This set of the 10th anniversary dress finished photos shot last September has finally been sorted out recently. Aiming at the characteristics of the character Lilith, when designing the scheme, I hoped to focus on amplifying the complex emotions of both malice and love-hate in her eyes. The core concept of this set is not a simple stacking of costume, makeup, and props, but an attempt to recreate a dark image imbued with conflict.
The studio used for shooting was a specially constructed Dark Gothic style scene, where withered yellow leaves, old papers scattered all over the floor, vintage fringe draperies, and dusty candlesticks conversely serve as a perfect foil to the luster of the patent leather gown. This 10th anniversary dress possesses a high level of complexity in its details, featuring halter lace patchwork, transparent tulle on the chest, along with black vine chains spread all over the body and aggressive claw gloves, rendering a highly enriched texture to the overall outfit. The red mark styling on the neck forms a powerful visual contrast with the emerald green eyes, which is also one of the most recognizable elements among the character's external traits.
In terms of prop selection, the red apple and the bronze lantern both became focal points of interaction, which, cooperating with that vintage black leather chair, beautifully recreate the atmosphere of the character being alone in a mysterious space. The photography team put a lot of thought into the lighting; on one hand, candlesticks and lanterns were used as practical light sources, and on the other hand, brilliant starburst special effects were added in post-production, giving the entire frame a blurry dreamlike feel under the dark undertone. The color tone of the finished photos leans toward a warm brown dark hue, and this vintage yet gorgeous style matches quite well with the imagination of this dress I initially had in mind.
As for body movements, to fit the character's lazy, confident, yet slightly dangerous temperament, I did my best to keep my posture relaxed rather than doing overly stiff poses. Completing the entire shoot in this outfit meant facing many issues with accessory fixing and restricted movement, especially those delicate ornaments, but as long as we could capture the moments that materialize the character's charm, all the hard work was completely worth it. I am personally quite satisfied with the final output of this piece of Cosplay photography, and I hope these photos can convey the gorgeous texture of this costume and the contradiction-filled, mysterious charm of the character.