This shoot featured Li Meiling (Li Meiling cosplay) from Cardcaptor Sakura, taken outdoors at the World Line Anime Convention during the Chengdu Anime Convention. The venue was very crowded that day; to capture clean frames, we specifically scouted a gray glass curtain wall beside a building as our backdrop. The biggest highlight of this costume is the bold color-blocking of red, white, and yellow, along with the prominent Tai Chi emblem on the chest. The wide sleeves of the white robe with yellow trim flow effortlessly when moving, making them perfect for dynamic action poses. The styling included numerous details, such as twin high buns tied with red ribbons, yellow paper talismans in hand, and golden bells dangling from the ribbon ends. To match her persona as a kung-fu transfer student, I practiced several poses beforehand—like lifting one leg to maintain balance and kneeling on one knee forming hand seals. These poses demanded high balance control, and with the heavy red platform shoes, it was quite exhausting. The lower body was styled with Nude stockings and white under-shorts, giving the overall look a very energetic vibe.
The convention lighting was complex, shifting between backlighting and intense direct sunlight; fortunately, the photographer reacted swiftly, adjusting camera angles to prevent faces from darkening under harsh backlighting. In post-processing, the focus was on rendering the skin texture delicately and naturally without exaggerated leg-lengthening or excessive skin smoothing, preserving the authentic chiaroscuro texture. Wanting to highlight the character's lively, cheerful demeanor blended with subtle Taoist mystique, I chose seated chin-propping poses and forward-pointing stances with talismans. Because of the crowded outdoor setting, we often relied on close-ups or bokeh backdrops to dodge passersby. This red Tai Chi outfit looked exceptionally striking under good lighting, making the complexion appear fair and clear; combined with red eyes and dark hime-cut straight hair, the visual effect captured the anime character nicely. Walking around the convention in this recognizable gear gave a strong sense of immersion. The shoot went smoothly with great pose and expression guidance from the photographer. Although wearing long sleeves and long skirts in summer was a bit warm, it was totally worth it for the results. While convention photos lack the strict control of a studio, they preserve much more spontaneous energy and natural flair. I am very satisfied with the final photos and the harmony between movement and costume—a truly wonderful shooting experience.