This duo shoot of Venti and his friend with my partner took about two weeks from preparation to final delivery. We chose an industrial-style studio where the metal overhead trusses and diffuse lighting setup effectively darkened the background, making the subjects stand out cleanly.
Starting with the styling details: the focal point of Venti's look is the teal-gradient wig. In addition to braiding both sides neatly, the bangs needed to be layered with fluffiness to convey youthful agility. The contact lenses were chosen in a sapphire blue close to the hair color; combined with a light foundation and natural eye makeup, the eyes look clear and bright. The friend's styling features short dark hair with an ahoge, and for fabrics, we selected slightly thicker linen-cotton and suede materials. The vest with green-and-yellow piping outlines a clear silhouette under the lights, while red tassels and green leaf ornaments add richer colors to the frame. The pairing of boots and White stockings gives the lower body lines a crisp, clean finish against the shorts.
The shoot went exceptionally smoothly, as the chemistry between the two of us defined the ceiling of the final photos. Photo 2 is a dynamic snapshot capturing both of us holding hands, shifting our weight as we step forward. The prop petals were added frame-by-frame in post-production; combined with the high-powered direct front key light in the studio, the falling white petals created a frozen-in-time effect in mid-air. This technique of shooting outdoor-style effects in an indoor studio resonated well with the lightness of the Wind male character. The "cat paw" pose in Photo 3 and the leaned-in fist-bump pose in Photo 4 were intended to showcase the natural, playful, and loyal camaraderie in their interaction.
In terms of makeup, to enhance that clean, boyish freshness, matte oil-control setting powder was used throughout, as studio lights are very bright and high reflections easily reveal cakey powder. Styling the wigs also took substantial effort—especially for the dynamic jump in Photo 2, where we had to ensure the wig wouldn't become overly messy during motion, fixing the top structure so it maintained its silhouette even mid-air. The ahoge on the dark-haired friend's head was also specifically styled and set to keep it from collapsing during large body movements.
Costume tailoring posed a test for wide ranges of motion. Venti's off-white cape is quite broad, flaring open naturally when extending the arms; while it wraps nicely, it is prone to wrinkling, but luckily the fabric has good drape, and careful ironing before the shoot ensured a smooth presentation. The friend's cape, with its red-and-black lining, contrasted with Venti's white cape, providing a great visual balance. In actual shooting, the characters' expressions and the shared atmosphere between the two were the hardest to capture. In this set, we highlighted the relaxed, uninhibited bond between them, staying as close as possible to the emotional core of the original story.