[Iochi Mari Cosplay] Blue Archive's Flying Athletic Girl

This time we shot a set of Blue Archive Iochi Mari cosplay work. From costume matching to scene selection, I actually thought about it for quite a while before and after, ultimately choosing a white outdoor bleacher to realize this set of photos.

This handstand pose in the photo is actually much harder than it looks. It requires shifting the center of gravity completely to the head and shoulders while keeping the legs open upward, placing a high demand on core strength. To present this relaxed and playful visual effect in front of the lens, I repeatedly adjusted my body's center of gravity many times. Although this action looks like playing around, my waist had to keep a constant tension to stay steady.

Next, let's talk about the clothing. The white short-sleeved T-shirt chosen this time features orange patchwork at the neckline and shoulders, paired with deep blue athletic shorts; this color scheme is filled with campus youth vibes. The white over-knee long socks can be said to be the soul of this look. Paired with the athletic shorts, it visually elongates the leg proportions under the handstand pose, looking highly clean and crisp. The head is matched with a white headband and a pair of cat ear hair accessories, which happens to echo the "cat" element in the thread description. Speaking of prop details, a pair of black canvas shoes is casually placed nearby, along with a bottle of mineral water and a blue jacket scattered on the steps next to it, all meant to create a daily, casual sense of sports. I don't like to shoot scenes that are particularly high-and-mighty or filled with exquisite perfection; that naturally flowing atmosphere of rest time during PE class can better match the temperament of this character.

Regarding the shooting light, this time we specially used a high-key, high-exposure shooting method. The white wooden steps and white metal railings constitute the main color tone of the entire frame, appearing exceptionally translucent and refreshing under strong light. In a place like an outdoor bleacher, the light is actually hard to control. Choosing the right time and angle happens to give the frame a faint glowing feel. The post-processing addition of the yellow starburst pattern aims to visually add a bit of a lively element to match such exaggerated body language for this Anime-style photography set.

In terms of movement design, this handstand angle with both legs raised actually requires a highly tacit cooperation with the photographer. The lens needs to approach from directly above to fully include the character's face and raised legs into the frame. Meanwhile, attention must be paid to the proportions of various body parts at the edges of the frame to avoid looking too cramped. Utilizing the step-like feel of the stairs can generate a three-dimensional spatial depth in the photos, preventing them from looking stiff.

I feel that cosplay is not just as simple as putting on a character's clothes; the most core part is to fathom the character's state in a specific scenario. Iochi Mari is a highly energetic character in the game, so this look uses an outfit with a bit of an athletic feel. Paired with the cat elements, the person's overall state becomes more vivid and close. Although called a "flying cat," I still tried hard to maintain a calm expression during the shoot to create that sense of contrast. This was a truly fun roleplay experience.

Overall, this set of work is a relatively satisfying attempt. Although doing a handstand outdoors was incredibly tiring, and I had to ensure the clothes didn't get messy and the hair didn't fly wildly, the final frame effect presented is highly translucent and clean. There are no excessive retouching traces or complex scenes; it just utilizes the simplest props and environment, paired with a bit of post-processing enrichment, to display the daily yet unique side of the character. The joy of being a coser lies in being able to restore that specific feeling brought to players by the character through one's own limbs, gaze, and external apparel matching. I hope these photos can also transmit that relaxed and free breath.