[Arknights Cosplay] A Day at Chongqing Convention: Suzuran Cosplay, Ch'en cosplay, First Snow cosplay, and M3 All in Frame

Having just finished today's photoshoot with my phone filled with photos of everyone's hard work, I'm striking while the iron is hot to post an update. This Arknights project for the Chongqing Convention was prepared for quite some time, including today's Suzuran Cosplay, Ch'en cosplay, First Snow cosplay, and M3, with everyone putting immense effort into costume fidelity. As an active participant, I feel the on-site presence was truly spot-on, so I'd like to share some insights and ramblings from the shoot.

Let's start with Suzuran Cosplay. Long golden hair paired with fluffy nine-tails, the light overall color palette makes the character look exceptionally soft. Plush ears and white lace-trimmed accessories looked remarkably textured under overhead lighting; during shooting, we specially found a white plush mat to complement the overall adorable fluffiness, pairing it with the rattan semi-hoop decorated with flowers and leaves in her hand, plus the rounded brown wooden backpack at her waist, making the compositional center fall right on the character. Suzuran's nine tails serve as her most recognizable feature, and mounting/dynamically adjusting them was quite a technical task—they not only had to stay supported but also maintain fluffy layering during turns and seated poses. Through custom rigging and outer synthetic fur mimicking real animal pelts, a dense yet soft visual effect was achieved before the lens.

Next up is Ch'en cosplay: blue hair, red eyes, signature black horns, and a bright orange tie with blue patterns give her an imposing aura the second she steps up. During shooting, we specifically arranged black fingerless gloves and high-pressure gun-holding poses; paired with single-light setup on-site, this effectively highlighted the character's composure and tactical feel. The sharp contrast between the white shirt and black coat, along with black harnesses connecting belts and gear attachments, subtly outlined her silhouette. With considerable leather elements across her outfit, the reflective leather textures on her pant legs and gloves were perfectly preserved under intense frontal flash. Facing the camera, her sharp gaze and crisp facial contours fit the operator setting flawlessly.

First Snow cosplay styling is actually quite interesting: light green short hair paired with white fluffy beast ears, blending workwear and ethnic styles. The white long trench coat with yellow-black logos on armbands and wrist straps, paired with a wooden clipboard, naturally projects a recorder's vibe. Meanwhile, another blue cape variation demonstrates an entirely different visual layer, where white long hair creates a warm-cool contrast against blue robes. The white cape portion appears distinctly layered under light, while yellow tassel accents introduce visual vibrancy to the cold blue-and-white scheme. The focus for First Snow was combining casual and tactical vibes—looking like a professional record-keeper without losing the character's inherent nimbleness. Costume details were abundant, especially straps, pouches, and metal chains, where closer inspection reveals the prop team's deep dedication.

Finally, M3 features eye-catching color-blocking of black and neon green, paired with assertive horned headpieces and black leather tactical gear for pure techwear aesthetics. We utilized low-angle and high-angle shots to enhance overall visual impact, where black leather reflections formed a fantastic visual focal point under dim lighting. On-site high-contrast lighting heavily tested costume materials—matte textures and glossy sheen had to render in their respective spots, and the props and fabrics prepared held up remarkably well under light pressure. This shoot heavily tested our adaptability under various light sources; combining indoor ceiling lights with single-light fill required constant camera repositioning to avoid cluttered bulb reflections while preserving character dynamic tension. Cosplaying characters with heavy props and complex wigs at conventions is extremely demanding, requiring immense energy from donning outfits to all-day adjustments, yet seeing these vivid, delicate moments captured in final Convention photos makes it all worthwhile. Every character's personality achieved a wonderful embodiment in these visuals, and I hope everyone senses the sincerity and effort expressed in these photos.