That first cosplay experience in 9th grade directly formed the rawest page of my convention memories. Back then, I truly knew nothing; standing in front of the camera like in Photo 1, I didn't even know where to put my hands or feet. Slipping into a rented ornate dress, wearing a wig I had no idea how to style, and figuring out makeup completely by blind trial and error, I even forgot several key accessories before stepping out. Standing under the dim, yellowish lighting when the photographer shouted \"look at the lens,\" my mind went almost blank. The feeling of being \"as stiff as a newborn\" was no exaggeration at all; looking at the resulting photo, I was genuinely caught between laughter and tears.
Even though I looked clumsy in the photo, it was indeed a precious ice-breaking attempt. From knowing nothing about what anime conventions were to plucking up the courage to put on complex outfits and stepping in front of the lens with all the courage I could muster, that beginning carried its own meaning. Back then, I didn't know how to pose, how to find good lighting, or how to use a wig to frame my face. I simply thought having a photo to keep as a memory was enough.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, I've been doing cosplay for three years. Looking at my current convention photos in Photo 2, although I privately sigh that \"after three years, the progress seems so small,\" an objective comparison reveals that the stiff posture has indeed faded significantly. The composition of Photo 2 is quite clean, with the character standing right at the visual center. I've gradually learned how to distribute my body weight; standing on one leg or gesturing with my arms feels relaxed, no longer shrinking into a tight ball like in Photo 1. As for expression management, while I wouldn't claim to be professional, at least my mind no longer freezes when seeing a lens, allowing me to naturally offer a subtle smile that fits the character setting and mood.
These three years of exploration taught me that a great cosplay result relies not only on post-processing retouching but also on thorough preparation before shooting. From initial flusters to now carefully smoothing out wig strands, remembering every accessory that needs to be worn, and even practicing expressions and posture before a shoot—these are all lessons learned through trial and error. Shooting convention photos on-site often involves chaotic environments; shaking off surrounding noise during a brief shutter moment to present your best self really tests a coser's mindset.
Looking back at these photos now, I see not only changes in my appearance and temperament, but also a more composed and confident attitude toward this hobby. Cosplay photography isn't something with a high bar; having the courage to try and record is already remarkable. For me, being able to maintain this passion for cosplay over three years and reflecting after each photoshoot on where makeup was lacking or which pose looked awkward—this process of continuous self-improvement brings me perhaps even more joy than the photos themselves. Photo 2 was edited and posted on my main page as a little answer sheet for these three years of growth. In the time ahead, I hope to keep this initial passion alive, explore more diverse styles and looks, and capture even better moments in front of the camera.