[The Shorekeeper cosplay] Wuthering Waves: First Experience with a Vintage Wedding Photoshoot on Film

For this shoot of The Shorekeeper from Wuthering Waves, we opted directly for Film photography. Initially, I was worried that an anime character aesthetic and the raw grain of analog film might feel discordant, but once the final prints arrived, they proved unexpectedly harmonious.

To faithfully capture The Shorekeeper's design, the costume was crafted from alternating blue-and-white reflective fabrics and sheer translucent tulle, with the skirt hem featuring a cascading water-ripple train. The headpiece combined a white translucent bridal veil with a blue-haired butterfly inspired hairpiece, complemented by a silver choker studded with a yellow gemstone around my neck. For makeup, I wore purplish-red contact lenses, paired with accentuated under-eye blush and rosy lips; this style of makeup, which can easily look harsh or overdone under digital lenses, softened into a delicate, nostalgic retro warmth thanks to the broad color latitude of film.

During the shoot, photographer Sun Shanhe demonstrated consummate mastery over light and shadow. The set was decorated with multiple blue butterfly props—some perched along the skirt hem, others resting delicately on my fingertips. In Photo 2, that close-up of my hands folded across my chest with a blue butterfly resting gently upon them captured our so-called "first hand-holding with my digital waifu." To perfect this interactive moment, we adjusted my arm posture and the butterfly's placement repeatedly, utilizing perspective and depth of field to forge a genuinely cross-dimensional connection. Analog film cameras don't offer instant previews, meaning every single shutter actuation had to be calculated with utmost care—this thrilling sense of the unknown filled the entire process with eager anticipation.

Lighting posed a major hurdle because the costume incorporated abundant holographic and high-gloss elements, making glare control extremely difficult. We experimented with varied angles, ultimately utilizing soft diffuse lighting to preserve the metallic sheen of the silvery fabric without blowing out the highlights. The drape of the veil and the trailing train was also meticulously arranged to ensure effortless, natural flow in still captures. Even though the first photo had a square censor box applied to comply with platform guidelines, the overall composition retained robust visual tension.

On the day of the shoot, managing this intricate ensemble—from dusting shimmering powder onto the wig to smoothing out the folds of the train—took considerable time. Because the rhythm of Film photography is comparatively unhurried, it actually gave me more space to fully immerse myself into the character's headspace. When the developed photos emerged, whether it was the silvery veil or the blue butterflies, everything possessed that signature film grain and rich tonal gradation, culminating in the distinct texture of a vintage wedding photoshoot. Without relying on convoluted scene staging, the shoot focused instead on the delicate refinement of lighting and props. Documenting a sci-fi, mystique-laden character like The Shorekeeper from Wuthering Waves through the traditional medium of Film photography was an immensely meaningful endeavor.