[Castorice cosplay] Taking You to the Styx Pool: Honkai: Star Rail Summer Party

This summer photoshoot at Chimelong Water park was planned well in advance, but we never anticipated such massive crowds on the day. Since I wanted to preserve that chilly yet playful aura of the character amidst the bustling amusement park, finding a relatively clean background took considerable effort. For this look, I chose a white sheer off-the-shoulder top paired with black denim shorts; the purple drawstring accents tied in seamlessly with the character's primary color palette. The outdoor heat at Chimelong was intense, with direct sun causing harsh glare, making the photographer's fill lighting crucial for capturing fabric textures. The hair was styled with a top-tier light purple wig; to support the crown adorned with black thorns and pink blossoms, the roots were firmly reinforced, and we had to constantly manage stray hairs sticking to my face from sweat. The swim ring and water gun served as two essential props—the pink water gun boasted fantastic craftsmanship, instantly lending a playful yet cheeky edge in hand, while the swim ring added a relaxed, casual vibe. Throughout the shoot, I utilized numerous seated and semi-reclining poses, as the lounge chairs naturally elongated my leg lines and brought a breezy lightness to the frame. For posing, I experimented with glancing over my shoulder, handing over props, and side-angled poses with an engaged core, using arm lines to frame the overall composition. To stay true to the character's innate elegance and detached demeanor, movements were kept subtly restrained and effortless rather than overly dramatic. The ice cream prop melted quickly under the sweltering heat, requiring several takes to freeze that perfect handover moment. Ultimately, we selected 9 photos for the set; my absolute favorite is the one stretching my legs on the poolside lounge chair, where sunlight caught my skin just right, harmonizing with the water park's vibrant hues for a beautifully translucent glow. This post is simply to document the day's experience and behind-the-scenes details—summer shoots always come with little surprises, but the resulting photos made every bit of effort well worth it.