[Tamamo no Mae cosplay] Convention photo sharing after nearly a year: Looking back at myself back then

I finally received the Tamamo no Mae convention photo set shot by photographer Liyan almost a year ago. The very first thing I did upon seeing the photos was rush to Photoshop my sunken cheeks fuller. Were my cheeks really that visibly hollowed out before? No wonder doctors always told me to gain some weight to look more youthful; sunken cheeks truly age you. Looking at those photos now feels quite surprising, but thankfully retouching skills could salvage it, and my face looks much softer and more pleasing now.

Back to the main topic: this is the convention photo set taken at the original expo back then. Because it was on-site at an exhibition, the background was crowded with light stands and passersby, so finding a relatively open spot to shoot was genuinely challenging. Wearing this black leather dress and strapped corset with gold rings, paired with the oversized fox ears and long tail, looks very stylish, but walking around the venue was utterly exhausting—especially the long tail, which was remarkably heavy and drained my energy dragging it around all day.

The sleeves feature dramatic ruffled cuffs spliced with black, gray, and bright blue, accented by gold straps that recreate the character with great fidelity. To get great shots that day, I wore black stockings and buckled platform high heels on the convention hall's somewhat slippery floor while pulling off poses with one leg raised high. To keep from losing balance, my thigh muscles were constantly engaged, leaving my legs aching intensely after those few takes. Throughout the shoot, I also had to think about holding the talisman properly and making natural yet playful hand gestures while managing my facial expressions constantly. That's probably the biggest difference between a convention photo and a studio shoot—it all relies on the photographer capturing candid moments.

Even though it took a year to see the finished photos and various details might not match my current state, I am still very grateful to Liyan for the shoot, capturing so many dynamic moments and nailing multiple action angles. Looking back at these photos feels like more than just a record; it's a testament to that period of dedicated passion. In the future, I really need to eat more, take good care of my body, strive for better condition next time, and carry off complex outfits like this with greater ease.