Today's photo series finally marks the completion of my long-awaited revival shoot for Mayuri. Ever since the Date A Live project caught my eye, the concept of Mayuri Judgement had remained on my essential photoshoot wishlist. It had been repeatedly postponed for various reasons until now, when the timing finally aligned with photographer Xingyou to bring the vision to life.
Let's start with the styling details. The wig selected was long straight blonde hair with neat blunt bangs; the fiber texture was remarkably smooth and caught the studio lights with an attractive sheen. The headpiece was a vital focal point, crafted by piecing together semi-translucent white materials to form layered textures reminiscent of feathers or ice crystals, creating an asymmetrical radiant crown overhead that gives an ethereal floating effect from profile angles. For makeup, I wore pink contacts and swept an extensive wash of reddish-toned eyeshadow across the lids, paired with extended, defined eyeliner to recreate Mayuri's melancholic yet cool and aloof disposition on camera. The pink irises carried an unspoken, fragile vulnerability under the warm illumination.
Regarding the costume, the high-necked black mini dress forms the core foundation. A teardrop cutout sits beneath the neckline, accented with golden contour lines and several golden buttons across the chest. The skirt is tailored in pleated folds with two bright yellow-gold borders pressed along the hem, ensuring it never appears stiff whether standing or sitting. Long black opera gloves encircle the arms, adorned with golden bands around the upper biceps. The thighs feature crisscrossed black harness straps paired with lustrous metallic golden heeled boots. Speaking of these boots, they possess an intense metallic sheen and voluminous golden wing-leaf ornaments along the shafts. Wearing them naturally elevates your center of gravity and straightens your standing posture, though it also heavily tests lower-body core stability—my calves were definitely sore after a prolonged session.
As for props, the most eye-catching components were undoubtedly the two chunky yellow-gold circular rings. Holding them in hand or slipping them over the arms, combined with the expansive white wings on my back, instantly filled out the silhouette. The wings were crafted from real white feathers and carried noticeable weight; to avoid distorting the garment's tailoring, I kept my center of gravity pushed slightly forward. On set, the background incorporated an ornate metallic gold framework, complemented by a white plush carpet across the floor. Warm lights bouncing off the golden textures yielded a soft, luminous glow. The white wings and black dress established strong visual contrast, while the plush rug softened the edges to grant the entire frame rich dimensionality.
During framing, Xingyou not only captured subtle contemplative moments like looking down or folding hands, but also utilized the natural lines of the gilded frame to create depth. One particular shot featured me sitting on the carpet with legs extended naturally forward, fully displaying the sweep of the golden boots alongside the thigh straps and skirt hem for maximum visual impact. The body language throughout this shoot was mostly quiet and restrained, avoiding exaggerated poses to honor the character's innate disposition. Throughout the shoot, I continuously modulated my breathing and gaze to avoid rigid, forced posing—sometimes glancing downward, sometimes meeting the lens directly, or gently clasping my fingers to reveal different facets of the character.
The entire shoot flowed seamlessly; despite the abundance of props, everything remained well-managed, and the ambient studio lighting was superb. From makeup styling and prop adjustments to the final selects, every phase was handled with meticulous care. A look rich in wings and metallic props demands harmonious synergy between light and shadow. This photo set stands as a complete, heartfelt expression of the character before the lens.