[Wishadel cosplay] Arknights Chengdu Anime Convention Photos

Ever since crafting this Wishadel cosplay outfit, I had been eager to shoot a set of convention photos at the Chengdu Anime Convention. This time, I finally got the opportunity to suit up in full gear and create shots right on the convention floor. Having predominantly shot in studios before, I wanted to challenge the interplay of ambient lighting across on-site convention venues.

First, regarding the outfit: this ensemble is tailored from glossy patent leather with an iconic black-and-red palette. The top is a sleeveless black form-fitting bodysuit with a front cutout and a black-and-red striped collar. To channel the character faithfully, I pinned a red badge reading 'Megumin' on the chest. The bottom pairs black shorts with a pleated trim alongside black patent leather over-the-knee boots. To build layered texture, I wore sheer nude stockings as a transition, which also visually elongated my legs. While patent leather offers gorgeous specular reflections and remarkable presence on camera, it picks up fingerprints easily and provides zero breathability. With the dense crowds at the expo, even with the AC blasting, I ended up drenched in sweat. Oh, and there was also a long, slender black tail prop that fellow attendees stepped on quite a few times while navigating the floor—definitely an amusing badge of honor.

For the wig, I selected silver-white layered short hair, spending quite some time trimming the blunt bangs to nail that messy yet aloof aesthetic. The headpiece features a black-and-red headband paired with horn accessories at the sides. The monochrome mask in my hand was an essential prop for convention photography—holding it or letting it half-veil the face yielded fantastic frames. Makeup emphasized the eyes, incorporating pink contact lenses and deepened outer corners to accentuate a sharp, piercing gaze. Given the character's distinctive aura, I put effort into expression control, maintaining a calm, almost condescending composure.

The energy at the Chengdu Anime Convention is consistently wonderful, and I attended this time alongside a photographer friend. The venue is vast, featuring rows of industrial overhead strobes that naturally suit moody chiaroscuro portraiture. My friend brought a portable location strobe, and we staked out a relatively uncluttered corner near the hall perimeter. During the shoot, the photographer guided me through several stances, such as hands-on-hips standing or perching on a tall stool with legs crossed. The stool set truly flattered leg length, as the texture of patent boots paired with stockings gleamed vividly beneath the flash. To convey command and presence, I maintained a resolute, confident gaze.

Since I enjoy studying convention photo composition, I communicated camera angles closely with the photographer. Using wide apertures dissolved cluttered booths and bustling crowds into soft blur, locking visual focus squarely onto garment craftsmanship and facial expressions. The bokeh circles from overhead ceiling lights introduced layered depth to the shadowy frames. Out of several hundred shots taken, these five final frames were curated—spanning standing, seated, and mask-holding close-ups. I'm deeply satisfied with the costume's fidelity and my own on-camera energy. Crossing paths with passionate Arknights fans, recognizing each other, and taking commemorative photos made the entire journey delightfully rewarding.