[Exusiai the New Covenant cosplay] Arknights Tactical Gear Photoshoot Record

The passion for Arknights in our community was truly running high, with fellow makeup artists sharing photos in the chat every single day, and it was finally my turn to cosplay Arknights' Exusiai the New Covenant. As a makeup artist myself, I spent a lot of time nitpicking every detail of this look. Today, I'll focus on the actual photoshoot experience.

First was the makeup: the red wig needed multi-layered, choppy trimming. To match the sharpness of the original illustration, the eye makeup featured reddish-brown smudging paired with amber colored contacts, while the base was a cool-toned matte finish and the lips were a true red, pairing gorgeously with the red hair on camera. The core of this Cosplay makeup was longevity; since we were shooting outdoors in cooler weather combined with sweating from physical exertion, I had to set the makeup multiple times.

Next was the costume: this black leather jacket had great structure, though it was quite heavy. With numerous silver metallic accents along the collar, zippers, and shoulders, putting it on was quite cumbersome. Inside was a textured white shirt with black lines; the silver bird emblem and round buttons on the chest looked very delicate, but easily poked into the skin when wearing tight inner layers. The bottom half consisted of black shorts and white tights with a Leg garter. The white tights had subtle jacquard patterns, and the leather strap of the Leg garter had noticeable tension, leaving red marks after kneeling for long periods. This ensemble was quite restrictive, especially when raising arms, as the sleeves and red cords got caught easily.

The most agonizing part was the prop—the rifle was truly heavy, much heavier than expected. When shooting with the rifle, holding it single-handedly or horizontally with both hands demanded significant strength to stay steady. Especially in the third photo kneeling on one knee, to look as though I could effortlessly command that weight, I kept communicating angles with the photographer and adjusting my center of gravity. By the end of the shoot, my arms were so sore I could barely lift them. Still, I must say, the gun look paired with the White tights cosplay and Leg garter created a wonderful atmospheric vibe; the rifle's texture combined with the techwear-style outfit made the entire look exceptionally cool.

On the day of the shoot, we moved back and forth between stairwells and semi-outdoor areas. The black leather jacket scratched easily against iron doors, so we had to be very protective. Wearing so many accessories made me worry about things falling off while walking, especially the leg straps and rifle sling. Photo 4 added halo and wing VFX, and the post-processing fit the lore's atmosphere completely.

With the chat full of passionate Arknights fans and fellow enthusiasts, teamwork on set was seamless. Although the prop was heavy and posing was tiring, seeing the flawless results emerge in camera made all the preparation worthwhile. This was also an advanced step in my journey as a makeup artist—handling red-haired styling and leather reflections professionally. I hope to tackle similar characters next time.