[Xishi cosplay] Honor of Kings Mermaid's Song Costume, Props, and Photoshoot Log

Today, I'm sharing the behind-the-scenes record of this Mermaid's Song Xishi photoshoot from Honor of Kings. From unboxing the costume to the final deliverables, countless details are worth reviewing.

Beginning with wardrobe and styling: this Mermaid's Song ensemble centers on a cyan-and-white color palette. To convey an airy, floating weightlessness before the camera, the gown incorporated voluminous fine tulle and shimmer-infused sheer mesh. The golden crest across the bodice and the metal hardware on the shoulder straps were intricately crafted, pairing with translucent crystal dragon horns to visually reinforce the aquatic theme. The wig was styled in silver-white, with the fringe and sidelocks carefully sculpted to flatter facial contours, while the back had to anchor securely to the translucent headdresses. For makeup, to harmonize with the cool-toned wardrobe, the eyes were softened with pink gradients and paired with a bright red lip to lift facial warmth against the pitch-black setting.

Set dressing was equally vital. To align with the aquatic skin concept, we constructed a set featuring a dark wooden boat, a woven bamboo canopy, and a pond filled with lotus blossoms and lily pads. The studio backdrop was dropped into complete darkness, illuminated by cool blue-and-white lights to maximize the luster of the silver wig and fabric sheen. The photographer, cosmos Yuanchen, wielded lighting ratios with seasoned expertise: cool directional beams fell from the side and overhead, sculpting facial contours and resolving fine garment textures—particularly the golden embroidery and sheer weave—with rich dimensional depth.

As the model, I focused my body language on channeling Xishi's nimble, graceful spirit. The swirling water dragon visual effect in the first image was achieved through pre-planned framing coordinated with post-production compositing. On set, I posed along the boat—leaning against the bow holding a lotus flower or seated inside the cabin letting the skirt fan out naturally—to flatter the high-slit tailoring and leg lines. For the seated pose in the second shot, I angled my legs deliberately to work with the White stockings and leg sleeves, elongating overall body proportions. Managing this styling demanded patience; airy sheer ribbons drifted easily, requiring resetting between takes, while makeup required periodic touch-ups to preserve close-up precision. The pink lotus petals provided a vivid accent amidst the moody background, forming a striking color pop against the cyan-and-white costume.

While fans assisted in billowing the sheer fabric, capturing dynamic moments relied on seamless synergy between photographer and model. I continually modulated my breathing and gaze to project effortless serenity. For the post-production splash and water dragon VFX, thorough pre-shoot planning ensured composition left ample spatial clearance so final renders blended seamlessly. From costume crafting to on-set illumination and VFX planning, every step was executed with care, making this a deeply rewarding cosplay creative journey.