[Jeanne d'Arc Lily cosplay] FGO Fate: Sailor Suit Photoshoot Log

This shoot features Jeanne d'Arc Lily in her sailor suit styling from FGO Fate. During the early prep stage, when customizing the costume, special attention was paid to the fabric texture of the black sailor collar with red trim. The yellow bow at the waist had its width and proportions adjusted repeatedly to stay true to the official design artwork. For the wig, I selected a pale blonde tone with layered ends; the black bows on both sides were paired with bell accessories that were lightweight and jingled crisply without weighing me down as I moved.

Pre-shoot prep was quite detailed: combing the wig thoroughly along its grain to prevent tangles and smoothing out the collar so the garment wouldn't appear wrinkled. For the makeup, I aimed for a clean, translucent Moe style finish using a matte foundation with a seamless blend down to the neck. For eye makeup, a reddish-brown eyeshadow was blended generously across the outer corners to enlarge the eyes, paired with light brown contact lenses and focused catchlights for a soft expression. Blush was placed beneath the eyes and over the apples of the cheeks to add innocent youthful charm, finished with a dewy reddish-orange lip color to boost vitality.

The weather on the day of the shoot was overcast with soft, diffused ambient light—free from harsh highlights or crushed shadows—which was ideal for this theme. For photo one, I chose a centered front-facing half-body shot to highlight the silver headpiece details, contact lens color, and overall makeup clarity, creating a well-balanced frame suitable for a cover image. Photo two features a profile glance back, utilizing natural window light against a blurred cityscape background for great depth. Photo three is a low-angle shot holding a plush bunny with purple ears, which looks wonderfully obedient. Photo four is a close-up profile shot interacting with a cockatiel perched on my shoulder, bringing lively vitality and natural dynamism to the frame.

Since the character design does not require mature allure, I preferred half-body close-ups to showcase the sailor suit collar and shoulder lines, rather than focusing on full-body skirts or leg contours. To capture the bird in a natural state during shooting, movements had to be gentle, patiently waiting for it to settle before clicking the shutter. In post-processing, frequency separation skin retouching was used to preserve authentic skin textures without looking artificial. I also balanced the highlights on the silver headpiece to prevent blown-out reflections, elevating the premium feel. The black fabric retained subtle shadow folds to convey texture, and these fine adjustments brought the final images right in line with my expectations.