[Xiao cosplay] Genshin Impact Lantern Festival Special: Restoring Cool Aloofness in a Selfie Studio

Client Showcase Vol. 30! Combining with the timing of the Lantern Festival, this set features a solo Selfie studio photo set for Genshin Impact's Xiao, taking advantage of the homophonic pun "Yuan-Xiao Festival" to wish fellow fans a Happy Lantern Festival.

Honestly, I've always held a deep personal devotion to cosplaying Xiao. His in-game lore carries an adeptus-exclusive aloofness and world-weariness, yet he simultaneously shoulders heavy bonds of friendship and responsibility. To convey this inner-outer contrast, I communicated extensively with my makeup artist and photographer regarding costume, props, and scene setups. The wig features a heavily layered mix-dye of dark green and cyan; to achieve a light, fluttering effect, forehead wisps and the ahoge on top underwent multiple rounds of styling. The purple diamond mark between the brows serves as the finishing touch of the makeup—every time it's drawn on, I feel my aura instantly elevate.

This shoot was set in a Selfie studio in Shanghai, where the overall vintage Chinese set fitted the character theme exceptionally well. I particularly love the look in the photo where I'm holding a book; the background calligraphy scrolls are filled with classical poetry, while warm lantern light paired with standing wooden shelves instantly establishes a refined scholar atmosphere reminiscent of a teahouse or study. Sitting on the wooden chair wearing this outfit, holding that dark blue ancient book in hand, the character's rich aura emerges effortlessly without needing forced expressions.

Another set scene incorporated a large celadon ceramic vase and foreground bamboo leaves. Holding a teacup while seated on a rattan chair, it attempted to recreate a quiet, secluded glimpse into an adeptus's daily life. The dappled shadows of bamboo leaves were blurred, which, combined with the surrounding subtle greenery, created a harmonious color echo with the black-and-gold paneling on the outfit and the cyan-blue damask patterns on the water sleeves.

Props were another major challenge during this shoot. That green polearm was assembled together with a prop master; the hollowed-out sections of the spearhead and the floating green diamond energy crystals were custom-made using acrylic. Additionally, the black-and-gold dragon-headed mask featured a translucent blue glow effect around the eyes, giving it an intensely imposing presence. The close-up shot taken while wearing the mask, paired with the green vine tattoo on my arm, felt like it instantly brought out that chilling, solemn aura of guarding the abyss as the Conqueror of Demons.

The final two shots were studio photos taken against a pure white backdrop, primarily to showcase the details of costume, makeup, and props more clearly. This clean lighting better highlights details such as the white spike armor on the shoulder and the gold rivets on the arm guards. The entire shoot lasted several hours; although the combined weight of the outfit and heavy props was considerable, seeing the final photos successfully capture Xiao's aloof solitude alongside dynamic combat energy made every bit of preparation and hard work feel completely worthwhile. Presented amidst a festive atmosphere, I hope these photos showcase the character's noble spine while bringing everyone a touch of warmth to celebrate the holiday.