[Ganyu Cosplay] Genshin Impact Bride, A Record of a Dreamy Wedding Photoshoot

My initial intention for shooting this Ganyu Bridal look was simple—I wanted to design a wedding dress look for her that aligns more with an anime aesthetic under a wedding theme. The entire shoot was positioned at the balance point of retro and dreamy, so we chose a red velvet backdrop, antique candlesticks, oil paintings, and wooden window frames, paired with warm yellow candlelight and side backlighting to give the frame an inherent soft-focus filter effect.

For the outfit, we selected a white tube top gown with semi-sheer tulle and lace trim. The detached long arm gloves and the tiny gold pendant on the choker added a sense of elegance. The blue wig underwent layered trimming; the ahoge on top of the head and the bangs on both sides preserved the character's original temperament. I specially wore light purplish-pink colored contacts to make the gaze softer. The red and black horns on the head are the soul of the look, but to match the wedding dress, I made minor adjustments to the positions of the silver hairpins and the veil to avoid looking too clunky.

On the day of the shoot, the lighting in photographer Aye's studio was very fastidious. The main light source came from the front-side, which could both outline the three-dimensional folds of the wedding dress and allow the tiny sequins on the veil to reflect starry glimmers of light. Among several different actions, I am personally most satisfied with the moments of holding the bouquet sideways and lifting the veil. Those few shots with hand interaction were actually meant to increase the sense of immersion—as if someone were waiting for her to approach at a wedding venue. The bouquet consisted of white roses and green leaves, which harmonized beautifully with the elegant simplicity of the wedding dress. The flame of the candlestick was real, and the swaying light and shadow brought the entire scene to life.

In terms of makeup, we focused heavily on controlling the matte finish of the foundation to avoid excessive reflections. The eyeshadow only used a tiny transition of coral and pale pink without stacking large areas of glitter, making it look cleaner and more natural under the warm light. Since the shooting duration was quite long and wigs easily get frizzy, I used setting spray and hair wax on the roots in advance, especially for the flipped hair on top of the head, maintaining its shape for several hours.

The post-processing was handled by NekoNekoi. Instead of excessively cranking up the contrast or sharpening, she preserved the skin's original delicate texture while faintly darkening the red curtain background and the dark wooden frames, keeping the white wedding dress and blue hair as the visual centers. The tone of the entire photo set skews warm with a slight vintage film feel, which I find very suitable for this 'Bridal' theme.

In fact, preparing this official photoset was more tedious than imagined. From selecting the dress to adjusting the positions of accessories and testing the light, it took nearly two weeks of preparation. But seeing Ganyu's expression—both gentle and slightly bashful—in the final photos, I feel everything was entirely worth it. This is also a cosplay work I am personally highly satisfied with. It both retains the character's recognizability and integrates an independent wedding dress aesthetic. I hope friends who like this kind of Anime style wedding dress style can feel the dedication within it.