[Herta cosplay] Magical Girl of Honkai: Star Rail with a Pointy Hat

When I got this Herta costume, what gave me the biggest headache was that huge purple pointed hat and those layered magic pattern hems. Because the center of gravity was high, I had to constantly pay attention to the hat's balance while standing; lowering my head even slightly could make it tilt forward. Fortunately, the finished shots were worth it, especially the one sitting on a high stool, which perfectly showcased the lines of the tall boots and Stockings cosplay element, making the staff's geometric composition much sturdier.

The outfit has plenty of details—the leather texture of the corset combined with silver metal decorations and white puffy cuffs offers rich visual layering under the lens. The staff prop was actually very heavy, especially the hollow rhombus gem structure at the top; holding it with my left hand throughout the shoot left my arm quite sore. The lighting at the convention venue washed out makeup more than expected, so blush and eyeshadow were applied heavier, otherwise my face would look flat under direct fill light.

These Convention photos were taken at iJoy Anime Convention. There were scattered light stands and reflectors across the venue, so the photographer found a few clean angles to dodge cluttered backdrops. The shot sitting on the floor in picture three was actually taken when I got tired halfway and sat down; unexpectedly, the hand gesture lifting the brim matched the character's lazy demeanor quite well. However, the skirt hem and side drapes were so long that sitting down required care not to crease them, needing re-ironing after returning home.

Preparing this Herta cosplay took me nearly two weeks, from wig to props, and makeup to poses. The wig featured a light purple gradient with layered bangs, matching the purple tones of the eyeshadow to stay close to the character's cool and elegant demeanor. I tried three poses during the shoot—striking standing, elegant stool-seated, and relaxed ground-seated—each corresponding to different moods. Since the staff and hat were both "bulky," I practiced balancing the staff with one hand before the shoot to prevent shaking when the shutter clicked.

The convention venue was crowded, and passersby often asked for photos during breaks. Though tiring, hearing people recognize the character and compliment "such a pointy hat" made all preparations feel completely worthwhile. In post-processing, no overly dramatic liquifying was applied; adjustments focused mainly on skin tone and lighting to maintain authentic photo texture. After all, the joy of cosplay lies in bringing 2D elements into 3D reality, restoring that image with real body language and expressions rather than hiding defects with heavy editing.

Shooting this outfit tested lighting conditions, as purple and white easily look dull under indoor overhead lights. The photographer used two large softboxes for side fill lighting, illuminating the skirt patterns and staff metal reflections. For the sharp angular feel of the staff, an oblique angle was specifically chosen to create a geometric extension corresponding to the hat's tip. Overall, this convention shoot was thoroughly enjoyable—though running around all day with heavy gear was exhausting, seeing the preview shots brought a genuine sense of accomplishment. I hope to take this outfit for an outdoor shoot at a location with Gothic architecture in the future for even more atmosphere in our Anime-style photography.