[Sunohara Shun cosplay] Blue Archive Summer Refreshment Special

This official swimsuit photo set of Sunohara Shun for summer is finally here! To achieve the most faithful recreation, we built a cozy setup in a white studio featuring a reflective floor, beach chair, and wooden bucket, using studio lighting to simulate the bright, breezy ambiance of a sunny seaside. The mint-green camisole swimsuit is made of light, breathable fabric that wears comfortably and flatters fair skin tones wonderfully. To express the character's signature traits, I wore black animal ears lined with white fur, paired with blunt bangs and high twintails. Once the hair was styled and pinned, the entire silhouette came together immediately. I also perched a pair of blue-framed sunglasses on top of my head as an accent, with the tiny cherry pendant on the chest adding an extra touch of playfulness.

During the shoot, the little yellow rubber duck proved to be the best prop for interactive posing. In the first and second shots, I sat on a bright orange folding chair—the chair's bold color contrasted nicely with the mint-green swimsuit, and along with the mirror-like reflections below, created a crisp and refreshing look. In the third photo, lying prone on the reflective floor while hugging a giant yellow plush doll lent the visual narrative a quieter, gentler feel. For makeup, I focused heavily on the eyes, wearing green colored contacts to echo the color palette of the swimsuit. The red bow-accented slide sandals were another vital detail; while less practical for walking than flats, they popped dramatically on camera.

The entire shooting process was quite an endurance test, requiring constant awareness of muscle tone and facial expression control, as the reflective flooring easily exposes signs of fatigue. In terms of posing, to showcase the curves of the swimwear, the photographer suggested expansive stretching movements—such as raising my arms overhead or leaning slightly forward. For lighting, to match the surface properties of the reflective floor, the key light was kept soft and supplemented with side bounce cards. This brought out smooth skin textures while avoiding harsh, distracting shadows on the glossy ground. The wooden bucket and leafy green foliage in the background added depth to the composition, keeping the frame balanced and visually engaging.

When channeling the character's personality, Sunohara Shun embodies the aura of a mature older sister, yet dressed in a swimsuit, she reveals an endearing sweetness. In my eye expressions, I tried to blend gentle warmth with a hint of playful mischief—for instance, holding the rubber duck naturally as if genuinely playing by the seashore. Switching between these moods required continuous fine-tuning. Without a real sea breeze in the studio, the flutter of fabric and dynamic flow of hair had to be controlled manually, sometimes readjusting multiple times just to capture that fleeting breezy moment. The weight of the twintails put noticeable strain on my scalp during long sessions, but seeing how full and voluminous they looked on screen made every bit of effort worthwhile. The slide sandals looked adorable, but navigating the slick floor called for extra caution. Huge thanks to the photographer's lighting and candid framing, which perfectly captured the shimmering reflections on the floor and the tactile charm of the rubber duck. From costume prep to set construction, we gave our all to recreate the look, and I hope this refreshing summer energy reaches everyone!