The moment I saw the costume design for Hsin from Wuthering Waves, I knew it had to be captured under the deep crimson maples of late autumn.
I began coordinating the shoot plan with photographer Bai Jun well in advance. Because Hsin embodies a potent spirit fox essence steeped in Eastern fantasy, we constructed a classic set featuring Japanese shoji paper sliding doors and wooden lanterns, anchored behind by a massive illuminated moon prop. To keep the scene from feeling flat, the ground was blanketed in scarlet maple leaves, complemented by dry ice mist to instantly manifest that surreal, mystical atmosphere of an otherworldly fox spirit in hiding.
The garment's craftsmanship stands up to the closest scrutiny. Rooted in a core palette of black and red, it weaves in white fabrics and golden piping borders. The black-and-gold corset design across the bust, adorned with a blue-to-red gradient gemstone, serves as the primary visual anchor for the upper silhouette. Wide scarlet robes flow from both sleeves, trimmed along the cuffs and shawl with plush white fur; this not only adds tactile dimension to the outfit, but also infuses dynamic energy into the frame as the fur collar sways with each movement.
We invested immense effort into hair and makeup. To capture that perilous yet bewitching presence, I blended crimson tones into the eye makeup and wore vivid red contact lenses. Across my neck and arms, totem-inspired tattoos were hand-painted using scarlet pigment. The beast ears atop my head are black edged with green fur, accented by gilded leaf-and-branch hair ornaments for exquisite fidelity. Dainty gold chains encircled my wrists and ankles, finished with deep red nail polish—subtle details that yielded tremendous payoff in close-up takes.
In pose choreography, to channel Hsin's languid, seductive charm, I explored various floor-bound stances. Lying prone with feet kicked up highlighted the leg contours while letting the gold ankle chain drape naturally for an alluring accent. Reclining and leaning poses demanded greater bodily flexibility, seeking angles that flattered natural curves without appearing forced or rigid. When holding a paper parasol or calligraphy brush, I infused my gaze with a nonchalant, haughty glance.
Lighting that day was focused primarily on sculpting the face and the front of the body, allowing the cool moonlight from the prop behind to contrast beautifully against the warm glow of the lanterns in front. Master Bai Jun is exceptionally skilled at freezing candid moments; often, I simply let myself flow with the emotion, and he captured the most organic beats effortlessly.
For post-production, the focus was to heighten chromatic contrast across the red, black, and gold tones, making the maple leaves pop with passionate warmth while retaining natural skin texture without excessive smoothing. The fog layers were also carefully calibrated to swirl organically around my silhouette.
From outfit preparation to set realization took nearly a month. Channeling that dangerous, predatory beauty unique to Hsin required complete immersion from body language down to the eyes. I hope everyone looking at these Anime-style photography frames can feel that singular aura thriving within this red maple night.