Deciding to try this look for Sandrone from Genshin Impact was largely due to the contradictory sense of mechanics and romance interwoven within her, making it a perfect theme for Marionette Cosplay.
The quoted line, "Human emotions are far less precise and reliable than gears," fits her character design perfectly. While organizing the props and wig, I truly felt that translating a 2D character into a three-dimensional real-life image requires a precise grasp of details, just like interlocking gears.
The fabric selection for this outfit (by Sanfen Wangxiang) is very exquisite. The main body adopts a patchwork of black and white matte leather and fabric, while the red velvet splicing and gold trim on the edges enhance the gorgeous texture of the overall costume. The composition of the headpiece is relatively complex; the combination of white multi-layered lace and black-gold edges carries both the elegance of a maid and the cold stiffness of machinery. The ruby metal buckle at the waist is one of the visual cores of the entire outfit, and its position and luster needed to be maintained throughout the shoot.
To match the feel of a marionette, I prepared a pair of white gloves and a gold ring on my finger, attempting to convey an exquisite yet detached aura through subtle movements. Under the photographer's guidance, I tried different body languages. For instance, sitting on the carpet with crossed toes and high heels can elongate the leg lines beautifully, while also fully displaying the layers of the skirt. Holding the champagne-gold ruffled fabric and lowering my head slightly can express a quiet sense of vulnerability.
The focus of the hair and makeup lies in the blue colored contacts and the ash-gold long hair. The colored contacts look exceptionally translucent under the warm indoor lighting; paired with the slightly curled bangs and hair ends, it retains the softness of an Eastern girl while echoing the otherworldly style of the character concept.
The shooting location was an European-style indoor space. The warm yellow chandeliers and the blue-patterned carpet added a vintage warmth to the overall color palette. In order to capture the costume details and the character's expressions, we used a lot of close-ups and a slightly shallow depth of field for background blur, making the entire frame look gorgeous without being cluttered. In terms of lighting, the use of a warm light source beautifully neutralized the heaviness of the black leather, making the texture of the face and hair more translucent.
This shoot gave me a deeper understanding of the character Sandrone. Beneath her seemingly precise and cold exterior, perhaps a desire for true emotion is buried. Transforming a 2D illustration into a touchable existence in reality—this process of turning illusion into reality is exactly the most charming part of Genshin Impact cosplay.
During the process, I was also repeatedly reflecting on how to embody her "marionette" traits in front of the lens. It shouldn't be too rigid, nor too lively. By controlling the amplitude of hand gestures and the focal point of my gaze, I balanced the mechanical feel and the girlish vibe. The placement of accessories also pursued a sense of rigor, such as the black leather choker on the neck and the golden patterns on the sleeves, which pieced together a dualistic opposition of restraint and gorgeousness.