At this year's ChinaJoy, I finally had the opportunity to enter through the staff media lane, bypassing the crowded queues. Entering as official partner media felt distinctly special and granted me ample time to prepare for shoots. The styling spanned a wide contrast this round, primarily focusing on Ellen Joe cosplay from Zenless Zone Zero, alongside Robin from Honkai: Star Rail. Though I have attended CJ for a full decade, participating under different roles always brings a remarkably fresh atmosphere.
Starting with Ellen Joe, the look featured a red-and-black contrast jacket over a midriff-baring crop top, paired with denim shorts, thigh garters, and her iconic sunglasses and prop weapon. While I initially worried the coordinate might feel stifling on the convention floor, the venue's illumination produced an astonishingly high hit rate of great frames. Posing with the massive prop firearm was physically demanding and a real test of core endurance; each frozen stance required holding my breath to project that effortlessly cool, badass edge. To complement the frame, I styled white crew socks and sneakers, delivering an intense visual punch before the booth's vibrant yellow backdrop.
On the other hand, the Robin coordinate offered an entirely contrasting charm—pastel tresses and an ethereal, dreamlike dress demanded softer, delicate body language, creating a stark visual departure from the earlier gun-toting intensity. Collaborating with on-site photographers was seamless, quickly locking down camera angles and sightlines. The biggest challenge when shooting in exhibition halls is hunting for good light; harsh overhead downlights at some booths cast severe facial shadows, so we spent significant effort finding locations with soft side and rim lighting, leading to final captures I'm thoroughly pleased with.
The gothic black-and-red dress paired with black Stockings and heels carried darker allure, dramatically transforming my presence the moment I slipped into it. Because the skirt features abundant ruffled tiers, walking required extra caution, but stepping onto heels allowed full-body lines to stretch out gracefully before the camera, maximizing atmospheric tension alongside the booth's red-and-black backdrop.
Reflecting across ten years of attending conventions—evolving from an attendee in the crowd to navigating major booths with a media badge—my mindset has matured significantly, gaining deeper appreciation for sartorial precision and nuanced emotional delivery before the lens. The photographers on site demonstrated exceptional skill; exchanging perspectives on composition and color palettes made this creative collaboration immensely fulfilling. I look forward to working with everyone again next year and producing even more striking anime-style photography at ChinaJoy.