This set of Elysia: Realm of Memory photos consists of convention photos taken at an anime convention a couple of days ago, featuring the character from Honkai Impact 3rd. Because this outfit leans toward a dark, mysterious style—creating a strong contrast with the short pink hair and elf ears—I started planning the shoot concepts as soon as I received the costume.
First, I combed out the wig thoroughly. To prevent the bangs from covering my eyes, I used hair wax to set the shape and give the outer curves a fluffier, voluminous look. I specifically secured the elf ears with prosthetic adhesive so the contours would be visible from both the front and side; adjusting and fitting the seamless details took over an hour.
The costume features a main black dress crafted from a fabric with subtle jacquard sheen rather than flat black, shifting nicely under convention lighting. The dress is adorned with gold trim, star-shaped metal buckles, black waist chains, and a purple floral corsage. To pair with this dress, I chose long black lace gloves; in truth, these gloves are tricky to put on and snag easily, requiring continuous adjustments to make the arm lines look natural.
The side-profile shot with a hand touching the face was snapped just as the diagonal light hit, gazing off to the side to evoke a stronger sense of mystery. The shot holding flowers faces the camera directly with the bouquet placed near the chest for a softer feel. The convention background was quite cluttered—the blue railings were especially distracting—so during post-processing, we simply subdued the ambient environment and used a wide aperture to blur the background.
The weather has been hot lately and the convention was packed; halfway through our shoot, the spot got surrounded by crowds, and lighting in many surrounding areas was less than ideal. Reviewing the RAW shots afterward, I felt the ambiance wasn't quite there, so extensive effort went into color grading. We boosted contrast and added blue-purple tones to the shadows, giving the skin a luminous, translucent look without greasiness. We also cleaned up stray light and added a subtle halo along the subject's edges, giving the entire frame that dreamy vibe of Elysia: Realm of Memory.
The front and side of the costume look quite different, so we sought angles that kept the off-shoulder chest design looking smooth and neat. The purple flower at the waist was pinned on and slipped off easily, requiring me to press it back constantly on set, though luckily it stayed secured at the waist in the end. The skirt length covers most of the legs, but standing for long periods was undeniably warm.
The overall style is dark yet infused with pink alluring charm. In post-processing, I preserved the authentic black texture of the dress and simply darkened the background to elevate the high-end feel. The biggest takeaway from this shoot was learning how to turn messy ambient light into flattering rim light. As this was a Convention photo shoot without reflectors on-site, it relied on luck and post-production refinement.
Finally, minor imperfections were cleaned up—hair edges, glove wrinkles, and eye sharpness—to bring the character closer to the original design. I believe every costume has its own soul; this ensemble felt like an elf harboring hidden secrets, standing silently in the night. Channeling this personality during the shoot brings soul to the photos, which is truly what makes cosplay so fascinating.