Shooting a Christmas cosplay of Rem in May was filled with the wonderful novelty of an off-season project. Since it was already May, the outdoor temperature was extremely high, but shooting in an air-conditioned room dressed in heavy winter-themed clothing actually brought a rare touch of coolness to the summer. Although catching a cold was a risk, the final photo results truly met expectations. Choosing to shoot in a Vintage style studio this time perfectly complemented this red, white, and green Christmas dress.
The wig was light blue and took some care to style, especially the lock of bangs covering the right eye—the very soul of the character—which required multiple adjustments to achieve a satisfying curve. The head accessories were a highlight: red Christmas baubles, green leaf accents, golden stars, and pink tassels shimmered under the warm lighting, fitting the Vintage style set arrangement beautifully.
Regarding the outfit, the white lace collar paired with the red-striped bow accentuated the character's cute demeanor, while the cut-out waist design added a touch of elegance. The lower half consisted of a multi-layered red ruffled tutu skirt, featuring golden cord accents along the hem for richly textured layering. Paired with White stockings and red Mary Jane high heels, the colors not only resonated well, but crossing legs while posing on a vintage chair also showed off leg lines nicely. The white gloves on the arms adorned with green stripe details looked even more exquisite.
Props were well-prepared, including red apples, beautifully wrapped Christmas gift boxes, and green ribbons. Sitting on the red velvet rug or leaning against a dark brown vintage leather sofa, paired with an adjacent warm-glow vintage table lamp, antique telephone, and nicely draping curtains, the Christmas atmosphere of the whole studio was instantly maximized.
To capture the best compositional angles during shooting, the photographer and I worked in seamless synergy. For instance, in the photo where I cross my legs and hand over the gift box, I needed to keep my upper body upright while naturally extending my long legs in White stockings forward to showcase perfect proportions. The studio's warm lights fell across my skin; in post-processing, slightly adjusting shadows and highlights was all it took to yield a film-like texture. The final color grading deliberately used warm tones to give the image the cozy feel of winter sunshine. We also experimented with various angles such as kneeling and sitting sideways against the backrest, all of which showcased the costume's details and puffiness wonderfully.
Overall, this photoshoot experience of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- was truly unforgettable; despite wearing a relatively heavy Christmas costume, it still captured the character's distinct charm and the beauty of the outfit. A Christmas theme in May truly had a charm of its own.