The Arknights Skadi Subsequent Afternoon Tea photos from this CP29 Comicup have finally been sorted out. The foot traffic at the convention was massive that day. To avoid passersby in the background, we mostly chose stair corners and railings for shooting, adopting a relatively clean composition.
The overall styling of this outfit is mainly black; the faux-leather-like reflective material on the top is very advantageous, highlighting the figure well. The army-green coat adds a sense of layering to the whole look, and the yellow shoes serve as a bright accent that lifts the spirit. Pairing a silver-gray wig with red colored contacts, with the black bow on the side and the panda bag as props, fits this casual and relaxed state nicely.
When shooting, the range of motion was considered. The peace sign gesture in the first photo directly interacts with the camera. The angle holding a phone for a selfie in the second photo was a spontaneous idea; the light happened to penetrate the hair strands and illuminate the side profile, and the natural lighting looked fantastic. The third photo, which is the chosen cover, shows me leaning on the railing with one leg slightly raised; this pose beautifully showcases the scalloped edges of the Black over-the-knee stockings and the leg shape, with a full composition and eye-catching shoes.
In terms of preparation, this outfit has many accessories. I needed to smooth out the wig in advance, check the fit of the colored contacts, and ensure the comfort of the shoes. Since the black leather top easily picks up dust, I specially brought two extra lint rollers that day. While strolling around the convention venue, passing fellow fans and photographers were very friendly; sometimes I needed to stop to accommodate candid shots from others, which is also an interesting part of convention photography. When choosing backgrounds, I liked railings with crisp, tough lines, which could accentuate this casual yet slightly edgy Anime-style fashion vibe.
Before cosplaying the character, I specially styled the curve of the hairstyle to make the twintails fluffier, preventing them from flattening in crowded environments. The prop was that black-and-white panda crossbody bag hung in a corner position, which created a very comfortable color combination with the army-green coat and bright yellow shoes.
The retouching approach focused on naturalness, adjusting skin tone, highlights, and shadows to emphasize the texture of the black clothing and silver hair, restoring the inherent cool and aloof feel of this look overall. Standing outdoors for a long time in Black over-the-knee stockings and shorts made adjusting poses fairly convenient; spending quite a bit of time resting against the railing also deepened my understanding of body lines and posture.
During the shoot, guiding the photographer's perspective was also crucial. Because this outfit relies on its silhouette and drape to speak for itself, turning slightly sideways can flatter the figure, but one shouldn't turn completely away—part of the front face must be left for the camera. The leg-leaning action in the third photo was an idea of my own; it happened to elongate leg proportions and, paired with the bright yellow shoes, played a great role in visual balance. Doing this pose requires keeping the calves relaxed; otherwise, the thigh lines become very stiff. Fortunately, the photographer's guidance was spot on, and I'm very satisfied with the resulting photos.
Before cosplaying this set, I discussed the figure setting of Skadi with fellow fans. This outfit leans toward everyday wear, so aside from putting effort into the black tight top and shorts, it mainly relied on the advantages of Black over-the-knee stockings and long legs to recreate that crisp and agile feel. The temperature at the convention venue was also very suitable for this outfit—neither too hot nor too cold—and my overall condition remained great.
Doing this set gave me valuable experience on framing under harsh light and handling the light and shadow representation of black-colored clothing. Although I chose this pose because the outfit elongates the legs, I was also a bit worried that the legs might look unnatural due to tension; fortunately, the overall effect of the photos turned out great. Next time I shoot, I might consider switching to a more open venue to bring out the casual feel of the army-green coat to the fullest.