[Gongsun Li Cosplay] The Umbrella-Dancing Elf of Honor of Kings: Capturing Agile Moments at the Convention

This set of convention photos is a recent new work shot offline. Today I want to share the preparation details behind this styling and my experiences shooting at the venue.

Regarding the wig and headpiece, they were actually the parts that required the most refinement in the entire makeup and hair styling process. To match the character's agile nature, I specifically chose a layered short blue-black wig with lightly trimmed bangs, paired with everyday makeup and sheer eyeshadow. This beautifully embodies the character's temperament without looking excessively heavy. The pair of curled metallic headpieces on top is the absolute soul of the entire look. They aren't just simple metal pieces; their curves were adjusted multiple times to ensure they echo perfectly with the "animal-ear" styled hair strands on top. To prevent them from falling off while moving around the venue, I specially added a secure fastening at the base, making them highly stable to wear.

In terms of costume design, the white halter-neck top on the upper body and the golden rotating patterns on the chest serve as the visual focus. This halter design really tests the neck and shoulder lines, and paired with the red and green accents at the collar, it creates rich layers. The lightweight, sheer blue-green shawl sleeves add an ethereal quality to the overall Cosplay outfit, beautifully echoing the traditional Chinese ink-wash painting vibe of the paper umbrella in hand. The golden fine chains hanging from the waist, the turquoise rope knots, and that highly recognizable golden pendant—every small detail was meticulously crafted to maximize the garment's texture.

For the props choice this time, the oil-paper umbrella painted with light blue ink-wash patterns was definitely an asset that added points to the overall look. Holding the umbrella at the shooting venue not only increased pose variety and visual tension but also created a unique atmosphere blending ancient style with modern aesthetics. To show the most natural state, I tried holding the umbrella in many positions, such as resting it against my shoulder or tilting it slightly, hoping to capture a natural sense of wind blowing past. As for the shoes, I chose transparent block-heeled sandals. This style fits the character's weightless elegance perfectly and naturally elongates the leg lines visually. Although the transparent material easily fogs up from friction when walking for a long time at conventions, these small troubles are entirely worth it for the overall fashion and styling completeness.

The shooting environment at the convention was actually more complex than expected. Most of the background consisted of dark-toned areas. It was thanks to a few bright, square overhead lights at the venue, along with the photographer's mastery of focal lengths, that we finally presented this atmosphere with bright facial lighting and pronounced shadow contrast. Throughout the shoot, constant attention to expression management and eye communication was required, as this set primarily expresses the character's cool yet gentle nature.

Every time I participate in an offline convention, I can feel the enthusiasm and friendliness of fellow Anime-style photography and fandom enthusiasts, which is the biggest difference between live convention photos and studio shoots. Through real-site shoots, a more vivid and slice-of-life side of the character can be displayed. Whether chasing a fully replicated anime or game setting, or showcasing one's own aesthetic insight into garments, keeping a sense of reverence and passion for character details as a cosplayer is paramount. This set of convention photos only captured that specific moment, but to freeze that moment, the effort spent behind the scenes on makeup, dressing, adjusting props, and coordinating lighting was far greater than imagined. I hope this photo set conveys the character's elegant yet powerful traits to everyone.