The venue at Comiday CD30 was indeed stuffier than expected, but the crowd and energy were at full blast. Today's outfit is a fan-design version based on Touhou Project, with intentionally adjusted proportions of red and white alongside tiered lace layers.
Putting on this oversized bonnet with ruffled lace certainly added significant visual weight. The red bows and feather accents, paired with the golden-blonde wig, showed fantastic color fidelity under the venue's lighting. The props I prepared included a black curved frame hanging with colorful diamond crystals, small apples, and plush toys, all arranged across a white fleece blanket. Interacting with these props during shooting required considering the overall composition in both sitting and standing poses; this structured arrangement made the final frames look much richer.
Securing the neckline and cuffs on this entire outfit was quite a test during dressing. The red corset and the multi-tiered lace on the skirt required lots of attention to flatter the figure without getting disarranged by movements. We experimented with various angles during the shoot: seated poses easily showcased the legs and the outfit's vertical flow, while standing poses with open-arm gestures added dynamic tension. Mid-shoot, we even captured a shot with transparent butterfly effects, which turned out very satisfying.
Throughout today's shoot, airflow inside the hall was rather poor, making it feel swelteringly stuffy, with sweat almost testing the limits of my hair and makeup. Sitting crouched in sandals or adjusting poses for extended periods brought noticeable soreness to my legs and feet; a few times, I almost wanted to collapse onto the blanket and not move. Carrying gear and organizing surrounding accessories all day was undeniably exhausting.
However, seeing the lighting and postures on screen after every shot and capturing moments that met expectations brought a uniquely thrilling satisfaction that's hard to replace. Tidying up everything, packing away the plush dolls, cards, and tarot decks, today's haul at CD30 was definitely plentiful. Many details—like the bows on the dress and the ankle lace on the socks—rendered better on camera than anticipated. To preserve this raw-photo texture, minimal watermarking was applied. It was an afternoon worth reminiscing: exhausting as it was, seeing a beloved theme brought to life in reality felt incredibly authentic.
For this Touhou Project fan-design, adjusting the balance between red bows and white lace allowed me to align the outfit with my own understanding of the character. During shooting, leading lines were vital—raised arms and extended legs enhanced the linearity of the composition. In the photos, I brought several plush dolls as variants of casual and battle outfits; placing them nearby or hanging them from bags amped up the overall cuteness. On the table were character cards with gold foil and holographic laser finishes, along with a small tarot-style deck box. Checking in and collecting stamps with these doujin goods felt perfect for a major local doujin Anime convention like CD30.
Because it wasn't a strict official recreation, the fan-design gave me more creative freedom, especially with the tailoring cuts and decorative placement leaning toward the sweet aesthetic I personally adore. Nonetheless, retaining classic iconic elements like red, gold, lace, and ribbon bows instantly evokes the character's original spirit. Muscle soreness in the legs was inevitable after shooting, and my ankles felt somewhat numb from prolonged cross-legged sitting. Yet great photos are well worth this physical effort. Organizing the photos feels like retracing today's journey; every shot brings back the details of tweaking poses and chasing light. While still riding the aftermath of being "tired, hot, and sore," looking at these results leaves me feeling truly refreshed. As long as the passion for this character remains, every ounce of effort is worthwhile.