This anime convention coincided with the first outdoor location shoot for my new outfit, choosing Zhen Hai's attire which blends classic and modern design. The black color palette combined with velvet and draped fabrics, along with a high-slit design, makes the overall look sleeker. The wig paired with red pupils gives the gaze a more focused feel, and a lot of care went into setting makeup that day to keep it clean and long-lasting.
The studio lighting at the convention venue was complex, with overhead array lighting mixed with diffuse natural light, demanding high precision in shadow control. To highlight the costume's silhouette, I tried a high camera angle shot standing on a metal step ladder. Balancing in high heels on a ladder isn't easy; I had to lean slightly against the step with my hips and plant my feet firmly to stay stable. Because the soft material of the off-the-shoulder mini dress was supple, I had to intentionally keep my core engaged while posing so the dress wouldn't form excess chest folds that ruin the premium feel.
The sitting photo holding the high heel took quite some composition time. I wanted to reveal the bright red sole of the shoe, which happens to brighten the dark-toned composition. Crossing the legs not only visually extends leg lines, but also gives the black stockings a subtle translucency under high lights. The photographer worked with floor reflections to render the glossy patent leather texture of the shoes crisp and clear. When taking sitting poses like this, lower the shoulders to avoid looking stiff; arm height and facial expression need to be just right to convey a relaxed yet slightly playful charm.
The white fluffy carpet was borrowed on-site as a prop because we wanted a softer, close-up perspective. During the carpet shoot, the hall was bustling and noisy with many passersby. But in the photographer's frame, the background was heavily blurred; the large aperture filtered out cluttered ambient lighting, leaving only a pure contrast of light and dark around me. Though sitting on knees looks relaxed, it actually demands flexibility in calves and insteps—the high heels restricted ankle angles, making my legs go numb after kneeling for a while. Still, to capture that focused gaze, I persevered for a bit.
Putting together this set, I kept thinking about how to make this look feel like more than just "a set of clothes," but truly integrated into the character's serene and profound temperament. Thus, I avoided overly exaggerated poses, relying more on self-control and facial expression management. The black gloves and collar rhinestones appeared very layered under overhead light reflection.
During outdoor communication, the photographer and I specifically discussed image balance because the open hall could easily throw off proportion if shot from too low an angle. Fortunately, in the final photos, whether standing or sitting, the upper and lower body proportions were well balanced without making me look short. Dark-colored clothing easily "swallows light" at conventions, losing eye reflections under strong overhead light. To avoid this, we paid special attention to adding front-side fill lights during lighting, highlighting the skin texture.
Attending the convention in this outfit and completing this shoot went smoothly with great teamwork, giving me better mastery over elegant-style looks. The drapery of the dress paired with black stockings retains an appropriate sense of distance while showcasing lines, perfectly matching my expectations for this character image. As for the red-bottom heels and leg line details, they serve as eye-catching little surprises in these Anime convention photos.