When shooting this Saigyouji Yuyuko cosplay set from Touhou Project, the primary visual goal was to capture a tranquil, subtly distant atmosphere.
Preparing this costume was quite intricate: the blue-and-white dress (Lolita fashion) features multiple tiers, requiring considerable time to arrange the petticoat, multi-layered lace ruffles, and secure the headdress. The silky texture of the fabric was beautifully accentuated under the cool lighting, while the Pink wig formed a clear contrast with these cool tones, matching the character's canon color palette. The prop used was a folding fan with dark ribs and deep red patterns across the leaf, serving as a striking visual anchor against the dark background.
The shooting environment was a staged cherry blossom tree set. Although the space was somewhat cramped, the photographer controlled the depth of field to blur the foreground blossoms. Combined with a cool-toned light source from the upper left casting strong light-and-shadow contrast across my face and shoulders, the cluttered background was seamlessly transformed into a deep black backdrop, eliminating distracting environmental elements. During the shoot, we explored several poses before ultimately choosing a slight upward head tilt looking into the distance, giving the gaze an ethereal quality that paired naturally with resting the folding fan against my shoulder, true to the character's persona.
During post-processing, we deliberately preserved the shadows cast by the cool light to faithfully recreate the on-set ambiance. The transition between overexposed highlights and underexposed shadows along the white lace and light blue skirt hem blended naturally without artificial over-brightening, keeping the fabric's delicate weave crisp and clear. The weather was rather cold on the day of the shoot, and we shot outdoors for quite a while to capture the best state. Although the process was demanding, I'm very pleased with the fidelity of this cosplay hair and makeup styling on camera, and I hope this interpretation of the character's essence resonates with everyone.