The launch of Xiaohongshu's full-screen feature gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect on the vertical cosplay portrait photography I've taken over the past year. Many friends wonder why I prefer vertical composition. It's not that I don't like landscape orientation, but rather that many real physical spaces and character poses require a vertical framing to anchor the atmosphere and fully preserve the character's tension within the image. Over the year, I accumulated a large collection of vertical works bit by bit, and this update feels like the perfect time to summarize it all.
I've always felt that my photographic style bears a clear trace of transitioning from landscape to portrait photography. Unlike many photographers who focus on close-ups and love extreme tight shots, I rarely emphasize characters through headshots alone. Instead, I am fascinated by placing people in real physical settings, letting them create a chemical reaction with their surroundings. Whether it's clusters of fluttering white blossoms, lush woodland greenery, roaring waterfalls, or dark, damp industrial ruins—these scenes aren't just blurred background props to me; they feel like an authentically existing "other world".
Switching between different themes is a huge creative joy. Even within vertical composition, I can use natural light to express a soft forest-core vibe, or use flashes and color gels to craft the cold, gritty edge of abandoned buildings. A black tights outfit paired with a red puffy skirt shows a striking visual contrast against reinforced concrete and the dark night; wearing light tulle to capture reflections by the water, or matching a winged design to seek visual balance. I don't want my work to be bound by a single label. Every cosplayer who breathes soul into a character deserves to be placed in the environment that suits her best—this is both respect for the character and a reflection on portrait photography itself.
The shooting process is often harder than imagined. I'm especially grateful to all the creators who trudged across mountains and rivers with me over these past months. To find locations free of crowds, we often had to hike for one or two hours in the wilderness. Whether stepping onto stone blocks in water or climbing onto high-rise rooftops in remote suburbs, the journey was filled with unknowns. Often, to achieve a specific lighting effect and expression in a single shot, we had to adjust and re-shoot two or three times. For instance, creating a fog-drenched atmosphere inside a factory meant waiting for the smoke machine's peak state and syncing with the ambient light—a process that severely tested our patience.
My lens may not always be where it's brightest, but it always aims to capture the most candid, relaxed moments. Without everyone's effort, today's curated collection wouldn't exist. Everyone has their specialty; my lens simply recorded a moment of brilliance in real life from this group of people who love anime culture and anime-style photography. I will keep exploring unknown locations and hope future vertical works can showcase spaces with even more diverse textures. Here's to leaving a complete footprint for this year's journey in vertical photography.