For this Zenless Zone Zero Belle summer swimsuit shoot, the overall tone leans toward fresh and energetic. To capture her playful, vibrant personality, a lot of thought went into the outfit and props.
The top is a white short-sleeved sheer cover-up tied at the hem to subtly reveal the waistline, crafted from an airy, translucent fabric that creates a soft sheer look on camera. The bottoms are bright orange shorts paired with a black drawstring belt—an eye-catching pop of color that screams summer. The red-and-black colorblock bucket hat serves as the signature finishing touch, lending a cool streetwear accent. To tie into the citrus palette, I matched orange floral earrings and a coordinating necklace, keeping the details as true to the character as possible.
We picked an indoor beach studio equipped with a mosaic-tiled pool, white lounge chairs, surfboards, lifebuoys, a classic yellow rubber duck, and a clear swim ring. The studio lighting simulated bright summer sunshine beautifully, casting a relaxing holiday atmosphere all around.
The clear swim ring and yellow rubber duck were fantastic props. Posing with them by the pool edge or lounging back made relaxing into natural gestures effortless. Several shots capture kicking water at the poolside; snapping that mid-air splash produced dynamic, lively images full of vitality. Other poses—like leaning forward on the sunbed offering the duck to the lens or sitting cross-legged by the pool edge—created great visual lines that elongated the legs nicely.
For facial expressions, considering the summer swimsuit concept and Belle's lively demeanor, I kept the energy bubbly and cheerful with playful winks, pouts, and sticking out my tongue. In close-ups, even small shifts in gaze or a slight upturn of the lips transformed the mood completely. Throughout the session, I collaborated closely with the photographer to test different lighting angles, such as backlighting the water splashes or using sidelight to catch the rim of my hair.
We shot a huge variety of looks—from full-body and medium shots to tight close-ups, blending still poses with dynamic action—capturing all the cool, breezy vibes intended for summer. I hope everyone feels a burst of that citrusy joy through these photos.