Extensive pre-production went into the costumes, makeup, props, and location scouting for this Nefer Exotic style photoshoot. Because Nefer from Genshin Impact commands a powerful presence, the costume was crafted from deep green velvet, a textile that reveals subtle textures and a soft luster under warm lighting. To capture character details faithfully, multiple angular gilded metal accessories were embedded into the garments, creating a bold contrast between gold and dark green. However, having so many metal elements carried a drawback: they were notably heavy and fit tightly, with the chest adornments and rigid arm armor largely restricting upper-body movement. For makeup, the focus centered on the red eyes and the inverted triangle markings at the outer corners of the eyes. This triangle had to be drafted with extreme precision; to prevent smudging, I used specialized waterproof liquid liner and matte red-brown eyeshadow. Paired with a structured, crisp green-black wig, it gave the facial profile a sharper definition. The claw gloves used as props had concealed wire inserts inside to hold natural curves and project a predatory, aggressive stance; though cumbersome to put on and remove, they yielded fantastic visual impact.
The shoot was physically demanding. In the shot seated on the rattan chair, one leg was extended straight while the other bent slightly; through wide-angle lens perspective, the leg line extended infinitely across the frame—a pose that heavily tested core stability. For the two reclining shots, I constantly adjusted angles and expressions to harmonize with foreground peacock feathers and dark red embroidered pillows, ensuring the gaze conveyed disdainful, cold pride. The photographer utilized low-angle upward perspectives and horizontal framing, using large-aperture background blur to complement foreground Exotic style pendant lamps and botanical elements. For post-processing, I advocated preserving natural skin textures and authentic fabric grain, making only slight adjustments to warm tones and vignetting to shift the palette toward a mystical amber ambiance. Channeling this Roleplay persona meant drawing in the shoulders with a slight upward tilt to the eyes, crafting the sharp posture fitting for Nefer's enigmatic aura. Despite taking off the props to find red pressure marks across my skin, seeing the finished results made every effort worthwhile. This shoot yielded valuable insights into pairing dark greens with warm key lights, as well as mastering horizontal compositions while flattering silhouette curves, which will undoubtedly serve future projects well.