The Convention photos from the Firefly ACG Expo are finally retouched and ready. The character I cosplayed this time is Castorice from Honkai Impact 3rd; the purple palette and butterfly motifs of this dress are elements I had always wanted to try. Regarding the costume design, the translucent sheer gossamer extending from the lower back forms massive butterfly wings, with the hem embellished by black lines and glittery shimmer. Slipping into this outfit was truly exhilarating yet brought some pressure, as its countless details demanded extreme care in this Castorice cosplay.
The wig was a long, light-purple style with blunt bangs and delicate side braids. To match the elven concept, Elf ears were an indispensable prop; after putting them on, I blended the seams with scar wax or shading powder so the transition between the ears and face appeared as seamless and natural as possible. For makeup, rather than heavy coloration, I accentuated the gaze using purple-pink eyeshadow and deep purple contact lenses. Fine, delicate false eyelashes were chosen to avoid excessive drama, preserving an aloof yet softly tender demeanor.
The black lace choker collar around my neck featured white teardrop ornaments, reflecting sunlight gorgeously. However, because of its stiff material, putting it on and taking it off required extra caution to prevent damage. The purple arm sleeves featured black lace hems which, paired with the white butterfly ornaments on the shoulders, established a harmonious sense of symmetry for the overall look.
The shoot took place indoors next to expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, overlooking a cityscape lined with skyscrapers. The afternoon natural daylight streamed in through the glass, bright and luminous, almost glaring. The virtue of such intense light was illuminating the lustrous fabrics and hair with brilliant sheen, but the downside was casting harsh facial shadows, so finding the right angle took some time. Photographer Bai Jun is a master of backlighting and side rim lighting, capturing frames imbued with an ethereal transparency in this Anime-style photography set.
As for posing, because the skirt was voluminous, standing straight would look rather bulky. Thus, I turned my body sideways or lightly lifted the skirt hem to accentuate leg lines. Wearing black high heels decorated with pearls and purple ribbons looked stunning, but to stand firmly and maintain an upright poise, I had to distribute my center of gravity across both feet while staying vigilant so the skirt hem wouldn't catch on the heels. The over-the-shoulder look required twisting the torso with fluid grace while keeping facial expressions relaxed, preventing bodily tension from looking stiff. In dialing in the expression to match the elf's aloof poise, the gaze needed focus rather than drift, locked onto a specific focal point on the lens. Shifting reflectors or ambient light also necessitated micro-adjusting my chin angle to maintain ideal lighting ratios.
Being Convention photos, the convention venue was naturally noisy and crowded; managing to utilize this window nook to capture such a pristine background was truly thanks to the photographer's composition and the retoucher's craft. The retouching prioritized preserving fabric textures and glitter specks without excessive skin smoothing, keeping the subject's texture authentic.
The entire shooting process was immensely fulfilling. Although donning these pointed Elf ears, wig, and elaborate accessories required great patience, seeing the finished Convention photos made every minor adjustment worthwhile. I hope to tackle characters in this style again and continue exploring visual expressions under varied lighting conditions. See you all at the next convention!