[Saiba Momoi Cosplay] Blue Archive 2nd Anniversary: Cat-Style Maid Moments at the Shanghai Exhibition

This group of photos was taken on the day of the Blue Archive 2nd Anniversary offline event held in Baoshan District, Shanghai.

Preparing for this cosplay genuinely required a lot of thought regarding both the costume and props. Although it is in a maid outfit style, the main color palette is deep blue paired with pure white, and with the sailor-style elements on the collar, the overall temperament does not look overly sweet, but rather carries a touch of lively and sharp coolness. The glowing halo on the head is truly the soul; that surrounding starry-point effect was highly picture-perfect under the exhibition's dark lighting environment, making the entire silhouette stand out three-dimensionally in an instant. To restore those unique cat-like traits, I repeatedly adjusted the cat ear shapes on the tail and hair accessories for a long time so that they could hang down or tilt naturally before the lens, looking agile rather than rigid.

Once fully equipped, the shooting process was actually quite a workout, as I carried two major sets of props: a long-handled broom that stood taller than myself, and a black handheld game console. This is actually a contrast-cute point in the character setting, reflecting both the character's daily housework attribute and showcasing her passion for video games. When shooting those broom photos, I needed to grasp the center of gravity well to let the broom's angle and my body form a diagonal visual balance, while also considering the fluffiness of the skirt hem and the tension of the actions—it's truly not something you can shoot well just by standing randomly. Regarding the game console portion, because it was shot sitting or crouching, it placed exceptionally high demands on leg and foot postures. Wearing white tights paired with those buckled black leather shoes, to make the leg lines appear slender and well-proportioned, I tried over a dozen angles in various sitting positions; the state chosen in the photos should be the single frame that best balances cuteness and line definition.

The light on-site was actually highly chaotic because the surroundings were filled with passersby or other convention-goers. However, good convention photos require learning how to find clean light and shadow compositions in such noisy environments. Many photos in this set adopted slightly high-angle or eye-level perspectives, cooperating with a fill light stick to hit the character's highlights on the face and halo, while beautifully retaining the layered feel of the skirt hem, the slim-fit tailoring at the waist, and the extension of the legs. Especially the texture of the white silk stockings and the gloss of the Mary Jane shoes came out highly clean in the final photos, visually without looking oily or falsely white.

Before shooting, I also paid special attention to the contrast of the costume's gloss. The black skirt edge and the white apron formed a clear terminator line in the lens, while the light blue bow tie served as the visual center for the entire chest area. Paired with the fluffiness of the golden wig that I specially adjusted, it could refract a soft rim light under the studio lamps, making the entire person look fuzzy and soft, matching the character's setting. That moment of holding the game console was actually me mimicking that focused expression usually shown when playing video games, then looking up slightly at the lens, just catching a natural and life-like sense of interaction.

In post-processing, I communicated with the retoucher to try not to over-smooth the skin and to retain skin texture and gloss, which fits the documentary style of the convention scene closer. The white stockings and black leather shoes are highly important visual anchors in the frame; especially when sitting, the extension of the legs gives the entire photo an elongated, airy feel, preventing the heavy skirt from crushing the visual center of gravity of the frame. This is also why I specially tried many sitting poses during shooting—both to ensure the tailoring of the skirt hem was not destroyed, and to let the leg lines appear slender within the frame.

The atmosphere of this 2nd Anniversary event was highly superb, and everyone could feel the love for this project. Being able to have such an opportunity to restore a character I love at the convention scene is inherently a highly fulfilling thing. The craftsmanship of the clothing is very detailed, such as the texture details on the cuffs and apron being handled very well. The tail on the back was also specially supported to keep it from dragging on the ground when crouching; these minor details made me feel much more confident during the shoot.

For the photographer, catching the transition between dynamic and static states also heavily tests technique. I tried to keep my expressions relaxed, maintaining that casual and slightly tsundere vibe, because I feel this close-to-original restoration allows the photos to genuinely have life. With the aperture used properly, the blurred convention crowd flow and lights behind became natural bokeh, reflecting on the halo and clothing folds to form a unique atmospheric feel. Although the venue was restricted, the texture in the lens has achieved my expectations for this outdoor shoot. I hope this set of photos can deliver my serious treatment toward this character as well as this event under this Cosplay photography work.