The set chosen for this shoot utilized a cool-toned classical Chinese interior, primarily designed to bring forth Yin Yue's aloof, ethereal aura alongside her mischievous, spirited essence from A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality. To honor the lore, a circular moon window and carved wooden lattice screens were built within the studio, and the floor was layered with a plush white rug to facilitate diverse seated postures. To complement the silver hair and Kemonomimi cosplay ears, I selected a wig with distinct hair strands and texture, dedicating considerable time to trimming and styling. Positioning the ears required repeated fine-tuning—excessive weight risked them sliding backward, while tilting too far forward looked unnatural.
For makeup, pink contact lenses were paired with a subtle reddish eye wash, with eyeliners swept slightly upward to echo the crimson flowing ribbons of the attire. The outfit is laden with delicate details: the white fur trim at the chest, silver cloud patterns embroidered onto the billowing sleeves, and the crimson sash at the waist, each meticulously pressed before shooting. Because of the oversized bell-shaped sleeves, raising an arm easily obscured my face, requiring careful arrangement of fabric folds with every posture shift. For props, I prepared bamboo slips, a Chinese calligraphy brush, and a Go board. The first sequence featured sitting beside the Go table, holding the bamboo slip in one hand with the tip of the brush held playfully between my teeth. This gesture needed to appear relaxed while maintaining an intense, piercing gaze; to avoid a blank stare, I practiced locking my focus to convey contemplative thought. The black brush offered a sharp visual contrast against the silver-white hair.
Later, I transitioned into a side-seated posture with bent knees, holding the brush in one hand while resting the other lightly against my chin. This angle not only elongated leg lines, but also imbued the character with a deeper narrative mood. The cool white key light fell across the hair and skin, rendering a crisp, luminous translucence. Because the venue featured wooden architecture and dark ambient tones, a cool white key light was used to simulate pure moonlight, while a frontal bounce board filled in facial shadows to keep features soft.
The final set featured a formal kneeling posture, raising one hand while the voluminous sleeve draped down naturally. Given the weight of the fabric, kneeling required smoothing the spread of the skirt while maintaining a straight spine to preserve the character's imposing aura. From set pieces to prop details, every element aimed to channel the classical xianxia atmosphere of the novel. The tactile grain of the bamboo slips, the natural wood tones of the Go board, and the brushstrokes enriched the visual depth. During breaks, I studied the arrangement of these props to ensure organic harmony within the frame, refining hand and foot angles so even spontaneous snaps felt effortless. Because the set was intricately staged, each posture shift required realigning the lights. While tiring, seeing the finished photos made every effort worthwhile. I hope fans of A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Han Li, and Yin Yue can feel the dedication poured into this Ancient style cosplay.