Cosplaying Flandre Scarlet at the Guangzhou Firefly ACG Expo on New Year's Day—here is a recap of the makeup and photoshoot details from that day. Since this was a rare New Year anime convention crossover, the crowd was unexpectedly massive. Talking about the outfit styling, the white ruffled lace bonnet was honestly the most challenging part of the styling, requiring constant adjustments to its position and angle to avoid blocking my line of sight. The red rose on the chest was pinned on; to keep it looking pristine, I had to keep checking whether it had fallen or tilted askew, which was slightly bothersome. As for the wig, it took a long time to find the right light-blonde bob. The bangs were trimmed multiple times to get the right airy texture, and the slightly flipped ends on both sides were styled to match the character's feel. Adding glitter gave the whole hairstyle more dimension, and the red contacts this time weren't overly dramatic, rendering color beautifully under good lighting. For makeup, a fairer shade of foundation was paired with slightly elongated eyeliner, and plenty of blending was done on the eyeshadow to emphasize the contour of the pupils, which complemented the Gothic Lolita vibe of the headdress well.
The lighting in this photo set is quite intriguing: Photo 1 was taken under cooler indoor lighting, giving it a rich texture, while Photo 2 was closer to the window where the light was warmer and the atmosphere softer, which is why I chose Photo 2 as the cover. Because I wore a short-sleeved dress at the expo, it became freezing cold when the temperature dropped in the evening, so I quickly threw on an overcoat after shooting. Everyone cosplaying outdoors in winter, make sure to keep warm so you don't catch a cold! Regarding the shooting process, because of the heavy crowd and cluttered background at the convention, the photographer and I retreated to a quieter spot with a grey wall as our backdrop. When shooting frontal portraits gets repetitive, slightly tilting your head toward the light like in Photo 2 can provide much better dimension. In fact, the key to capturing the character's essence lies in that subtly mysterious aura. Being New Year's Day, people throughout the venue were exchanging greetings, making the atmosphere exceptionally lively. Choosing to cosplay this look specifically at Firefly ACG Expo was because of its spacious venue and lighting environment. The lace sleeves and collar required care every time I put on or took off the costume to avoid snagging threads. The makeup and styling lasted for most of the day; despite touching up lipstick twice around noon, the overall look remained very stable. The white bonnet paired with the red rose takes up significant visual focus in photos, so it's important to keep posture upright yet natural. Looking back at the composition and details of the photos, I am quite satisfied with the level of fidelity, though cosplaying an elaborate outfit in a crowded convention is certainly a test of stamina. Finally, I hope to continue doing what I love in 2026, cosplaying more Touhou Project characters and sharing practical photoshoot experiences and tips with everyone.