[Marisa cosplay] Touhou Project: Master Thief Marisa at Firefly ACG Expo

For this shoot at Firefly ACG Expo, key light mainly utilized the Godox ML100Bi, while the backlight used a Godox AD200proII flash. In the messy convention hall environment with cool-toned overhead lighting, these two lights were a huge help. The key light gently illuminated my face, while the backlight sculpted a rim light along the edge of the blonde hair, making the subject stand out against the background.

Shooting on-site at a convention is actually more physically demanding than expected. To capture the cool yet adorable essence of Master Thief Marisa, I attempted numerous poses. For example, balancing on one leg while holding the broom required constant center-of-gravity adjustments to maintain balance and skirt silhouette; crouching or sitting on the floor required keeping the skirt from bunching messily, while minding the cleanliness of tights and shoes given the heavy foot traffic in the exhibition hall.

The outfit had plenty of details. The monochrome puffy skirt, paired with a purple witch hat and white lace trim, offered great texture. But my biggest headache was the broom prop—heavier and longer than anticipated, requiring constant caution on-site to avoid bumping into passersby. During shooting, I tried resting the broom shaft on my shoulder, gripping it with both hands, or holding it single-handedly, pairing different expressions and gestures to find this composition of crouching while resting my chin on one hand.

When selecting photos, I favored shots that fully showcased leg contours and overall proportions. For instance, the photo with one leg raised and the broom held horizontally across my body, and the crouching shot holding the hat brim, feature dynamic poses that highlight the character's lively vitality. Although the venue was crowded with busy backgrounds, I sought out glass curtain walls as backdrops, utilizing a wide aperture to blur the crowds behind. The overall color grading in post-processing was also kept clean and cool-toned to better suit the character's aesthetic.

Shooting live at a convention is truly a special Cosplay photography experience. It was hot, and between the long wig and heavy layers, I was sweating profusely, but seeing the final photos made every effort worthwhile. These Convention photos record my interpretation of this Touhou Project character and left wonderful memories from this Firefly ACG Expo.