimensional shape both in the water and on land.
During the shoot, the photographer had me try several different poses. When kneeling in the water, to keep the water level from rising too high over the swim trunks, I straightened my waist and back, turning slightly sideways so the light fell right on the water surface while also illuminating my leg lines. When sitting on the white lounge chair on the water, the lens demanded a sense of leg extension, so I tried to straighten my toes, shifted my center of gravity backward, and naturally supported my body with both hands on either side, which not only showcased slender legs but also kept the body relaxed and stretched. The reflection on the water surface was extremely strong, looking like it was glowing for a moment; the photographer used these backlighting conditions to capture a shimmering, sparkling effect, perfectly fitting the refreshing summer theme.
When sitting on the leisure chair by the poolside, the crossed-leg posture had high demands on core strength, requiring a straight back and relaxed shoulders. I tidied up the pink hair strands blown messy by the wind and looked up toward the lens. Because the surrounding water vapor was very heavy, the makeup was prone to sweat and oil, so I gently pressed my face with a tissue every once in a while to ensure the makeup stayed clean. Although outdoor shooting is extremely hard work, with high temperatures and long hours soaking in the water causing some fatigue, seeing the colors and lighting rendered in the camera made all the sweat feel totally worthwhile.
This outdoor Pool photoshoot was actually an attempt to try a style more natural and closer to summer. Previously shooting such outfits indoors in a studio, it was rare to encounter scenes combining water ripples and real sunlight. To capture that instant of water surface reflection, we walked back and forth in the water, constantly adjusting the height of the camera angles. The staff members also worked extremely hard; to avoid blocking the intense sunlight, they stood in the water the entire time helping hold the reflector. In fact, this outfit has many details, such as the ruffle design of the top and the sheer gauze of the hem, presenting two completely different textures in the water and on land. Through this shoot, I gained a new understanding of how to utilize the natural environment to enhance the character's atmospheric vibe. The lighting and colors of these raw photos were already extremely rich, retaining most of the authentic texture without needing excessive modification.
Recalling the shooting process of this entire day, from doing makeup and organizing hair early in the morning to soaking in the water under the blazing midday sun, although trivial and exhausting, the photo results made it feel totally worthwhile. The long pink hair looked especially vibrant under natural light, matched with the blue sky and blue pool water, making the color contrast very clean. This Dorothy cosplay Swimsuit styling experienced quite a bit of trial and error from fitting to the official shoot, including the fixing method of the wing props, waterproof makeup testing, and so on. Fortunately, the final finished photos achieved the relaxed and energetic vibe I expected. This outdoor shooting experience also taught me a lot, such as how to control facial expressions under strong light and how to utilize the water surface to enhance the frame's clarity. This is our record belonging to summer.