[Saber Alter Cosplay] ChinaJoy Convention Photo Part 1: Fate/Grand Order Black Dress Photoshoot Sharing

The first batch of ChinaJoy convention photos is finally organized! This set was shot on-site during free moments at the expo. Because the ChinaJoy exhibition hall is massive and densely crowded, finding a relatively clean area without cluttered backgrounds wasn't easy. In the end, we selected a passage area inside the hall featuring high steel frame structures and light-transmitting skylights for our shoot. The lighting there combined the venue's own cool overhead light with natural scattered sunlight from the skylights, perfectly matching the overall color tone and atmosphere of this black dress.

Regarding the outfit, this black dress uses a dark blue velvet fabric with a fine, soft plush texture. Although it looks pure black at first glance, under strobe flashes or soft light sources, the edges of the fabric give off a deep blue-violet sheen. This low-light texture is far superior to standard cotton cloth. The neckline is a halter structure with a cut-out design on the chest, detailed with vine-like embroidery woven in white and silver along the borders. However, I have to complain about one detail: the huge dark blue bow on the back. To keep its shape, the bow was forcibly secured with safety pins and snap buttons. Any slightly larger movement during shooting caused it to shift out of place, so I constantly had to ask the photographer or friends to help adjust it, which was quite a hassle.

The over-the-elbow long gloves on both arms used fabric matching the dress's color scheme, with very tight cuffs. Honestly, in the July/August summer heat, wearing non-breathable long gloves alongside a heavy wig made the perceived temperature extremely high; after finishing a set, I had to hurry to a ventilated area to cool off. For props, I brought a giant sword with a black base and red patterns. The blade is very long and solid, making it much heavier than expected. Holding the sword one-handed made my wrist very sore, so for most sword-holding poses, I used both hands to help ease the burden while still maintaining a sharp aesthetic.

Regarding the shooting perspective, photographer "Dami Fenzi" mainly utilized an ultra-wide-angle lens combined with low-angle shots. Especially in the first three photos, this low angle, combined with the intricate industrial black steel frames in the background, gave the character a commanding presence while creating nice depth between the subject and the background. The stretching effect of the wide-angle lens also gave the long skirt's hem and the greatsword much more visual tension. For makeup, to balance the sense of distance brought by the cool-toned outfit, I specifically chose soft pink eyeshadow and contact lenses with red and yellow tones to make my gaze look more focused without appearing weak against the imposing background.

The fourth photo sitting on the suitcase was a relatively relaxed moment of the day. Having walked on concrete in high heels all day, my feet really couldn't take it anymore, and since there happened to be a transparent hard-shell suitcase nearby, I sat right down. Sitting down in black pantyhose and pointed high-heeled sandals helped elongate my leg lines nicely. The texture of the transparent suitcase, the white short-plush mat on the floor, and the off-white background tones came together to form a multi-layered contrast of cool color blocks, creating a more relaxed and casual vibe than the serious standing poses.

Overall, although wearing this outfit was tough—having to endure heat and inconvenience—the final photo quality turned out great. The drape of the dark long skirt paired with the metallic prop easily creates an impactful result in a cool-toned environment. In post-processing, we didn't do excessive skin smoothing or over-color grading, aiming instead to preserve the authentic light and shadow of the venue and the raw state of the character. This set of convention photos basically recreates the character's cold, quiet demeanor. That concludes the sharing of my black dress photoshoot from ChinaJoy. Thanks to my photographer partner and the friends who helped on site!