[Ellen Joe cosplay] Cool-toned convention photos of Zenless Zone Zero's Shark girl

This shoot for Ellen Joe from Zenless Zone Zero involved dedicated thought toward the lighting design and atmosphere. To harmonize with the character's detached, aloof persona, the shoot predominantly utilized blue-leaning, cool-toned lighting, set against a minimalist backdrop of white walls and gray concrete flooring. This allowed all visual weight to concentrate directly onto the character styling and weapon props.

Wig styling was the focal point of pre-production. To honor the look of black hair interspersed with crimson highlights, I trimmed the short cut in tiers beforehand, adding hair extensions along the ends and cheek-framing locks. The white geometric hairpin at the crown served as the crowning flourish of the styling; it required precision angle alignment to project refined fidelity. For makeup, crimson contacts paired with the beauty mark beside the eye, alongside sharp, slightly aggressive eye makeup, successfully channeled that signature unapproachable presence. The black choker and silver pendant around the neck were likewise indispensable nuances that cleanly broke up the crisp simplicity of the white shirt.

For the wardrobe, I chose the classic white shirt paired with a navy pleated skirt. To yield a crisp silhouette on camera, the shirt underwent repeated ironing, with sleeves rolled up to the forearms and the collar left slightly open. The double white stripes along the skirt and the black leather belt were coordinated strictly according to official character art. The sheer Black stockings and glossy patent leather dress shoes were standout elements; to nail visual proportions, I tested several pairs of varying deniers before settling on this pair that preserved tactile texture even beneath strong illumination.

Regarding the massive mechanical shark blade prop, its physical heft was considerable. The intricate silver-and-black chassis paint, crimson gear mechanisms, and grip detailing reflected sharp metallic sheens under cold lights. To hold this weapon steadily over prolonged periods, I practiced various grip stances and slashing motions at home beforehand, ensuring tangible physical power translated through the lens.

During the session, pose direction incorporated defensive and combat-ready stances to suit the character's demeanor: spreading my stance and dropping my center of gravity while brandishing the blade, or resting one hand on my hip while firmly gripping the weapon with the other. Facial expressions were kept disciplined and restrained, gazing directly into the lens with minimal smiling to sustain that cool detachment.

A lighthearted behind-the-scenes moment occurred during a break when someone jokingly asked if they could touch my tail, to which I delivered a resolute rejection. Since lore dictates the tail is strictly off-limits, upholding that detached cool inside and outside the frame was essential. This remark actually sparked fits of laughter on set, forcing me to repeatedly hold back giggles and reset my mindset back into cold, aloof mode.

Wrapping this entire photo set demanded extensive time, whether refining weapon angles or tracking optimal compositions across shifting lights and shadows. Yet seeing the seamless synthesis of cool-toned chiaroscuro and detailed character nuances, alongside the dynamic visual tension delivered by the prop, made every ounce of preparation thoroughly rewarding. I look forward to exploring more diverse lighting aesthetics to capture frozen moments in future works.