For this Chen cosplay styling, I selected a white off-the-shoulder dress adorned with oversized ruffles. The inner red corset and red neck bow create a sharp contrasting clash with the dark green cat-ear headpiece. The tiny golden bells on the headpiece are very delicate; each slight movement produces a crisp tinkle, adding dynamic vitality to the shoot. A White thigh-highs outfit paired with black Mary Jane shoes represents a classic combination for this look, preserving the character's anime sweetness while helping maintain balance on the wooden platform.
The location was set beneath a lantern frame brimming with traditional festive atmosphere. The details built by the photographer were exquisite: giant handmade fish lanterns, hanging red pom-poms, and warm-toned round paper lanterns combined to create a warm and bustling temple fair ambiance. While these props possessed high color saturation, under the warm lighting they did not steal focus from the subject, but rather complemented the white attire beautifully.
During the shoot, the core element was the Cat interaction with the kitten in my arms. Real animals are usually difficult to direct in shoots, but this little kitten was remarkably affectionate. Although its attention was occasionally caught by the hanging red lanterns, after adjusting my posture, it quickly found a comfortable spot to rest quietly. To capture the moment it looked up into the lens, I micro-adjusted my arm angle and slowed my breathing to avoid startling it. In the final shots, its curious yet languid expression matched the lively, spirited essence of Chen's character design seamlessly.
Finding postures on the wooden platform that showcased the skirt's layers while balancing core support while holding the cat—all while harmonizing the composition with the surrounding lanterns—took careful thought. Great effort also went into hair and makeup. The orange short wig was precisely cut to mimic the character's slightly messy natural curve, paired with rich orange-brown colored contacts to convey the sharpness and curiosity distinctive of felines.
As a fan of the Touhou Project series, in portraying the character, I focused heavily on capturing her agile 'Nekomata' qualities. Beyond visual resemblance, I hoped subtle gestures and expressions—like gently gathering the skirt hem or softly petting the cat's back—would convey a serene focus amidst the bustling environment.
The entire shoot lasted over two hours, spanning from harsh daylight to nightfall when all the lanterns illuminated. As ambient light shifted, the color temperature and mood captured by the camera transformed completely; the interplay between natural and artificial light offers an irreplaceable charm unique to outdoor sets. The cat took a short nap midway through, but remained delightfully cooperative upon waking. In post-processing, colors were unified to retain the warm red-yellow ambient glow while subduing deep background shadows, bringing out the crisp details of the white dress.
Bringing this photo set to fruition would not have been possible without photographer @夜空's expert guidance in composition and lighting. While the costume is elaborate, achieving such soft textures and color gradation in an authentic outdoor setting was an ideal result in Cosplay photography. I look forward to experimenting with more shoots featuring intricate props and Cat interaction in the future, as they always bring a refreshing spark to conventional cosplay.