[Astesia Cosplay] Arknights Hall Waterfowl: Astgenne Duo Beneath the Starry Canopy

This shoot features the duo of Astesia and Astgenne from Arknights. Having always loved characters infused with magical elements and Gothic aesthetics, I poured extra care into this studio shoot. The location chosen was an indoor studio featuring massive stained-glass windows, where deep blue tones and soft refracted light through the glass complemented the characters' ocean-blue long hair seamlessly.

Regarding the costume, the dress for my Astesia cosplay features a blue-and-white gradient tulle design; what pleased me most was its light, translucent texture, which paired with black sheer lace sleeves and white over-the-knee stockings created a sacred yet mysterious aura on camera. The golden star embellishment at the chest and the necklace resting on the collarbone were meticulously adjusted by hand, striving to align every detail with official character art. As for props, the crescent-shaped golden staff held substantial weight, easily commanding the character's majestic presence when held. Meanwhile, Astgenne's top hat added strong recognition; interacting with the white dove prop felt like bringing the conceptual essence of Waterfowl in the Starry Sea to life.

For composition, I referenced numerous fan illustrations, purposefully utilizing birdcages, white Roman pillars, and lit candles to enrich foregrounds and backgrounds. To achieve optimal perspective during the shoot, the makeup artist and photographer repeatedly assisted in adjusting my positioning—especially during spinning skirt shots, which captured a beautifully fluid dynamic feel. Since this duo shoot emphasized rich character interaction—ranging from standing shoulder-to-shoulder wielding staffs to quiet moments resting against knees—conveying this shared bond was our primary goal. The entire set avoided heavy post-processing body slims, opting instead to preserve fabric weave textures and the authentic color tone of the stained glass for a far more natural result.

As for hair and makeup, to match the blue wig, we specifically chose sapphire-blue contact lenses and added star-shaped highlights to the eye makeup, giving a deep, ethereal gaze in close-up shots. The bangs on the wig underwent multiple trims to outline the wispy hair texture seen in official illustrations. During duo coordination, balancing positioning and gaze direction proved most challenging—achieving a balanced composition without obscuring each other's silhouetted edges. Thanks to the photographer's skillful guidance using foreground candlesticks and white railings to build spatial depth, the flat studio set was transformed into a dynamic, three-dimensional cinematic stage.

Ultimately, successful Cosplay photography requires far more than high-quality costumes—it demands team consensus across makeup, lighting, and movement choreography. Prior to shooting, I studied official concept art extensively, contemplating character expressions and postures to faithfully evoke that noble, elegant mage aura standing within a grand hall. Supported by Astgenne's presence, portraying the sisters leaning on each other and soaring together through the starry sky formed the heart of this set. I am immensely grateful to the creative team; without their professional expertise, producing such crisp, texture-rich cosplay work would have been impossible. The photo angles are wonderfully varied, ranging from medium close-ups highlighting skirt and thigh-high details to grand wide shots displaying the entire set arrangement, leaving me deeply satisfied. I hope everyone enjoys this meticulously crafted Arknights Astesia cosplay and Astgenne cosplay duo project and feels my passion for this character and the art of cosplay.