[Kinnara cosplay] Onmyoji Kinnara Awakened, no more slaughter after this song

Looking at the finally edited pictures on the screen, I feel quite emotional. This is actually the first character I ever shot when entering the cosplay community: Kinnara (Unawakened) from Onmyoji. Back then, when I just entered the hobby, I knew nothing, wearing clothes from Miaowu. Because the costume was extremely tight, my whole body was stiff and motionless, standing in the studio at a complete loss, not even knowing where to put my hands. That set of pictures simply became Luoluo's source of joy over the past few years, and every time we gather, she pulls it out to tease me.
Actually, after finishing that shoot, I had a stubborn drive inside me, wanting to find a chance to properly shoot it again. Finally, in 2023, I mustered up the courage to challenge this Kinnara set once more. To make up for the regrets of that year, I specially had the studio set up a dark dead-wood scene very similar to the previous one, and even prepared skull props and the instrument painted with characteristic patterns.
This shoot went much more smoothly. After handing the makeup over to Xiaochang, I felt completely at ease; the eye makeup and forehead markings she did for me fit the character's temperament perfectly, looking cold yet carrying a touch of compassion. To create that eerie yet sacred atmosphere, a lot of smoke was released on site, matched with the warm-and-cool contrasting lighting set up by Luoluo. Red sparks and the deep blue light-and-shadow behind intertwined, and the photo effect was truly maxed out. During post-processing, A Nang preserved that coarse yet gorgeous texture, handling the alternating black, gold, and red details and plush edges on the costume very delicately.
Although I was more skilled at wearing this outfit than the first time, after rolling around in the studio for a whole day, stepping barefoot on the rough set scenery was still quite tiring. However, seeing my own state in front of the lens, I could really feel the progress over these past few years. From that helpless newcomer to now being able to control expressions and handle props relatively freely, showcasing Kinnara's cool and shattered state.
Coincidentally, today is July 29th, Happy Birthday to Xiaoyin! From the first time I shot you until now, you have witnessed my growth. Every time I think of the line "After this song, there is no more slaughter," I can feel the sense of destiny carried by this character. I deeply cherish every opportunity to cosplay, and I am also grateful to that clumsy yet unyielding self from back then. I hope that before completely retiring from the community, I will still have the opportunity to shoot the unawakened version once more, drawing a full stop to my cosplay career.