[Yelan Cosplay] Client Shoot Unlocked! The Sharp and Capable Charm of Yelan in Genshin Impact

This set of client photos for Yelan from Genshin Impact is finally fully retouched! Matching this costume and prop combination indeed took a lot of time to tweak and adjust.

Let's start with the hair and makeup. The dark blue short hair with blunt bangs was thinned out and given subtle layering to avoid looking too heavy. Paired with emerald green contact lenses and purplish-red lip makeup, it immediately lifts the character's cool, aloof, and capable aura. This cool-toned makeup requires high transparency in the base makeup, so I specifically paid attention to keeping a matte texture during the shoot to prevent glare from ruining facial contours.

There are so many details in the costume! The main body is a patchwork of black, gold, and blue. The white fluffy collar on the neck paired with that teal teardrop pendant is one of the visual highlights. The garment material is quite unique—a leather-textured black base combined with gold pattern stitching across the chest, plus black mesh fabric patchwork around the waist and abdomen, giving it rich layering. The tall boots are designed as one piece with the pants, complete with golden geometric patterns that create distinct line dynamics when walking or bending down. The asymmetrical hand design is also carefully thought out: a leather glove on the right hand and a white strap wristband on the left. For retouching action shots, post-processing needed to handle the three-dimensional depth of these straps carefully.

For this shoot, we tried three different scenes. The first was shot against a pure white studio background—high-key lighting perfectly showcased the garment's tailoring, the subtle sheen of the leather, and the texture of the mesh fabric, looking clean and sharp. The second scene switched to a vintage theater-style set, complete with red velvet curtains, gorgeous golden carved candlesticks, a red velvet armchair, and black-and-white checkered flooring, creating incredible dramatic tension. The sitting pose with legs crossed on the chair (which is the first cover photo you see) actually took several attempts to capture the boot lines, thigh fishnet patterns, and confident, composed expression all within the same frame. The third scene is my personal favorite Chinese-style set: white calligraphy scrolls behind, warm yellow antique lanterns, and scattered plum blossom branches in the foreground. This simple, quiet light and shadow colliding with a modern-leaning tight battle suit creates a wonderful visual contrast.

On the day of the shoot, I pushed through fatigue to get into the rhythm. The bow was a custom prop, possessing a solid weight compared to lightweight display items. To capture that dynamic posture of drawing the bow in the photos, the photographer and I ran across the hall dozens of times to capture the moment with the most tension. Fortunately, the outfit's fit and shaping were spot-on, so it didn't shift out of place during large stepping movements.

In post-processing, I mainly focused on unifying the color palette, aiming for a calm, cool tone that wasn't overly dark. Skin tones needed to remain natural, with smooth transitions along the edges of the red, blue, black, and gold clothing. Finding that balance between game concept art and real-life photography took a lot of time to fine-tune. I feel that great cosplay photos aren't just about wearing the right clothes; they need to convey the character's shrewdness, sharpness, and effortless composure through gaze and subtle body language.

The process of shooting this work was actually a test of my own state. Although I joke about slacking off, when facing a beloved character and meticulously made costume and props, spending extra energy to perfect every detail makes seeing the final photos entirely worth it.