When shooting this set at Firefly Anime Expo, photographer Xiaoyou Yui and I completely did not expect the final images to look like they were taken in a professional white studio with such a clean effect. We laughed for a long time staring at the sample shots on the computer screen. What was originally just an arbitrary blue background wall in a corner of the venue turned out—thanks to a magical interplay of ambient lighting and fill light angles, plus subtle floor reflections—to completely wipe away the messy background clutter, achieving a high-saturation color-block background effect.
The overall styling was closely aligned with the character's temperament. Light purple long hair matched with purple-gradient eye makeup, paired with a purple and black gothic Lolita outfit, comprehensively recreated the cool and focused aura of the magician. For hair accessories, an intricate hairpiece with a black base and white flowers was chosen, adorned with matching small ribbons on both sides to add detail to the overall look. The dress featured translucent purple mesh with abundant ruffles and black lace splicing, making the hem naturally flare out with depth when walking or spinning.
To recreate the daily setting of always having a book in hand, we prepared a glowing book prop. Carrying its own warm yellow light source, it created a stark warm-and-cold contrast against the cool blue-and-purple studio atmosphere, making the model stand out as the visual focal point. In reality, there were no complex lighting setups on site—it relied mainly on the balance between the book's light source, the camera flash, and a reflector. For the sitting poses, I casually sat on a silver suitcase, using the height difference to visually elongate my legs. Paired with a casual sitting posture with feet turned outward or crossed, plus black lace socks and thick-soled white shoes, it combined cuteness with sophistication.
Looking back at this set, what I am most satisfied with are those dynamic snapshots. Especially the moments when the wig and skirt were blown by the wind; the photographer captured those one or two seconds when the airflow lifted the hem, giving the picture great dynamic tension. This brings up a tip for shooting convention photos: if the venue lighting is complex, try to find an area with a large wall in a uniform tone to weaken background clutter, then use prop light sources to break the color monotony. Post-processing requires no heavy editing—just clean up floor gaps slightly, and the lighting atmosphere is already spot-on.
I was very relaxed during the shoot because I didn't need to force angles, focusing instead on interacting with the glowing book. The shot where I tilted my head up and reached out was simulating an action of summoning or casting magic; extending the eye line upward created a sense of upward space in the frame. People usually look for atmosphere in convention photos, and this accidental studio-like clarity was a pleasant surprise. Thanks to the photographer's excellent snapshot ability and understanding of composition, such a natural and relaxed state could be presented. For Anime-style photography, I always feel there's no need for forced poses—capturing natural moments like tilting one's head in thought or adjusting hair accessories conveys the character's charm much more accurately. That's the story behind this studio-effect set taken at Firefly Anime Expo!