This Swimsuit cosplay photoshoot of Shirasu Azusa from Blue Archive was finally completed smoothly. Because the setting was at the seaside, before heading out my biggest concerns were the weather and tides. Fortunately, it was bathed in ample sunshine on the day of the shoot, and the seawater looked crystal clear, saving a lot of effort for post-production color grading.
Regarding this styling, Shirasu Azusa's swimsuit look is visually sweet and lovely, but in reality, it demands a very flattering, snug fit to the body. The pink bandeau top and pleated skirt adorned with navy blue bows offer pronounced layering, and the folds of the skirt create wonderful movement while walking. To keep the character's demeanor faithful to the 2D original design, I trimmed and styled the wig well in advance, adjusting the proportions of the twin tails and blunt bangs repeatedly to ensure they looked completely natural in front of the lens.
What took the most thought was the pair of wing props on my back. Although lightweight in material, their surface area is substantial, making them very susceptible to wind on an open beach with no shelter. To maintain stability in the frame, I used the wind direction to adjust my stance and arm angles as much as possible, occasionally engaging core strength to balance my center of gravity. For instance, the half-kneeling pose in the first photo collage was actually meant to balance the visuals between the swim ring and the wing props in the strong seaside wind, while also showcasing more details of the skirt.
During the shoot, direct sunlight was actually quite harsh. To keep skin tones and the costume's pink hues from blowing out, we chose to start shooting around 3:00 PM for this Beach photography. The sand on the beach was soft, so walking in platform sandals required extra caution to keep the heels from sinking into the sand and stalling the shoot. Although shooting seaside scenery under the blazing sun was physically draining, seeing the raw texture rendered in the camera made every bit of effort feel worthwhile.
The second full-body shot is an angle I personally love: the wide, open composition fully captures the interaction between the styling and the vast ocean. At that split second, the sea breeze happened to lift the white sheer train behind me, making the wing props and the starry elements on the headpiece look remarkably dimensional under natural light. From costume styling and prop prep to final photo delivery, this series took nearly a month of preparation, and I hope this touch of seaside freshness brings everyone a cooling breeze.