This red and black themed dress worn at the anime convention, paired with short blonde hair, presents a delicate doll-like texture. Together with the colorful gemstone wing stand on my back and the black teddy bear in my hand, it is a rather complex yet visually layered styling.
Let's first talk about the costume details. The top and skirt hem feature rich ruffle stitching, with the black and red semi-transparent tulle showing different shades of color under various lighting angles. The red lace-up design at the waist not only elongates the visual proportions but also keeps the overall silhouette from looking too bulky. The black stockings on my legs are one of the visual focal points, featuring openwork ribbon patterns and a lace-up shoe-string visual effect. Paired with the thick-heeled red shoes, the overall proportions look extremely pleasing on camera. Although the heels of these red shoes are not very low, the toe caps are also decorated with bows, echoing the elements of the stockings.
Quite a lot of effort went into the headpiece as well. That big bonnet is actually very heavy. To secure it at the anime convention, I had to rely on both the inner hairpins of the wig and many bobby pins for reinforcement. The dark red artificial roses and hanging metal chains on the brim added a gorgeous retro touch to the overall makeup and hair. The wig is a slightly curled light blonde color, which easily gets frizzy in daily wear. Before leaving, I specially rearranged the bangs and hair ends to ensure the hair texture during the shoot.
Next, let's talk about the props. The accompanying prop this time has a rather unique design: a black curved wing stand on my back hung with polyhedral colorful gemstones. Under the diffused ambient light of the convention hall, these gemstones create subtle refractions, adding bright splashes of color to the frame. The teddy bear I held in my hand was a great help for posing, serving as a balance for the visual gravity and keeping my hand movements natural and poised.
The most difficult part of this shoot was probably the poses in Figures 2 and 3. Standing on that black round pedestal and lifting one leg required stabilizing my center of gravity. At the same time, I had to keep my torso upright and control the wing stand behind me so it wouldn't tilt forward or lean sideways. I adjusted my gravity center back and forth several times, coordinating with the photographer's shutter release, to finally capture the moment where my leg lines were beautifully stretched. The pedestal itself has height limitations, so jumping up or making a large turn requires a good sense of balance.
The lighting at the venue was actually very complex, with harsh ambient overhead lights and interference from various artificial light sources. To shoot clean backgrounds, I specifically chose a corner with relatively fewer crowds and took advantage of the spacious depth of the hall to blur out the pillars and booths behind me. Although the venue was noisy, the moment the lens was raised, I still had to focus and perfect every movement detail.
This look is actually very demanding on body posture. The frontal stance holding the bear in Figure 1 looks quite dignified, but the pose with arms spread out in Figure 3, letting the skirt hem and the wing stand form an outward-diverging silhouette, is visually much more elegant and grand. During the shoot, I had to deliberately tighten my shoulders and back because the stand is very heavy; if my shoulders relaxed, the outfit would look tired on camera.
For the makeup, the focus was on defining the facial contours. The eyeliner was done slightly sharper, paired with reddish-brown eyeshadow and lip color, making my features look three-dimensional under the studio lights. In an environment like a convention where you walk around with various gear, keeping the makeup intact against sweat and long hours of lighting is not easy. I carried a powder compact and lipstick with me for quick touch-ups.
Overall, wearing this outfit to the convention was quite a small challenge. The prop combination was indeed somewhat heavy and complex, but fortunately, the final photos met my expectations. There were many fun behind-the-scenes moments during the shoot, like almost hitting a passerby while adjusting the wing stand, or the photographer quickly snapping a photo just as I was about to lose my balance standing on one leg. These are all unique experiences of shooting at conventions. Making a red and black Gothic style outfit with rich details and layers was truly a wonderful creative process in our Anime-style photography journey.