[Yakumo Chen Cosplay] An Afternoon in Touhou Project: Barefoot in Backlight

This set was shot a while ago at the Bilibili World anime convention by @AnDiaoXiaoZi as an official shoot. It happened to capture my exclusive convention photos this time, and after sorting out the final edits, I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with everyone.

This time I cosplayed Yakumo Chen, and the visual focal point of the entire look rested on the main red-and-gold dress. I personally love the design of this outfit—the brocade fabric interwoven with gold threads on a red base offers a rich texture, embellished with delicate subtle patterns and floral motifs. Under the somewhat dim indoor lighting of the convention, the fabric itself possesses strong reflective properties, preventing the color tone from looking dull. The huge white lace bow on the chest, paired with the hollowed-out lace trim on the inner lining and pure white layered ruffle skirt hem, not only enriches the neckline layers but also accentuates the character's playful, youthful feel.

Speaking of the gap-moe appeal in this look, besides the indispensable black-and-white fluffy big tail behind me, I feel the essence of these photos lies in the pairing of barefoot styling and anklets. Compared to traditional shoes and socks, standing directly barefoot on the artificial turf prop fits the wild, natural vitality inherent in an Animal girl cosplay character much better. The golden beaded anklet around my ankle brightens the visual focus of the lower body while walking or sitting. Before shooting, I paid special attention to cleaning the area to ensure no sharp objects were on the turf or rocks, allowing me to strike stretched, relaxed seated poses with complete peace of mind.

The lighting on the shooting day was actually quite harsh overhead light, but @AnDiaoXiaoZi was adept at using this light source to build an atmosphere. He specially set up strong backlighting behind me, striking my hair and hat outline to create a gorgeous glowing hair effect while coating the edges of the entire frame with a golden rim light. The venue was a temporary miniature set built inside the hall, featuring synthetic turf dotted with a few wild blossoms and daisies. The photographer subtly capitalized on this artificial natural feel, which, combined with glowing butterfly VFX added in post-processing, easily gives the illusion of stepping right into Gensokyo.

For posing, I deliberately chose a moss-covered boulder as a support point. A seated pose not only spreads the skirt ruffles naturally but also prevents the brocade fabric from looking bulky. My right hand gently held the middle section of the tail, paired with my left hand raised slightly with spread fingers, as if catching butterflies in the light or waving to someone outside the lens. To avoid stiff movements, I chatted with the photographer throughout the shoot to stay relaxed, making the captured smiles and gazes far more lively. That snapshot with one hand raised and fingertips extending outward caught the exact moment when my eyes were most focused.

In truth, for Cosplay photography, outfit accuracy is only one part; conveying expressions and mood is even more essential. Yakumo Chen is a character who combines clever playfulness with a subtle mysterious aura. Thus, in front of the lens, I consciously restrained overly exaggerated body language, opting for a more reserved yet piercing gaze to interact. Paired with this wild visual styling, barefoot elements and sleek short hair highlighted a clean, crisp feel much better than heavy headpieces could.

The sleeves and skirt of this outfit consume an immense amount of fabric; numerous ruffles stitched together look lavish, but white fabric easily gets messy while moving. That's why I'm glad we used a seated pose for primary compositions—it allowed the skirt hem to spread naturally on the turf while highlighting the contrast between the brocade reflections and white ruffle textures through light and shadow. The red and gold reflections under studio lighting had incredible texture, perfectly captured by the photographer. In the post-processed images, those floating light-dot butterflies, along with the tail's dynamic curve, gave the static seated pose a rich narrative feel.

For me, cosplay is always a hobby that values comprehensive expression. From refining makeup and outfit details in early stages to actively finding angles to cooperate with lighting during shoots, every step is an extension of self-expression. Although these are convention photos taken on-site, the photographer poured immense thought into everything from lighting to composition. There's no need to force grand scenes; as long as character and visuals harmonize, these simple yet focused moments are moving enough. I hope sharing this allows everyone to feel that healing vibe unique to Gensokyo while browsing these photos.