[Yunli cosplay] Night Convention Photos of the Honkai: Star Rail Swordsman at the Firefly ACG Expo

This set of convention photos was taken at night during the Firefly ACG Expo. The character is Yunli from Honkai: Star Rail, captured through the lens of Eighth Root.

First, let's talk about the details of this outfit. The clean-cut tailoring of the white and cyan-blue patchwork is quite sharp, and the giant obsidian base on the chest embedded with red and green gemstones has a metallic embossed texture that looks exceptionally striking under the flash. The golden bells underneath shake slightly with movements, adding a touch of agility. The upper body features an off-the-shoulder and bare-waist design, which, together with a large silver-white shawl collar, beautifully refines the shoulder and neck lines. The sleeves are detached, and the dark blue leather half-wrapped bracers feature golden patterns and emerald embellishments, completed with ring accessories, giving an overall crisp feel of a wandering swordsman.

To recreate this short hairstyle, the wig underwent significant adjustments. With a dark blue-grey tone, a slightly upturned high ponytail on top, and phoenix feather-like hair ornaments on both sides, combined with asymmetrical bangs, it basically captured the character's traits. The makeup primarily emphasizes the contours and spirit of the eyes, using a warm orange-toned lip glaze to tone down the large area of cool-toned outfits, making the facial features look more three-dimensional. Because of wearing colored contact lenses to change pupil color combined with direct lighting, it was inevitable to endure some eye dryness during the shoot.

Two main props were prepared for this cosplay photography session. One is a bamboo folding fan, which fits comfortably in the hand; whether closed horizontally in front of the body or used in a one-handed forehead-touching gesture, it perfectly aligns with the character's confidence and tsundere nature. The second is a bamboo oil-paper umbrella; when opened, its massive canopy forms a balanced composition in the upper left corner of the frame, and when tipping up on one foot to strike a light posture, the overall ethereal feel is heavily enhanced.

Special mention goes to the barefoot part. The character setting is barefoot, so I also took off my shoes during the shoot. The tiles on the convention floor were quite cold, and trying to flex the arches and grip the ground with my toes to show clean lines was rather tiring (such as when sitting on a low stool or in a half-kneeling pose). However, to achieve that completely unconstrained combat girl vibe, this bit of hardship was totally worth it.

What convention photos test the most is coordination with the environment. Although the external lighting of the night convention was cluttered, the large areas of blurred city lights and booth crowds actually formed an excellent colorful backdrop. We found a relatively quiet spot on the ground and used a low stool as a shooting platform. I tried several standing and sitting poses. From a mid-shot staring intently into the lens, to raising a hand above my head to make a playful clawing gesture, or a quiet expression while sitting on the stool with legs crossed, I hoped to present the character's different states.

In many cases, convention photos display a vivid moment—a natural revelation when muscles are tightened or relaxed. The costume structure and prop materials for this Yunli look were quite complex, requiring constant adjustments to keep them crisp when worn. Fortunately, the final convention photos did not disappoint the hard work put into preparation.