[Dolia cosplay] Honor of Kings Mermaid Princess: Convention photos Log

The Convention photos from this shoot are finally retouched and ready! The foot traffic at Firefly ACG Expo was immense that day, making cosplaying Honor of Kings' Dolia a truly memorable experience. Although the convention hall was hot and crowded, the moment I put on the outfit and stood before the camera, I locked right into character.

First, I have to highlight the makeup, which completely delighted me. The Mermaid Princess look Jingbao crafted fit the character design flawlessly—clean, luminous base makeup with the spotlight entirely on the eyes. Ocean blue and pink were blended across a wide area of the eyelids, with rhinestones and painted patterns adorning the outer eye corners to mimic glistening fish scales, perfectly complementing the contact lenses for a clear, dewy gaze. Highlighter placed on the tip of the nose and the inner corners of the eyes gave the entire face a hydrated, fresh-out-of-the-water glow. Styling the wig beforehand took serious effort as well; that signature cowlick on top required meticulous shaping with hairspray and thin wire to maintain a natural curvature.

The intricate costume details also deserve a closer look. The dress is composed of multi-layered tulle across varying textures and shades, transitioning from soft baby blue to deep ocean blue, and finishing with a purplish-pink edge along the skirt hem, creating dramatic movement with every step. Embellished with pearls, tiny red starfish, and seashell accents, along with the flowing tassels resembling seaweed and aquatic foliage cascading down the sides, the entire look felt wonderfully dynamic. However, the cascading layers also meant navigating the crowded convention floor required caution to avoid stepping on the hem. The white feather-shaped armbands were another brilliant touch, beautifully flattering the arm lines. While the clear high-heeled sandals elongated leg proportions, walking around in them all day certainly left my arches aching—definitely something to keep in mind when cosplaying this look.

During shooting, the venue's lighting was quite intricate—mostly harsh overhead lighting that easily cast unflattering shadows on the face. To get the best results, the photographer and I constantly readjusted our angles, taking advantage of booth display lights and natural daylight near large windows. For full-body shots, I favored dynamic movements—stepping forward, turning, and lifting a foot—which allowed the skirt to billow while accentuating leg lines. For bust close-ups, I used hand gestures to enrich the framing, such as gently resting my cheek on my hand, gesturing, or touching the arm accessories. Adjusting eye focus based on camera distance was equally essential: keeping the gaze slightly unfocused and distant for wide shots, while channeling gentle and playful warmth for tighter close-ups. The photographer guided me wonderfully, capturing countless natural moments in candid motion.

As a support player in Honor of Kings, Yao and Dolia are two heroes I frequently play. Bringing Dolia's look to life felt like having an intimate conversation across dimensions. Playing support requires keeping a constant eye on teammates, and that protective instinct resonates deeply with Dolia's character lore. From selecting the garments and finalizing the styling to holding poses under bright convention lights, it was physically exhausting, but seeing the finished photos capture the intended light, shadow, and color palette made every bit of effort worthwhile. Convention photography truly demands stamina and patience; for anyone tackling characters with voluminous gowns, carrying a pair of backup flats for transit is a lifesaver. I hope everyone captures memorable photos of their favorite characters at conventions!