[Princess Zhaoyang cosplay] A Splendor of Blazing Sun in The Moonlit Oath

Happy Birthday to Xuan Zhao on August 3rd! Releasing this previously unreleased photoshoot set of Xuan Zhao just in the nick of time. As the cosplayer for Princess Zhaoyang, I attach great importance to this outdoor shoot, hoping to freeze the grand momentum of the line "Wait until I turn into the blazing sun, illuminating the world with grand splendor" within the frames.

The styling of this costume is a true test of detail. The primary palette utilizes a high-contrast combination of black, white, and red, highlighted with extensive gold embroidery and metallic accessories. The cutout high collar at the neck paired with an off-the-shoulder design combines the dignity of traditional attire while preserving a crisp, lightweight feel—perfectly matching the character's proud yet heroic nature. For headwear, besides the signature white sphere hair buns and red flowers, gold and silver bone hairpins and tassels were incorporated, keeping the hairstyle's center of gravity stable so it wouldn't easily loosen in the wind or during Horseback riding cosplay moments.

In terms of makeup design, focus was placed on the expression of the eyes and brows, paired with red lips and amber lenses to closely fit the character's cold yet passionate aura. The hairstyle featured straight bangs and a high-tied bun, complemented by embedded accessories, instantly exuding an inviolable, noble grandeur.

The shooting process was painful yet joyful. The biggest challenge was interacting with a real horse. Riding atop a white horse with zero acting background required maintaining an upright posture and fearless gaze while holding a heavy long halberd and flag—demanding strong core strength. During the bow-and-arrow sequence, though appearing calm on the surface, I actually had to grip the arrows tightly while timing the dust-raising effects. Special thanks to the photographer and team for using the Tyndall effect from sunlight piercing through the dust, creating an epic, hazy lighting texture that infused the final photos with a hint of battlefield smoke.

The natural light in outdoor reed beds and woods is highly dynamic, placing immense demands on the photography team's capturing abilities. They had to avoid harsh overexposure while using backlighting to outline the floating gauze and hair strands. The outer white gauze of this costume is extremely light, fluttering gracefully in the wind for a fantastic dynamic effect. The post-processing team also preserved the authentic texture of this light fabric without drastically altering the original tonal values, giving the final output a solid visual quality. Ancient style photography at its finest.

Special thanks to the costumer, photographer, layout designer, post-production artist, and friends who helped on set. Thanks to everyone's professionalism and chemistry, Xuan Zhao could be fully brought to life in this environment. Being able to interpret a character through cosplay while wearing such exquisite props and costumes is a deeply rewarding experience in itself. Stepping into the world of The Moonlit Oath allows one to truly feel the pride and responsibility Princess Zhaoyang carries. This photoshoot set serves as a birthday present to both myself and the character, and I hope this splendor of blazing sun remains forever captured in these images.