When sorting through the raw images of this multiplayer Group photo in my camera, it feels as if the light of the Outdoor location and everyone's chatter from that shooting day have been brought back right before my eyes. Preparing for this Sui family cosplay series shoot on an Outdoor location indeed required a much larger workload than a solo photoshoot. Just pulling out everyone's respective wigs, prosthetic horns, tails, and various equipped folding fans and weapon props from the boxes already filled up more than half of the trunk. "Friends are the ultimate spec of cosplay"—this saying was vividly embodied throughout this shoot.
Many people think that a Group photo is just gathering a few people together, with each person striking the character's conventional poses in front of the lens, but I personally have a special preference for a state filled with "real-life vitality." In the pictures you see, the shot where someone is sitting on the wooden stump in the middle and stretching out a leg is a captured moment of everyone gathering and interacting defenselessly. There was no deliberate effort to keep a cold face, nor were there any stiff standing positions from unfamiliarity; we were just helping each other adjust collars and wigs while exchanging jokes. The surrounding teammates naturally spread out, and the person in the middle naturally stretched out their leg, instantly establishing the visual focus and leading lines of the entire frame. The weapons and folding fans from the prop team served as excellent tools to punctuate the atmosphere in these dynamics—raised arms and slight body tilts all carried an authentic sense of relaxation.
The Outdoor location was set in a courtyard with a traditional shadow wall and white walls. This environment combining natural light with ancient architecture actually holds strong plasticity for photography. There was plenty of sunshine that day, and old trees cast a lot of dappled shadows on the walls. While the atmosphere was fully maximized, it also easily cast harsh blocky shadows on people's faces. To avoid this issue, we constantly adjusted our positions, trying different orientations and angles to capture the perfect light at the transition between light and shadow. Although testing back and forth wasted a lot of time, no one grew impatient. Instead, everyone coordinated with each other, adjusting their props while waiting for the light, making the atmosphere exceptionally harmonious.
When presenting a faction-style cosplay like this, details often determine the quality—for instance, the shape of the horns on the head, some embroidery and textures on the clothing, and the weapons setup in everyone's hands. It is not just about putting on the costume and wearing the wig; we also need to design some signature actions based on the characters' traits. However, what I value more is integrating everyone's true state while preserving the character settings. For example, there is a captured moment in the photos where someone lifts a leg and laughs out loud—that kind of emotional explosion is not something that can be acted out through deliberate rehearsals, but is pure, authentic happiness.
Many times when we shoot on location, our bodies are indeed very tired. Wearing these heavy outfits with metal accessories and tossing around outdoors all day, sweat often drenches our inner garments. But when we get the finished photos and look back, that sense of accomplishment is completely irreplaceable. What makes it most worthwhile is not how flawless the photos themselves are, but that this group of like-minded friends beside you is willing to hustle with you, carry heavy bags outdoors together, sweat heavily under the sun together, and burst into that image-free, hearty laughter together. I particularly enjoy the feeling of gathering everyone together to record our shared happy moments; perhaps this is the unique warmth and charm of a Group photo. This photo set locks all the details of our team collaboration into the frame, bringing a smile to my face with every playback.