This time, I organized a set of Cosplay official photos with a relatively large stylistic span, mainly as a warm-up and presentation for the upcoming Firefly ACG Expo free travel. From cyberpunk combat style to Japanese gardens, and then to a dreamy sea of flowers, the shooting focus and post-processing for each set are somewhat different.
Let's talk first about the styling of the black bodysuit with fishnet stockings. The material of this outfit has extremely high reflection. To capture that cold, hard functional feel, we found an indoor location with matrix spotlights. During the shoot, I deliberately asked the photographer to dim the overhead lights, utilizing rim lighting to outline the body contours, which better showcased the waistline and leg tension. The single-knee-kneeling pose actually tests core strength quite a bit; to keep my back straight and my gaze sharp, I adjusted my breathing several times. In post-processing, I specially added some splashing spark special effects, which, combined with the texture of the fishnet stockings, brought out a strong visual impact.
For the rabbit-ear kimono set, I wanted to create a gentle yet slightly sexy vibe. I specifically found a real location featuring shoji screens and a wooden corridor. There were many details with the plush decorations on the clothing and the leg straps, and before the shoot, I used a small comb to smooth out every tuft of fur. That red Japanese paper umbrella was the finishing touch; natural light struck from the side, which, combined with a shallow depth of field, highlighted the skin's texture wonderfully. The makeup for this set also leaned soft, adding a slightly flushed-looking blush, majoring in a sense of innocence.
For the blue-haired set holding a glowing weapon, the prop's weight is truly not to be underestimated. When lifting it, the arm muscles tighten involuntarily, but facial expressions must be controlled not to look strained, and the gaze must remain fixed. The photographer used a large aperture to blur the background bokeh, bringing out that cool, ethereal fairy-like vibe. Another blue-haired white dress set in the flower sea had extremely high demands on exposure control, being entirely large areas of blue and white, which could easily overexpose if not careful. We used a softbox to fill in facial light, ensuring that the White Stockings and the flower sea's layering could both come out.
For the white dress under pink lighting, the background's pink-purple gradient lighting easily swallows makeup, so the base makeup was applied rather thickly, and the highlighter was intensified. Sitting on the plush carpet holding a plush toy—actually those transparent shelves were temporarily built sets, but the final photo effect was very dreamy. For the first Lolita dress, the focus lay on detail restoration: the petticoat's arc, the smoothness of the lace edges, and the doll prop coordination all needed careful attention before shooting, and paired with a vintage warm-toned filter, the frame acquired an oil-painting feel.
Every time I run around comic convention free travel, I not only need to prepare costumes and wigs, but also consider how to utilize venue lighting and how to take good photos in a limited space. This photo set can be regarded as a small recent summary, and I hope to exchange more shooting insights on different styles with everyone.