This photo was taken at the convention site a while ago, capturing this look just as the early morning light turned out great. The entire photo set didn't rely on overly complex backgrounds, focusing primarily on the main subject and faithfully recreating the character's classic details. Cosplaying Herta was a plan I made a long time ago, as her overall color palette and structure carry exceptionally high recognition.
To achieve a good recreation, makeup is the very first step. This time I specifically selected highly vibrant purple contact lenses to align with the character's eye design. Beyond the contact lenses, the eye makeup pairing was also key. I used purple-gray eyeshadow to deepen the contours, paired with slightly elongated eyeliner to make the eyes look deeper and more expressive. Since the camera lens was quite close, the base makeup had to be applied evenly and cleanly; I used a lightweight foundation with sufficient coverage to conceal dark circles from staying up late, then highlighted the central facial area to maintain three-dimensional depth under the venue's harsh lights.
Handling the wig is the absolute top priority for this type of Anime-style look. I chose a light purple-gray medium-long straight wig with bangs trimmed relatively blunt, though the edges needed natural blending to avoid a stiff, heavy feel. I maintained hair glossiness using hair oil and smoothing spray, striving to keep it close to the character's original texture. Although it was windy at the convention, styling products kept the hair neat without messy stray strands during shooting, which comes from experience accumulated through multiple events.
Next, let's talk about the neck ornaments and costume details. This black leather choker is one of the visual centerpieces of the entire outfit. Embedded with metal studs and a golden buckle in the center, it reflects metallic luster under the light. Adjusting tightness during wear was crucial—cinching too tightly compresses the neck, while too loose loses the tight strap feel. Thus, I adjusted the inner lining and added an extension buckle at the back to ensure both aesthetics and comfort.
Layering on the top is also quite sophisticated. A white ruffled collar wraps around the shoulders, beneath which lies a black multi-segmented strap structure extending down to the chest. Every silver metal buckle on the straps had to be adjusted properly for symmetrical alignment. To achieve a form-fitting effect, I put a lot of effort into securing the straps so they wouldn't shift during poses. Semi-transparent white gauze sleeves, paired with pale purple nail polish on my fingertips, echoed the hand details with the overall tonal scheme.
Regarding shooting angles, a slightly top-down perspective was chosen. This angle makes the face appear smaller on one hand, while fitting the character's aloof, look-down aura on the other. Therefore, you need to tilt your head up slightly toward the lens while focusing your gaze—a step that indeed underwent several adjustments. Placing a hand naturally beside the face guides visual focus toward the exquisite facial and neck accessories, keeping the frame from feeling monotonous.
Although the shooting environment was at a convention with a somewhat cluttered background, I specifically picked a corner with clean wall colors, blurring the background with a large aperture while using ambient natural light and overhead lights to restore the main subject's texture and colors translucently.
In Casual cosplay, the most exhausting part of such a look lies in maintenance. Convention venues have heavy foot traffic, with attendees or photographers frequently stopping by to inquire, requiring me to keep the wig and outfit tidy while moving around. Additionally, wearing contact lenses for extended periods easily causes dry eyes, so carrying eye drops as back-up was essential. Toward the end of the shoot, physical exhaustion was quite noticeable.
However, for a cosplayer, every photoshoot process is a concrete presentation of character interpretation. From outfit tailoring improvements to wig trimming and styling, down to repeatedly refining makeup, everything serves to present a three-dimensional character image before the lens. This photo captures a precise morning moment at the convention when both energy and lighting aligned perfectly. I hope the details and quality of this Anime-style look allow fellow fans to feel the effort I invested in these Convention photos.