This time I tried out the look for Takamatsu Tomori, and to be honest, I was really nervous at first. After all, Tomori's personality and aura are quite different from my usual state, and I was constantly worried that forcing myself into the role would look awkward. But since I made up my mind to do it, I had to take it seriously. From wig trimming to outfit coordination, every detail was carefully prepared to restore that everyday yet quiet temperament.
The wig is a short, layered silver-gray short hair. To make it look more natural, I specifically looked for several style references with well-handled layers and manually adjusted the curvature of the bangs and sideburns so the hairstyle wouldn't look too stiff. For clothes, I chose this color-blocked hooded sweatshirt in navy blue and cream white, with red drawstrings that happened to accent the overall colors. The lower body was paired with denim shorts and white leggings, plus those white sneakers trimmed with fur edging. Overall, it creates a lively daily outfit look walking down the street.
The sunlight on the day of the shoot was exceptionally good, right in that bright afternoon. The photographer suggested we take shots near street-side flower beds and railings. The sunflowers in the background were blooming brilliantly in bright yellow, setting off the subject wonderfully. In my hand, I held a science booklet with a carrot drawn on the cover—it was actually a prop we specifically prepared to match Tomori's habit of collecting small biology-related items. Shielding the sun with the book, looking down to flip through pages, sitting on the curb lost in thought—these movements were completed naturally without forced posing, making it easier to capture a relaxed atmosphere.
Truth be told, standing in front of the lens, I still felt a bit insecure. Seeing how charming others' Takamatsu Tomori cosplay looks, I wondered if my expressiveness wasn't enough. But slowly adjusting my mindset, I realized that for cosplay, the most important thing is to convey a specific trait of the character rather than a 100% flawless replica. Tomori is introverted, earnest, and full of curiosity about things she likes. I tried to integrate these points during the shoot—focusing intently while turning pages, quietly looking into the distance, or occasionally revealing a thoughtful expression. As long as my mind was truly quiet in that moment, I felt the me in the photos captured that genuine state.
We didn't alter the color grading much in post-processing either, mostly fine-tuning contrast and highlights to preserve the golden halo effect of sunlight spilling over hair and clothing. Complemented by red and yellow accents from shop signs in the street background, the overall color scheme feels very harmonious. This attempt gave me a new understanding of character cosplay—there's no need to strive for an utterly flawless recreation; sincerely feeling that small corner where the character intersects with yourself makes it completely worth it.
Sharing this photo set is simply recording this process of working hard. Though flaws remain, I feel my efforts are fully presented in the photos. I'll keep working hard, striving to grasp this temperament even better next time for future Outdoor photography projects.