This outfit was specially prepared for the Firefly ACG Expo; from selecting materials to altering the lace edges of the skirt hem, it took quite a lot of time back and forth. The weather in Guangzhou on the day of the convention was sweltering hot, and combined with the relatively thick fabric of this black-and-white maid outfit, I started sweating shortly after standing outdoors. Still, to achieve the desired visual results, I endured under the scorching sun for a long time.
For makeup, the focus was placed on the eyes, applying suitable false eyelashes and light blue colored contacts to make the gaze appear more translucent. The wig was a short blue bob with straight bangs; to maintain the shape of the bangs and sideburns, I specifically used some styling hairspray. The head accessories consisted of small pink bows and crisscross hairpins, which are highly recognizable elements of the overall look, and I adjusted their positions several times until they looked just right.
The shooting location was chosen by the roadside outside the exhibition hall, where there was plenty of foot traffic, with tree shadows and parked cars in the background. The photographer utilized a wide-aperture lens, which nicely blurred out the cluttered background while preserving the lively atmosphere of the anime convention. During the shoot, I tried various poses, such as clasping my hands in front of my chest or turning around sideways to glance back.
Considering the overall presentation of the images, I ultimately selected the photo of lifting the skirt hem with one hand as the cover. This was mainly because the movement better showcases the dress's cut and silhouette, while the angle of the lifted skirt just happened to make the White stockings and leg lines look more slender and elongated, centering the subject cleanly within the composition. There were many fellow fans at the convention that day, and during the shoot, I exchanged tips on wig styling and costume care with friends cosplaying from the same work.
In post-processing, no exaggerated edits were made; adjustments focused primarily on exposure and color temperature to make the skin tone appear fairer and more translucent, matching an overall clean and bright visual style. Doing outdoor Convention photos at anime conventions is never easy, but seeing the final photos made all the prior effort of preparing costumes and waiting in line for shooting spots completely worthwhile. I frequently study the character's temperament in daily life and incorporate my own understanding during recreation, striving to align every gesture and expression seamlessly with the essence of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-.