Having completed these Convention photos for the Rem cosplay in a Qipao from Day 2 of First Story, let me share my reflections on the shooting process. The outfit is a modified white Qipao trimmed with gold piping along the collar and edges, featuring a chest cutout paired with a rhombus gemstone pendant and waist frog closures, giving it a strong sense of design. For the lower half, white shorts were worn underneath; despite the long skirt hem, the high side slit allows the leg lines to be naturally displayed during movement, styled with black high heels for an overall gentle, graceful aesthetic.
To faithfully embody the character, I wore a blue wig and matching colored contacts. The wig was trimmed so the bangs and side strands flattered my facial contours. In terms of hair ornaments, the white floral wreath, black hairband, side blue feathers, and pink-purple ribbon knot provided intricate details. For makeup, purple eyeshadow echoed the hair color, while a reddish tint was chosen for the lips, keeping the overall makeup clean and fresh. The white fabric of the costume offered excellent reflectivity under natural light, accentuating skin translucency.
The location was set along the riverside promenade on Day 2 of Guangzhou's First Story Comic Con. It was an overcast day with soft lighting and no harsh glare, which proved exceptionally favorable for highlighting the texture of the white Qipao. Collaborating with photographer K. C Yeung, we discussed numerous pose details on set, mainly focusing on how to use the round fan to veil or raise overhead to introduce visual layers into the composition. The fan was semi-translucent, featuring painted white flowers and green tassels, feeling very lightweight in hand.
Regarding the poses, the one-knee kneeling stance in the first photo required careful placement of the skirt hem to prevent accidental exposure; sitting on the stone railing in the second photo demanded mindful balance and extending the leg lines; the side angle holding the fan aloft in the third shot beautifully highlighted the lines of the arms and neck; the fourth pose, crossing arms while leaning on the railing, centered on the expression in the gaze; and the final seated pose with a slight head tilt showcased the curves of crossed legs. Because it took place during a con with heavy crowds outside, we selected specific angles to filter out passersby. The riverside railing provided a handy physical anchor, while the lush trees and river created natural bokeh, directing visual attention squarely onto the 2D character recreation.
Post-processing leaned toward low-saturation cool tones to harmonize the white Qipao texture with skin tones while emphasizing the gentle ambiance. Even though it was an outdoor shoot, the overcast sky maintained stable lighting without having to fix harsh shadows, making the entire cosplay session relaxing and pleasant. The photographer's compositions were well-balanced, presenting costume and prop details to their fullest. This Qipao styling paired with blue short hair delivered an ideal outcome, making it a truly rewarding outdoor cosplay experience.