The Convention photos for the Taihou series shot at the Black Dragonfly Comic-Con are finally organized. The convention was held in Pazhou; the venue was vast, and the realistic photo studios were very professional. The complimentary dressing rooms, changing rooms, and supply stations provided by the organizers saved cosplayers a lot of hassle. There were many guest cosplayers on site—I ran into Tuniang, YASAL, and others—and everyone shooting across various studio booths created a very harmonious atmosphere.
Considering Taihou's character design, I prepared three distinct styling concepts for this Live-action cosplay. The first was the classic Swimsuit look. The indoor pool set in the venue was beautifully decorated; cool-toned lighting combined with reflections off the water surface looked fantastic on camera. Shooting this set, to capture the character's signature traits, required adjusting poses in coordination with water splashes, striving to bring out her fullness and vibrant vitality.
The second was the White stockings style outfit, paired with white thigh-high stockings. White stockings are very sensitive to light and shadow; to capture them well, we utilized the studio set's dreamy and dark backdrops, coordinating with side lighting or backlighting to create contrast between the skin's texture and the stockings' sheen, looking exceptionally delicate. The third was a night street style matching the convention's evening vibe, utilizing neon light tubes and street sets. Because of close-up shooting, lighting control demanded high precision, requiring repeated adjustments of reflectors and flash strobes to achieve the ideal final result.
During the shoot, besides the standard 50mm portrait focal length, I also experimented with a 35mm wide-angle lens to capture broader scenes. In the face of complex light sources, continuous adjustments to color temperature were necessary to ensure accurate rendering of skin tones and costume colors. This convention experience made me realize how much an excellent venue and photography crew influence the work. The charm of Taihou lies in her versatile styling possibilities—possessing both extreme opulence and the cuteness of an anime girl. Portrayals across different themes brought completely distinct visual sensations, making the whole process full of novelty and challenge. Considering the temperature during the shoot, heating measures in the studio ensured that the Swimsuit-style outfits could be photographed smoothly. I look forward to another high-quality experience like this next time.