Looking back at when I first started shooting cosplay photoshoots several years ago, that sense of anxiety is truly fresh in my memory. Back then, I always felt that others shot so wonderfully while I fell far short. Every time I released photos, I worried about engagement and numbers, even feeling held hostage by web traffic; the first thing I would do right after taking photos was stare at the screen waiting to see if anyone liked them.
The turning point came during my sophomore and junior years when preparing for the bar exam, where my attention was completely diverted by intense studying. During that period, every day was spent reading books and grinding practice questions, leaving zero energy to fret over ethereal metrics. Once the exam was behind me and I returned to cosplay, I suddenly realized my mindset had changed completely—it was as if that so-called metrics anxiety evaporated in an instant. This taught me that one still needs other pursuits in life; when your life's center of gravity is steady, a hobby can truly return to pure passion.
My perspective now is that whatever I love is good work. Doing cosplay for me is purely a personal hobby—pleasing myself is what matters most. Scrolling through my profile, there are all sorts of IPs with a bit of everything, solely driven by cosplaying whoever I love; characters don't matter by scale, if I love them, I cosplay them. Even when busy with work and school, I make time to shoot photoshoots. Shooting is not only a hobby for me, but the ultimate decompression remedy: from styling and embodying the character to finding light and striking poses, the process itself is a joy. Although exhausting, that sense of fulfillment when seeing the final shots is irreplaceable.
I don't enjoy chasing extreme retouching or viral hype. While I respect others who pursue meticulous photo editing or data, I prefer sticking to what I genuinely love. As for how the metrics turn out, I let it be; after all, having views or not doesn't put food on my table, nor does it stop me from continuing to cosplay the characters I adore. Whenever I encounter a character I love, I prepare props and costumes, scout suitable locations, and capture my own personal vibe—that is what counts the most. Never altering my style just to cater to anyone and preserving this purity is the only way to keep enjoying this community happily over the long run.