[Sakuya Izayoi Cosplay] Convention Photos Record of Touhou Project's Chief Maid

Organizing these convention photos from the expo, here is Sakuya Izayoi, the Chief Maid from Touhou Project. Actually, it was quite muggy on the day of the convention and the hall was packed with people, but the moment I put on this outfit, the feeling immediately came back.

When designing and making this costume, I paid special attention to the layered feel of the blue and white palette. For fabric selection, I used a silky material with nice drape, along with black-and-white contrasting wide sleeves and layered lace. The wide furisode-like sleeves are a very prominent feature of the chief maid; when moving, the cuffs sway with arm movements, looking very elegant and flowy.

The apron is also a key highlight—multi-layered lace stitching paired with a deep blue oversized bow makes the visual center of gravity drop comfortably into place. Frills and a bow at the neckline keep the upper torso from looking plain. White thigh-high socks, black crisscross Mary Jane shoes, and a black thigh garter ring complete a visually cohesive outfit for this Maid outfit cosplay.

I brought two props for this shoot: a silver round tray and a star wand. The tray basically represents her daily working state, while the wand fits a battle pose better. During shooting, I hoped to balance both vibes. For instance, I prepared a seated photo with a natural pose holding the tray with both hands to simulate a server's grace. There's also a single-knee kneeling stance holding the wand with a calm, composed eye contact straight ahead.

Lighting at convention venues is notoriously unpredictable, with overhead lights creating complex shadows. But the photographer was very patient, utilizing venue elements plus off-camera fill light to bypass cluttered backgrounds, making this deep blue Blue and white maid dress look fantastic in terms of texture. I remember when shooting this set, there were many other attendees around, but once entering the character state, I could quickly tune out background noise to focus on facial expressions and posture.

In Cosplay, beyond accurate costumes, character demeanor and body language are even more crucial. Sakuya Izayoi usually appears elegant and serene yet moves swiftly, so I tried my best to maintain an effortless chief maid posture in the photos. Whether standing and lifting the skirt hem, sitting, or holding the wand, she should remain cool, calm, and composed. I feel these convention photos captured these moments nicely without exaggerating poses, maintaining her true character essence.

Getting good convention photos requires great synergy with the photographer. Luckily, the photographer was super professional and quickly found the angles and lighting I wanted. He chose a lower shooting angle—like the shot where I sat on a plastic crate—which beautifully displayed leg lines and the puffy skirt hem. Although the venue floor was quite reflective, he turned that reflection into an asset to enhance the sense of real-time presence.

Finally, my personal favorite shot is sitting on the black folding bucket while holding the silver tray with one hand. It allowed me to naturally cross my legs, and the tray created a subtle contrast against the costume, resulting in a harmonious composition. Overall, this Sakuya Izayoi cosplay shoot went very smoothly. Although the dress was complex, its details made me very satisfied. I hope to shoot more story-driven works at future conventions!