For these convention photos celebrating the 2nd anniversary of Zenless Zone Zero, I set the shoot theme directly around an indoor studio summer beach. To match the splashing water vibe, the studio was specially decorated with an artificial sand beach, palm trees, and lounge chairs, with radiant overhead strobes simulating a midsummer afternoon glow. My outfit combined an off-the-shoulder white puff-sleeve top with orange shorts, topped by a bright blue twin-tail wig and orange hair accessories. The lightweight fabric was intentionally misted with water prior to shooting, giving it a slightly translucent sheen that paired with water droplets across the skin to faithfully channel the water-play concept.
The pink water gun in my hands served as an essential prop throughout the shoot; well-textured, it grew surprisingly heavy when held for prolonged periods. To capture overhead torrents cascading down, the crew used rigging above to simulate rainfall. As water droplets rained down, I held my stance steady, keeping my eyes open toward the lens while holding the water gun firmly in place. Splashing around in a studio proved far more tiring than imagined: droplets clung to eyelashes and strands, easily dripping into my eyes, requiring rapid makeup touch-ups, drying hair, and re-spraying water between takes over repeated cycles. Furthermore, the water gun's surface turned slick when wet, forcing me to grip the trigger firmly until my wrists felt slightly sore after each action set.
Sitting atop an inflatable swim ring demanded careful leg positioning and balance control. To portray an effortless, relaxed demeanor, I tested cross-legged and side-sitting poses, ultimately finding that sitting cross-legged while leaning slightly back worked best—structuring the composition while naturally elongating leg lines. The photographer spread artificial sand in the foreground where falling water mingled with sand and splashes, harmonizing with the blue swim ring and palm trees in the background for vibrant color contrast. The gaffer continually finessed light angles at the side to ensure flowing water caught brilliant, sparkling bokeh.
Early in the shoot, water splashes kept missing the intended focal plane due to uncoordinated timing. We slowed down the pace, first locking the water gun's angle, then letting water descend from above, hitting the shutter just as a fine mist rose to bring out rich spatial depth. Every element of this convention photo set tied firmly into the water theme. Although it required constant re-wetting, wiping down, and enduring the humid, muggy studio environment, seeing mid-air suspended droplets and jet streams in the final frames made every bit of effort worthwhile. The images feature crisp, crystal-clear lighting and lush saturation, delivering a delightfully refreshing summer vibe that serves as a fulfilling event record. Close communication with the photographer was equally critical—knowing exactly when to look up and when to cast a gaze downward at splashing water made all the difference in the final results. Ultimately, regulating my breathing and locking steady poses allowed us to freeze several deeply satisfying moments.