This photoshoot features Xiao Qiao's "Shan Hai: Birth of Linlang" skin from Honor of Kings, and as a Xiao Qiao main, it really felt like a dream come true. To be honest, when I first received this costume, my immediate reaction was, "This is way too exquisite!" The entire color palette is dominated by bright yellow, sky blue, and metallic gold, featuring immense luster. The fabric creates a shimmering, sparkling effect under the lights, looking just like a goddess walking straight out of the Classic of Mountains and Seas. The costume's tailoring is very refined; wide outer sleeves paired with a cropped inner piece retain Xiao Qiao's lively agility while adding a touch of ethereal grace. In particular, wearing that plush ball headpiece instantly made me feel like my cuteness doubled without losing my presence.
I communicated with makeup artist Yuanyuanhui at length before the shoot because she truly understands the character. The eye makeup she drew specifically enlarged my eye proportions, which, paired with light silver-gray double braids, softened my overall temperament. The blue ribbon on the headpiece echoed the blue elements of the outfit seamlessly, creating a very unified color scheme. I especially loved that golden crown; its patterns and metallic texture were amazing. Although wearing it on my head carried a bit of weight, it was totally worth it for the final photos.
The set design this time was also very thoughtful: behind was a sheer curtain depicting a traditional ink landscape painting, hung all over with yellow ginkgo leaves, which worked with warm yellow lighting to create an autumn wonderland atmosphere. A reflective film was laid across the floor like water, giving the reflections a wonderful sense of depth. Props included white paper lanterns and miniature rockery stones, which, alongside beaded tassels, truly maxed out the mysterious and gentle mood of "Shan Hai."
Photographer Xiao Ajing was fantastic at capturing candid moments; she told me to relax and avoid rigid poses. Photo 1 is a standing pose where I extended one hand; the light fell perfectly onto the outfit, creating beautiful reflections on the metallic fabric while highlighting leg lines. In Photo 2, when I crouched down, the skirt flared out, presenting a serene beauty alongside the nearby lantern. Photo 3 captured a leap in mid-air—at that moment, I genuinely felt like I was flying. The sleeves fluttered with great dynamic motion, capturing a breezy lightness dancing in the wind despite being a studio shoot. Photo 4 is a close-up detail shot from a slightly low angle; the striking gaze was spot on, and it's my personal favorite expression—confident with a touch of playful pride.
Actually, the shooting process was quite tiring. These shoes had very high heels with platform soles, so standing for long periods made my feet sore, but everyone persevered to deliver the best results. The makeup artist stayed on set the entire time to touch up my makeup and fix my bangs and ribbons, for which I'm deeply grateful. This skin design contains many details, such as pearls and tassels at the waist and metallic trims on the cuffs. During shooting, we specifically highlighted these details using light and shadow so the photos wouldn't look cheap or "plastic."
As a Xiao Qiao main, I know this character has always been immensely popular in the rift, so for this Xiao Qiao Cosplay, I hoped to convey her lively yet ethereal persona. Does everyone like this kind of traditional Chinese fantasy attire? The greatest joy of cosplay is bringing beloved characters into reality—even if only for a few hours, you can feel the character's unique charm. The fabric and craftsmanship of this costume truly exceeded expectations, with thoughtful consideration behind color contrasts and tailored curves. I hope to have more opportunities to try designs filled with Chinese elements in the future.
Finally, I'd like to say that every successful shoot relies on team cooperation—from makeup and styling to Cosplay photography and post-processing, every step is crucial. Looking at the raw photos after shooting was already a pleasant surprise, and touching up light and shadow during editing made the overall atmosphere warmer and dreamier. If you also enjoy this style of Traditional Chinese style cosplay, feel free to exchange shooting tips! I feel the most important aspect of studio photography is finding light angles that suit you. The warm yellow light truly did wonders this time, bringing out the costume's full texture. That's all for this share, hope you enjoy this photo set!