[Nico cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero Cunning Hares Nico official photoshoot Part 3

The third installment of the Zenless Zone Zero Nico cosplay official photoshoot. This time, to present the unique temperament of the Cunning Hares members, a lot of thought was put into the costume and props. The wig chose Pink twin tails, combed to be quite fluffy, with black bows on both sides of the top of the head, and yellow-and-black hairpins used as accents at the bangs, nicely restoring the character's iconic head styling. In terms of makeup, vibrant green contact lenses were worn, and two moles were dotted on the cheeks. Accompanied by Qingxu's delicate foundation, even under the complex lighting environment of the arcade, the skin texture was well maintained.

In terms of costume details, this black leather crop top is matched with a white striped inner wear. The material has a certain gloss, requiring special attention to reflection issues when lighting up. The red and yellow badges and yellow rivet accents on the arms increased the character's street vibe. The lower body's black shorts paired with a riveted belt and black leg straps create a very rich overall layering. In terms of props, that golden coin played a big role; whether pinched with fingertips or posed ready to be tossed, it quickly brings one into the character's shrewd yet playful state.

The shooting location was chosen as a combination of a retro arcade and a comic bookstore. The red brick wall, retro cassette recorder, and bookshelves filled with comics in the background added a rich sense of storytelling to the photos. Photographer Leng Shao is very skilled in guiding poses and capturing candid shots. For example, in the one sitting on the brown leather sofa, with crossed legs and one hand supporting the cheek, the gaze conveyed through the lens a sense of laziness and cunning. In the one lying prone on the back of the sofa, the body needs to lean forward while also taking care of the floating state of the long hair, which heavily tests limb control, but the finished photo effect is very vivid, and the skirt hem and leg lines also showcase the character's sense of vitality.

Actually, every time I cosplay a character with leather elements like this, the breaks during shooting can be quite tough because it's prone to stuffiness, but seeing the finished photos makes it all worthwhile. Portraying the character Nico focuses on grasping her trait of being full of energy for money while carrying a bit of cleverness. Through the golden coin prop in hand and different gaze angles, I tried to get close to her identity as a Cunning Hares member. For example, when shooting the one holding the gold coin close to her cheek, to avoid blocking the facial lighting, I tried several angles, finally deciding on turning the face slightly to let the light hit the eyes, highlighting the layers of the green contact lenses. Also, for the one sitting on the sofa, to showcase the texture of the leather, the costume was tidied up several times to make the wrinkles present a natural drape. The placement of props in the background is also very deliberate; the position of that retro cassette recorder just happens to become an embellishment of the frame after blurring, without overshadowing the main subject.

When expressing movements, I deliberately imitated the character's energetic gait and gestures in the game. Since it was shot indoors, the lighting was relatively fixed, and the photographer used multiple fill lights to shape dimensionality. This outfit itself has a relatively high exposure of skin, so how to maintain natural body language while showcasing the costume design is a challenge. Especially for the one lying prone on the sofa, core strength had to be stable while making the expression look relaxed and casual. During the breaks between changing locations, makeup had to be reapplied because the Pink wig easily cast shadows under the lights and needed constant adjustment.

The most interesting part of participating in a cosplay photoshoot is materializing a flat or virtual image into three dimensions. From costume tailoring and material selection to makeup blending and wig styling, every link requires team cooperation. Being able to cooperate with Leng Shao, Qingxu, and Miyou Miaomiaowu this time made the entire shooting process very smooth. Nico's styling has both a street style and a retro feel, which matches very well with the Arcade photoshoot scene I chose this time. Through different poses and expression management, I tried to showcase her versatile side—both the seriousness when facing business and the casualness during daily relaxation. Huge thanks to photographer Leng Shao, makeup artist Qingxu, and Miyou Miaomiaowu for providing the venue support. This set of photos records many moments of this shoot and also gave me a deeper understanding of the character.