Right before the registration deadline for the Independent anime convention tour closed, I finally compiled this year's submission set. It has become an annual tradition, and this year I gave my absolute all to secure an entry pass to the Guangzhou CICF. Preparations took quite some time, covering multiple concepts: a red-and-black lace dress perfect for indoor studio shoots with great texture; a white dress shot amidst freezing midwinter snow where my hands and feet went completely numb; and a blue gossamer gown taken barefoot on freezing stones by a mountain stream, where everyone pushed through the chill to capture that crystalline, translucent vibe. Outdoor weather conditions delayed some sessions, heavily compressing post-processing time. However, the one that required the most effort was the white hair with Cat ears, Black stockings, and tall boots look. To best highlight the long leg lines, the photographer tested several low-angle and upward shots before finding the sweet spot. Meanwhile, the outfit's flowing ribbons and the black bow prop on my back needed constant shape adjustments, and I practiced the one-legged stance before a mirror for ages, leaving my legs thoroughly exhausted afterward. Another pink dress set shot on a vintage leather sofa was finalized after scouring the prop warehouse for matching colors, coming together with warm lighting for rich texture. From hair and makeup styling to lighting tests and atmospheric color grading—like crushing shadows for the dark red-and-black concept and introducing soft-glow diffusion for the dreamy pink sailor suit—every stage was meticulously polished. For the convention application, I kept all original RAW files for precise adjustments, preserving skin textures and avoiding excessive airbrushing so that the photos look true to life in person. It was a massive workload, but seeing the final photos made every bit worth it—a true recap of a year's passion for cosplay. Hoping for an approval pass so I can meet everyone on-site!