With the official launch of the Blue Archive and Pizza Hut collaboration, I finally had the chance to bring my Shimoe Koharu cosplay project to life at this perfect timing. We chose a beautifully lit outdoor cafe as the shooting location, aiming to capture the pure, everyday casual feel of the character basking in the sunlight.
Prep work for these props began well in advance. Although the halo overhead looks airy and light, securing it took considerable effort; combined with the black feathers on both sides, keeping everything straight and level under outdoor natural light truly relied on the help of on-site assistants. For makeup, matching the character's pink hair, I opted for a soft, bright color palette, while red colored contact lenses brought a sharp, focused look to the eyes.
The photos capture our shoot during the collaboration campaign. Passersby even asked curiously if we were filming a promo commercial! These moments where daily life and anime break the fourth wall are exceptionally fun. The outfit featured an off-the-shoulder top and raw-hem denim shorts; this breezy, casual styling highlighted the character's vitality without looking bulky. Red ankle ribbons and white lace trims were specially added around the ankles, offering exquisite details that enriched the overall visual aesthetic.
Now let's talk about lighting and post-processing. The shoot took place on a crystal-clear sunny afternoon, with sunlight beaming in from the side-rear. Photographer @BingbingHongchaSheyingban is exceptional at capturing this high-exposure, high-transparency Japanese street style. Rather than forcing heavy background bokeh with wide apertures, the layered depth of the background was preserved, lending an authentic documentary feel to this anime-style street photography.
When posing, I personally favor the seated posture in the first photo—it doesn't feel over-posed and naturally showcases the costume structure with effortless ease. The over-the-shoulder look into the camera in the second photo was actually an unexpected candid capture mid-turn; sometimes not deliberately posing for the camera makes for the best shots. Since I was cosplaying a uniquely charming character from Blue Archive who bears angelic motifs, I aimed for an expression that balanced serious earnestness with subtle playfulness.
With the collaboration period running so long, stopping by Pizza Hut for a meal was an absolute must! Although these photos were not taken directly inside the restaurant, the pure joy of combining good food, gaming, and cosplay was completely genuine. The photoshoot lasted about two hours, with a short indoor break in between because the sun was so glaring. Looking at the raw shots indoors, the lighting effects exceeded expectations—the sun's quality beautifully highlighted the layers of black feathers and individual hair strands.
I'm also very grateful that there was minimal interference on site that day, allowing us to compose shots with ease. Compared to studio shoots, outdoor location shoots demand much more regarding light control and physical stamina, as you must constantly adjust angles so the light hits the face softly. But when the photos turn out great, it's all worthwhile. For the prop wings, we used a clever setup: securing them at the waist allowed turning motions to spread them naturally for great visual breadth. Shooting outdoors naturally means dealing with breezes; whenever a gust blew through, the rim reflections on the halo glowed brilliantly, becoming a delightful visual highlight.
Wrapping up, I realized how comfortable this outfit is for street wear in the summer without feeling heavy at all. For friends who love Shimoe Koharu and the Blue Archive Pizza Hut collaboration, this casual cosplay might offer fresh inspiration beyond ornate battle scenes. This photo set serves as my memento for this collaboration campaign and a record of my ongoing cosplay journey. Clean, natural, and relaxed are truly the core emotions of these photos.