[Toy Merchant Annie cosplay] Identity V Recollection Series Garden Girl

For this shoot of the Toy Merchant - Recollection Series, the overall styling fits the theme of a garden fairy tale very well. When I first received the outfit, I was immediately drawn to the light blue dress and the delicate lace shawl. To give the images more texture, this shoot took place in a courtyard filled with greenery, with light green wooden glass doors and windows in the background. The overall environment fits the atmosphere of Identity V - Chasing Light, Pursuing Dreams and the Identity V Ivory Tower Series very well. As the cosplayer of Toy Merchant Annie from Identity V, I needed to accurately capture her traits—a hint of melancholy mixed with gentleness and childlike innocence, while showcasing the unique storytelling feel of the Recollection Series.

Let's talk about the makeup and styling first. The wig is light golden, intentionally braided into thick braids draped over my chest, with the ends fixed with small daisy hair accessories to add a playful touch. The hat is the highlight of the styling: a light blue flat-topped boater hat decorated with green leaves and white daisies, and the hanging white mesh lace veil is the finishing touch, creating a hazy and light visual effect. For the makeup, to fit the 2D character atmosphere, I deliberately covered my natural eyebrows and drew light-colored ones. The eye makeup used a pink-orange base paired with thick false eyelashes to make my eyes look larger. The most time-consuming part was the floral patches around my eyes. Small daisies dotted my cheeks, and I had to repeatedly adjust their positions to ensure they highlighted the character's features on camera without looking too cluttered.

During the shooting process, we made full use of natural light. The second picture was shot with backlighting, where the light filtered through the leaves onto my face, creating lovely light spots. To ensure my face wasn't too dark, the photographer used a soft light fill from the side. Pictures one and three were framed by a wooden table. In picture one, I'm lying on the table with my hands crossed supporting my chin—a very relaxed pose that also nicely showcases the lace shawl on my upper body. In picture three, I'm holding a clear glass ball in one hand while gently caressing my cheek with the other, with a woven basket and white roses on the table, creating a lazy afternoon vibe spent leisurely in the garden.

While shooting this set, I kept thinking about Annie's inner world. The character of the Toy Merchant has her own unique persistence and innocence. This Recollection Series skin sheds the tension she usually carries in the game, adding a touch of everyday life breath. In terms of pose design, I tried to use soft body language such as supporting my chin, cupping my face, and smiling, while keeping my gaze distant or looking tenderly into the camera to express her quiet and gentle side. The use of props was also deliberate: the glass ball symbolizes a fragile dream, while the white roses and daisies reinforce the garden theme.

My collaboration with the photographer this time was also very pleasant. We communicated for a long time before the shoot, making detailed plans from the clothing wearing order and the placement angle of the veil to the body movements in each scene. For instance, to make the lace texture of the veil clearer under backlighting, we tried many different angles. Although the whole shooting process was tedious, seeing the final photos made all the hard work worth it. These photos are not just a restoration of the character, but a concrete expression of my love for Identity V and the character Toy Merchant Annie. I hope you all like this set of works born in the garden.