[Ellen Joe Cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero: This Shark Maid Battle Outfit Set is Insane

Putting on this Ellen Joe cosplay outfit for the studio session, the primary color palette of black, white, and red delivered a striking visual impact. I personally love the techwear elements applied to this look—from the headband to the crisscross back straps, the combination of metal hardware and leather instantly turns a traditionally cute maid outfit into something packed with combat atmosphere. The subtle red highlights in the short black hair are brilliant; under studio lights, they add a dynamic pop, which, paired with a cool expression, makes it effortless to step right into character. The expansive black leather fabric carries a naturally tough texture, forming a magnificent contrast with the softness of white ruffles.

This time, we decided to spotlight the combination of the tail and the weapon. The massive shark tail prop was custom-made with a black leather finish featuring hand-drawn white graffiti, and a thoughtful red fishbone tag on the side. Beyond being an iconic character marker, it serves as a great visual anchor—outlining the overall silhouette beautifully during back or side shots. In the front crouching pose, my right hand grips the heavy dual-handle weapon, whose long shaft provides excellent compositional depth. The weapon carries significant weight, so to maintain shot stability, I paid special attention to my grip strength and center of gravity during posing.

The third crouching pose was one of my personal favorite compositions. Though heavy, by dropping into a single-leg crouch and propping the dual-handle weapon slightly back, the stance turned out extremely stable. The black tights and crisscross straps at the knees visually extended the leg lines, which, combined with red accents on the shoe soles, presented a sleek yet powerful aesthetic. The outfit's tailoring fits the body snugly—especially the chest ruffles and layered skirt hem, creating dimensional depth in front of the lens. The mechanical arm guards added several notches of combat readiness.

During the photoshoot, seamless coordination with the photographer was key. Since we used a solid background, the lighting angles had to be soft and even to clearly record the fabric textures, leather and metal gleam, as well as the glossy lacquer reflections on the shark tail. This required lighting that not only illuminated the model but also used side light to carve out silhouette contours. Following the photographer's guidance, I constantly fine-tuned my shoulder and head angles to keep the mechanical straps neatly aligned for a sense of order, preventing chaotic light and shadow overlap.

Looking at details, the wrist mechanical guards and skirt pleats were handled meticulously. Wearing heavy-duty props like these reminded me that I wasn't portraying a mundane waitress, but a warrior equipped with genuine battle power. When projecting aggressiveness or battle stances, the weapon and tail felt like true extensions of my body, letting me fully immerse in her lore. The back straps provided breathable space while accentuating the waistline.

I contributed a few suggestions during post-processing, and the final color tone and crop were kept free of over-retouching to preserve authentic costume textures and character presence. Re-evaluating these photos made me realize that while a solid studio background is minimalist, it tests every costume detail—details that shone brightly in this shoot. For future shoots in this look, I might explore water effects or industrial outdoor settings to see how ambient light hits the black tights and leather. Special thanks to Wu Xie for the brilliant captures, leaving us with a highly polished record of this studio session.