This photoshoot set for My Melody Daji cosplay was captured in a vintage realistic studio for Shenzhen cosplay photography. The dark wooden furnishings and Rococo-style walls in the studio created a striking visual clash against this high-saturation blue-and-pink color palette.
To faithfully recreate this Honor of Kings concept blending sweetness with allure, I poured considerable thought into the styling. Fluffy short pink curls paired with oversized plush animal ears brought an instantly playful charm the moment they were put on. For the wardrobe, I chose an off-the-shoulder Lolita dress crafted from glossy royal-blue satin, featuring a multi-tiered cake skirt with a pink lining, draped over by a white apron with cartoon animal pockets. What surprised me most was the translucent, iridescent fluffy giant tail: under the studio lighting, it refracted a pink-to-blue gradient sheen, carrying noticeable presence and weight as I moved.
For makeup, I tried bright blue colored contact lenses and emphasized an innocent look in the eye makeup, accenting the eye area with glitter flakes and rhinestones. Combined with soft rosy blush, this captured an aura both sweet and spirited. The props included strawberry tart pastries, a pink plush doll, and several bouquets of pink roses.
The shooting process was more demanding than expected. Because the skirt was voluminous and the tail heavy, sitting down and standing up required an assistant's help to tidy the fabrics. To achieve the ideal atmosphere, I explored diverse poses. For example, sitting on the floor with legs crossed allowed the white Stockings and high heels to be fully showcased, while resting my chin on my hands and gazing into the lens. This pose highlighted the leg lines beautifully and made for a full, well-balanced composition. In another set of full-body shots, I tried a playful one-legged standing pose or leaned forward slightly holding a cake—the former caught the skirt fluttering mid-air, while the latter accentuated the deep-V tailoring of the garment and collarbone contours.
The use of vintage props was equally vital. Sitting on the wooden table embracing the My Melody plush doll, I dipped my head slightly, using natural light to illuminate my face so the doll's pink echoed my hair color. Bringing the small pastry close to my cheek, I pouted slightly or winked to seize vivid, lively moments. Pairing white Stockings with light-blue lace high heels was a detail I especially adored in this look; when sitting or reclining on the floor or rug, the leg lines appeared wonderfully soft on camera.
Realistic studios for Shenzhen cosplay photography typically require booking well in advance. To complement this styling, the photographer and I conducted numerous lighting tests, primarily using warm-toned softboxes to avoid overly cold white light making the pink wig look harsh, all while preserving the premium glossy sheen of the satin fabric.
Throughout the shoot, dragging around the massive tail and heavy layered skirt was tiring, but seeing the frames captured in camera made all the detailed preparations worthwhile. This exploration blending sweet doll aesthetics with gaming character elements from Honor of Kings gave me a fresh perspective on ACG photography. Checking every finalized shot after wrapping up, every bit of effort felt truly rewarding.