Shooting this Onmyoji Shiranui look was actually finalized after quite some time of preparation. I usually prefer outfits with rich Japanese-style colors and modified elements because of their strong versatility. However, because of this, I needed to put more effort into matching the overall textures to avoid any visual discordance.
To capture the essence of the character, I spent a long time choosing the wig. I finally went with this pure white straight-bangs wig with moderate volume, paired with custom red-orange flame-shaped hair accessories on both sides fixed with red rope knots, which instantly outlined the core silhouette of this character. The red mark on the forehead, combined with the overall warm-orange-toned eye makeup and red contact lenses, gave my gaze not only a mysterious, ethereal feel but also captured a few delicate emotional waves in front of the lens. This was an essential part of the Cosplay makeup.
The layering of the costume was my biggest focus. The inner layer is a classic white cross-collar top with black trim to make the collar look cleaner; the outer layer is a slightly glossy orange-pink semi-transparent tulle with very wide sleeves that drape beautifully to flatter the arm lines. Although the hem of the skirt isn't long, combined with the tight-on-top and loose-on-bottom design and that eye-catching orange-brown checkered obi (girdle), it effectively raises the waistline. The thick sky-blue rope knot at the waist is the most striking contrast in the overall warm and cool color palette, and I really love this color collision.
The creative team put a lot of effort into setting up the scene. Wooden sliding lattice doors, a vintage wooden wheel in the background, and straw tatami mats on the floor formed a classic Japanese room base. The warm yellow paper lantern in the corner and the reddish-brown plant decorations gave the light throughout the space an ambiguous twilight feel. During the shoot, we used this warm backlit glow on the tulle, making the clothes look as if they were glowing. This texture of Japanese-style photography was exactly what I wanted.
The primary props used were folding fans of various sizes. I used multiple fans, some in black-and-white ink wash style and others with ink-wash dye effects. When holding a folding fan, the finger strength must be restrained and the wrists flexible to look more effortless when interacting with the lens. To showcase the full cut of this costume, I deliberately tried various sitting poses. When sitting, one must pay attention to lowering the shoulders and keeping the back straight to avoid slouching. The pairing of high-toothed geta (wooden clogs) further elongated the visual proportions of the calves, and combined with the white mid-calf socks, it made the overall look complete.
The shooting process was actually quite exhausting. Since these wooden clogs are very thick and high, I had to constantly engage my core to maintain balance. Sitting on the tatami mat for too long made my knees and ankles sore, but for that relaxed yet slightly lazy look in the camera, these adjustments were completely worth it. In post-processing, I tried my best to keep the orange reflections of the sunlight on my skin instead of over-brightening my skin tone, hoping to truly blend the ambient light with the character.
The final set of photos pretty much fully presented the image I had in mind. From the texture of the hair and the delicacy of the eye makeup to the overlapping of costume fabrics and the coordination of props, every detail assisted in building this character's story. Shooting itself is a process of constant experimentation and self-breakthrough, and the final product makes me even more confident in the expressiveness of this style. I hope this Cosplay sharing brings everyone a different feeling.