[Rumia cosplay] Touhou Project Dark Gothic style Cosplay Photoshoot

This release is the third installment of Touhou Project Rumia cosplay photos. The studio was booked at Mankeshiguang; upon walking in, one could see large swathes of red and black drapery and hanging chains. Right behind was a cross entwined with red roses, with the floor covered in red flower petals, skulls, and candles. Once the red lights were turned on, the Dark Gothic style atmosphere of the entire scene was maxed out.

For the costume, I chose a white ruffle shirt paired with a black glossy vest, and a multi-layered lace long skirt for the lower half. For the overall visual effect, I wore White over-the-knee socks and black Mary Jane shoes. The red eyes and blonde hair paired with a bright red bow created an intense contrast among the three colors of black, white, and red under the red lighting. The texture of the black velvet vest and lace skirt carried great depth in the interplay of light and shadow, and the white shirt served wonderfully to brighten the look.

For props, I prepared a matching chibi plush doll, a prop knife, and a vintage kerosene lamp. When holding the knife, one shouldn't look overly fierce—it needs a touch of playful, whimsical charm; when holding the kerosene lamp, the light should shine through to illuminate the cheeks. Holding that matching chibi doll nicely increased the contrast in the frame. Rumia is affectionately called 'baka' and also nicknamed the 'Third Mistress,' so in performance, I hoped to showcase a contrasting feeling that is both innocent and slightly dangerous.

During the shoot, Chunqiufen put immense effort into the lighting. Because of the predominantly red background, the subject's face could easily appear flat, so top lighting and side lighting were used to emphasize facial contours and clothing textures. Those chains and drapes were actually prone to exposing the studio background, requiring scenic adjustments and relighting every time the camera angle changed.

In post-production, I adjusted the overall color tone together with Huojimian, darkening the background to make the red flowers and drapes more vibrant while preserving clean skin texture. Through different shot scales and poses, this photo set aimed to combine the character's gothic vibe with personal features as much as possible. The White over-the-knee socks were also very eye-catching against the contrast of the all-black long skirt. The entire shoot was completed through mutual collaboration; everyone put their heart into recreating the scenes and character settings. Completing this photo set was an extremely fulfilling experience and gave me a deeper personal understanding of Rumia as a character.