[Taihou cosplay] Azur Lane Taihou pajama convention photos

This anime convention finally got Taihou's pajama version from Azur Lane scheduled. I've done other versions of Taihou a few times before, but I've always felt that this pajama outfit particularly tests the fabric's drape and the flexibility of postures. The makeup focus for this convention photoset was placed on the smudging of the eye makeup, paired with bright red contact lenses and a red hair ribbon, trying to restore Taihou's temperament that carries a bit of laziness yet extreme aggressiveness. The wig had a customized trim for the bangs and sideburns; to get closer to the original art, twin tails were tied on both sides of the head with red ribbons, which looked especially pretty when fluttering around during turns.
In terms of clothing, I chose a red-and-black contrasting slip dress, and the black lace on the edges as well as the bow on the chest were details I personally checked piece by piece. The translucent material allows a great sense of layering to filter through under natural light, but because the lighting in the convention hall is quite complex, in order to capture the lightness of the skirt hem, we deliberately found areas close to windows or with relatively uniform lighting. The inner black shorts were also chosen with lace edges to prevent accidental exposure while echoing the skirt hem. To maintain the perfection of the overall styling, I also deliberately intensified the blush in the makeup to create a just-woken-up or slightly tipsy feel; matched with the red smudging under the eyes, it makes the overall temperament closer to the enchanting vibe of the character setting. The earrings were chosen in a delicate style to avoid stealing the show in front of the lens.
The white plush rabbit and the heart LOVE sign in my hand are the soul of this match. Without them, it feels like it lacks a bit of that contrasting cuteness taste of Taihou. The first pose of kneeling on one knee is actually to let the skirt hem spread out while showcasing leg lines; this angle shot from a low position by the photographer has exceptional tension. The third photo sitting on a white storage box was because my legs were sore from walking around the convention, so I casually found a box to rest on, and it turned out this height and the background blur effect were extremely photogenic, so I just struck a V-sign. The fifth snap of pulling up the skirt hem was captured at the exact moment a breeze blew past and the skirt fluttered up. Actually, shooting at a live convention site, the biggest challenge is the crowd in the background and uncontrollable lighting. To avoid messy crowds, we chose a relatively cornered yet bright spot in the venue, using a wide aperture to blur out the background, which preserves the lively atmosphere of the scene while keeping the frame from looking cluttered. Some actions required repeated angle adjustments, like that single-knee kneeling pose; to ensure the arc of the skirt hem looked natural, I probably shifted my center of gravity back and forth three or four times.
The most charming part of convention photos is that authentic air vibe and the bustling crowds coming and going in the background. Although the surroundings are noisy, as long as you enter the shooting state, you can completely immerse yourself in your character. This set of pictures, from makeup/styling to post-processing color grading, leans towards warm light and high saturation, hoping to present a sweet yet dangerous visual effect. The overall yield rate of good photos is quite high; thanks to the photographer's capturing, and thanks to the friends on-site who helped tidy up the costumes and pass props. Although this pajama outfit looks great, wearing it at an anime convention really takes a bit of courage—not only do you have to watch your movement range to prevent exposure, but you also have to keep an eye on touch-up makeup at any time. However, the moment I saw the finished photos, I felt all the hard work was completely worth it. If there is an opportunity in the future, I'd still like to try more different style stylings of Taihou and continue bringing everyone more nice convention photos.