The natural lighting on the day of the convention was fantastic, serving as the foundation for shooting this Kirisame Marisa cosplay. When portraying a character from Touhou Project, props are the soul. This broom was specially custom-made; the long black handle features golden metallic rings and carries noticeable weight in hand. To conserve energy, resting it beside my leg or on the ground while posing was a great choice. The Anime convention had massive foot traffic, and after wandering for several hours, I genuinely felt exhausted, finding a spot by the sunlit railing to sit down and zone out while looking at the buildings outside. This genuine fatigue happened to match the dazed, spaced-out state mentioned in the post.
Preparing the outfit also took plenty of effort. The large hat carried weight and needed constant angle adjustments to stay balanced. The long golden curls had wonderful luster, displaying a gorgeous sheen under the sunlight (Cosplay under the sun). Wearing the white shirt and black star dress, the white ruffles at the bottom of the skirt spread out naturally when seated. Paired with White socks and black platform shoes, sitting down nicely showcased the leg lines, creating great visual tension. After putting in colored contacts, the light shining directly into my eyes made my gaze appear especially bright. The idea during shooting was to avoid being overly theatrical—looking directly into the lens with a relaxed expression to convey an effortless, dazed cuteness. In post-processing, I preserved the skin texture and fabric weave without excessive skin smoothing. Adjustments to the highlights made the hair look more translucent under backlighting.
For this character in Touhou Project, although she is lore-wise lively and energetic, I chose to portray her in a quiet way in this photo—spacing out on a bright, sunny afternoon is also a unique expression. The hallway location was chosen because the natural light blended seamlessly with the setting. The white clothing was prone to overexposure in strong light, so exposure compensation was slightly adjusted. The black platform shoes not only met styling needs, but also added posture stability. The grip of the broom felt solid; though heavier than expected, it significantly enhanced the authenticity of the shot. The overall vibe of the day was resting after getting tired at the Anime convention, sitting down and capturing a few great photos along the way.
Additionally, for hair and makeup, the base makeup used a lightweight, sweat-resistant formula. Wearing a wig and hat definitely gets warm, making sweat resistance crucial. The eye makeup used light tones paired with contact lenses to create a clear, crisp gaze. I bumped into several fellow Touhou Project enthusiasts at the convention and exchanged photography experiences. Honestly, I think everyone appreciates that authentic, unforced state, so we didn't ask the photographer for tricky angles. One of the joys of attending conventions is encountering such unexpected light. The authenticity brought by the weight of the prop cannot be replicated in post; the broomstick was smoothly rounded and felt comfortable to hold, with finely polished metal rings that didn't scratch. Sitting in the sunlight looking up at the sky, that moment felt deeply peaceful. During post-processing, rather than pursuing extreme cool-white skin or ultra-sharp clarity, I aimed for a subtle film texture, retaining a hint of fantasy within the natural light ambiance. Overall, both the lighting and makeup achieved my expected results, making this a truly comforting and enjoyable convention photoshoot log.