[Cyrene Cosplay] Honkai: Star Rail: Dreamy Convention Photos in the Rain at CICF Expo

The sudden rain at CICF Expo truly caught us off guard, but facing the soaking wet ground, this outdoor shoot was powered entirely by the spirit of "since we're already here."

In fact, rainy day Convention photos aren't just about hardship; utilizing the reflections on the rain-slicked stone walkways combined with the dim yellow streetlights can capture dramatic lighting that's hard to achieve on sunny days. We chose a riverside pathway shaded by lush green trees, where the fluffy blue-purple tulle dress looked remarkably light in the post-rain air. The 3D purple floral appliqués and subtle shimmer on the tulle skirt flickered with a diamond-like luster beneath the evening streetlights. The wig styling took extensive effort: besides the long, straight pink hair, the inner layers and tips featured cyan-blue dip-dyed layers which, combined with the elf ear props, elevated the dreamy atmosphere on camera in this Rainy scenery location photoshoot.

Alternating between two props—a plush rabbit and a white floral bouquet—provided more variety for poses, avoiding any awkwardness while shooting in the rain. The biggest challenge of a rainy outdoor shoot is preserving the integrity of the wig and costume. Rainwater easily makes wigs lose their fluffiness, so we constantly touched it up with a portable hairdryer during breaks. Walking on the slippery ground in pale nude, red-soled high heels was quite precarious, requiring constant attention to footing; many seemingly relaxed, fluid poses actually demanded rigorous balance control.

The on-site lighting was fairly intricate: while the streetlights cast a warm yellow glow, the skylight remained bright, requiring post-processing adjustments to balance skin tones and lighting, harmonizing foreground subject separation with the background while creating soft bokeh from streetlight reflections. Despite only having a few hours to shoot, the resulting atmosphere completely met expectations; out-of-focus raindrops in front of the lens created an ethereal misty blur that unexpectedly enriched emotional expression.

The hair and makeup held up surprisingly well throughout the rainy weather. Aside from minor water stains along the shoe vamps and bottom hem of the skirt, the overall soft-lit quality remained intact. Many fellow photographers and cosplay enthusiasts around us were also shooting, sharing umbrellas and handing out tissues—that shared camaraderie of striving to create great work under tough conditions is far more memorable than a sunny day. Ultimately, completing these Convention photos smoothly and delivering this tranquil yet luminous texture made braving the rain completely worthwhile. Although future convention schedules present new challenges, every carefully prepared costume and prop deserves an ideal environment to shine.