My schedule for taking photos with cosplayers at Firefly D2 was packed, spending almost the entire day wandering around the venue from morning to night. As a Blue Archive cosplayer, I specially prepped my makeup and restyled my wig beforehand to maintain peak condition at the convention. Entering the hall around 8:00 AM, I first collected goodies from various booths before meeting up with different friends in the free photography zone.
The part that required the most effort for this cosplay was the makeup. I used a lighter base shade and deliberately emphasized eye makeup layering and blush coverage to capture a crisp 2D anime character aesthetic. The wig was trimmed a week in advance—I adjusted the length and bang curve three times before feeling satisfied, as complex convention lighting can easily make minor imperfections look awkward. For the outfit, the blue shirt and yellow hat pairing proved remarkably eye-catching; many photographers remarked on how photogenic the colors were, yielding fresh shots right out of the camera without heavy color grading. However, wearing contact lenses all day while pacing around seeking angles was quite physically taxing.
Taking photos with cosplayers at conventions was the absolute highlight of my day! In the exhibition zone, I ran into many friends cosplaying from the Blue Archive series. For instance, the blue-haired, cat-eared partner in the photo had remarkably clean makeup and captured the character's moe essence brilliantly. The two of us shot several interactive duo poses together, with the photographer guiding us through nicely layered arrangements. I also bumped into a green-haired elf-eared cosplayer, as well as blonde twintail and purple-haired girls. Everyone was so friendly, exchanging tips on wig styling and eye makeup techniques. I must say, the convention dressing rooms and rest zones were delightfully lively—everyone retouching makeup while swapping news made for a fantastic atmosphere in our Anime convention daily life.
Before heading out, I studied the venue's lighting distribution. Around 2:00 PM, the combination of overhead and side lights produced the softest ambient effect, so most group photos were gathered during this timeframe. Equipment-wise, I mostly relied on the front camera of my phone, which allowed easy expression and composition adjustments with real-time previews to avoid wasted shots. Still, those duo photos in the set really tested our chemistry: matching my chin-resting pose with my partner's eye direction often took several rounds to feel natural. Thankfully, everyone was super patient, and fine-tuning a single shot for over ten minutes never felt tiring.
Convention logistics and supplies were also essential. I swapped out daily contact lenses twice mid-day because prolonged wear tires the eyes, affecting gaze focus. For lunch, I had a simple convention bento, though I refrained from overeating to maintain optimal posture before the camera. Makeup-wise, I touched up with setting powder about three times across the day, pressing firmly around the T-zone and under-eyes to eliminate shine and smudging. I also brought a portable mini fan; with dense convention crowds and rising temperatures, wigs can easily flatten, so a quick breeze helped maintain their shape.
Today's greatest reward was interacting with cosplayers of various styles. For example, the girl with pink hair and a ribbon had a sweet aesthetic, so we shot a high-contrast set together—pairing a cool vibe with a warm one was super fun. Then there was the blonde, red-eyed cosplayer whose eye makeup featured glitter that sparkled vividly under flash photography; excellent lighting truly elevates a character's presence. Although my legs were sore and my neck felt stiff after a full day of shooting, seeing my album packed with photos made it all feel deeply worthwhile.
Once home, I plan to filter through today's shots, do a basic color grade on my phone, and gradually polish fine details. The most captivating aspect of cosplay lies precisely in this journey—from hair and makeup to shooting and final retouching. Every anime convention serves as a test and elevation of one's craft. I had an absolute blast today, and I hope to meet everyone at future conventions to keep capturing creative new photos!