[Theresa Cosplay] Arknights Character Casual Snapshots at a Subway Station

What do you do when you want to shoot a Yuanji cosplay template style without an extra phone? Grab a pass case and improvise! Originally, I wanted to frame the shot according to that complete Yuanji cosplay template composition, but with only one device in hand on-site—no backup phone for monitoring and no tripod for stabilization—it was virtually impossible to shoot a self-portrait with crisp foreground and background depth of field. Not wanting to waste this full styling, I casually grabbed a green pass case next to me as a foreground element and bought a bouquet of white daisies for atmosphere, turning the rigid template into a spontaneous, Anime-style photo post.

This time, I cosplayed Arknights' Theresa. The long, curly white hair with pink highlights took quite a bit of time just to style. The strands tangled easily and had to be combed out little by little, while the side braids needed just the right tension so that the loose hair around the ears draped naturally without looking stiff. The black horn headpiece is made of a rigid material and required bobby pins and clear nylon wire for reinforcement; otherwise, it would tilt at the slightest movement. For makeup, I selected soft pink and red tones paired with red contact lenses to deepen the gaze, slightly elongating the eyeliner and accentuating the lower lashes alongside a heavier blush to create an aloof yet subtly mysterious aura.

The outfit pairs a black leather coat with a white inner layer, centered visually around the black gear on a yellow base piece at the chest, which perfectly balances the monochrome simplicity. I deliberately chose a subway station as the location because the route maps, directional signs, and yellow warning lines provide an everyday, grounded feel. Shooting through glass reflections also added visual layers, fitting the character's detached-from-reality yet blended-into-the-crowd essence.

Holding the phone while shooting required factoring in front-camera mirroring, so expressions and poses had to be rehearsed beforehand in my head. The composition of the first photo is quite balanced: centered subject, the hand-held box filling the foreground, paired with a slightly lowered head and direct eye contact into the lens, creating a strong sense of interaction between the person and the scene. The second photo captured a side profile reaching for the flowers—more dynamic, but placing the subject slightly to the side. In comparison, the first photo was better suited as a solid cover. The selfie angle was adjusted slightly higher to flatter the facial contour and highlight the collarbone lines.

Since the gear brought along was rather basic, the final result wasn't exceptionally polished—for example, when focus locked onto the box, the subject became slightly blurry, though fortunately the overall mood remained intact. This outfit is actually very photogenic, and having a dedicated photographer next time would likely yield even better results. Treating this as a Casual cosplay learning experience, I still managed to capture some of Theresa's composed grace. Wearing such an unconventional outfit in a public space naturally draws glances from passersby, which can feel a bit awkward at times, so I tried to shoot quickly in less crowded spots. The hair was so long that it sometimes blocked my view, and while holding props, I had to ensure the flowers or box didn't obscure my face. The only regret was that due to equipment limitations, I couldn't capture close-up details like the eye makeup or the horn accessories, having to settle for half-body shots. By the way, the original caption mentioning 'traveling romance' was just self-deprecating humor about running around in this look. That wraps up this selfie experience and summary.