This time, I chose Ganyu from Genshin Impact as the creative subject for this shoot, hoping to add some dreamy and soft visual expressions while staying true to her Liyue adeptus setting.
During the early preparation stages, the hair styling took up a huge chunk of my energy. This wig features a gradient blend of light grey-blue and bright blue. To achieve a natural transition, hair strands of different colors had to be mixed together before trimming and styling. Especially the wavy curls on both sides of the cheeks and the wispy bangs in front, the flow and curvature of the hair strands directly determine the final look on camera. To keep the top of the head voluminous yet clearly defined, it even took nearly an hour to comb out the textures and spray on styling products to minimize frizz after putting it on.
Those horns are the very soul of the entire look. They not only need to have a glossy black shine, but the red lines and curves on the inner side also have to fit the three-dimensional structure of the original design as closely as possible. The horns themselves have a certain volume and weight, so when wearing them, one must balance stability and weight distribution to prevent them from tilting while moving. The white fabric flowers and thin ribbons at the base of the horns serve as decorations and also cleverly conceal the attachment structures, allowing the hair accessories to blend more naturally with the wig.
The choker around the neck is a very delicate detail. A blue-violet base paired with extensive white lace and pearl inlays wraps around the neck. The transparent bulb-shaped pendant hanging at the bottom is the part of the entire accessory that tests angles, light, and shadow the most. To make the pendant refract a clear and translucent texture in front of the lens, the lighting technician and I repeatedly adjusted the position of the main light source during the indoor shoot, using reflectors to capture the highlights on its edges, finally achieving the ideal crystal-like effect.
For the clothing, I chose an off-the-shoulder white top. Its neckline and chest patterns feature silver-grey arabesque embroidery, adding a touch of classical elegance. The glossy, bright black fabric patch right in the center breaks up the monotony of the pure white, creating a stark contrast between light and dark. The transparent tulle sleeves on both sides of the arms bring a sense of lightness, making it look ethereal and dynamic even without large movements, as a slight breeze or walking can make it sway beautifully.
For makeup, to match the character's purple eyes, I tried purple-toned colored contacts, paired with an eye makeup style that has an earth-tone base and purple blending at the outer corners, along with highlight glitter at the inner corners and under the eyes. This makeup effect accentuates a clear and agile gaze under soft lighting, while a soft coral lipstick precipitates the overall cool tones, preserving the gentle side of the face.
In terms of scene selection, we built an indoor set primarily composed of white tulle and light blue flowers. Utilizing softboxes to cast an even overhead light not only ensured uniform facial lighting and soft shadows but also allowed the folds of the tulle curtains to emit a hazy glow. This scene atmosphere echoed beautifully with the light-colored wig and the translucent pendant.
As a Genshin Impact cosplay photography creation, I took several sets of indoor self-portraits from different angles, focusing on capturing the integration of expression and outfit details. Although it took some time to dress up and put everything on, looking at the final look photos presenting a clean and ethereal visual effect made the entire experience incredibly satisfying. I hope the dedication to the hair, makeup, and anime-style outfit details this time can successfully present the character's reserved yet vibrant nature through this roleplay creation.