The centerpiece of this shoot was Sunna's pink tank top. To match the overall aesthetic of Zenless Zone Zero, I picked a tank top featuring a cartoon animal graphic, which felt brimming with youthful vitality when worn. The cut is very form-fitting; to keep the frames clean and crisp, I minimized deep forward bends and focused on body turns and arm raises to showcase the garment's fit and body contours.
For the bottom half, I paired black-and-white athletic shorts with over-the-knee white stockings. When it comes to cosplay, the texture of White stockings is paramount; to ensure smooth leg lines, I selected a slightly thicker fabric and paid extra attention to the garter bands. The garter ring—accented with black suspension straps, a cat motif, and 'B.P.O' lettering—not only solved the hassle of socks slipping down, but also served as a standout styling highlight. For footwear, black double-buckle platform creepers anchored the look with grounded visual weight, tempering the sweetness and dialing up the Sporty style.
Among the shoot props, the volleyball saw the highest mileage. Holding, setting, or placing it beside my feet naturally guided the viewer's gaze. For instance, in the shot seated on the bench with crossed legs while cradling the ball, the volleyball partially masked the arms while shifting visual focus down to the legs and shoes. The metal storage lockers and numbered white fabric in the background were essential for establishing the locker-room ambiance. Light slicing through the window blinds created strong light-and-shadow contrast, giving the scene rich three-dimensional depth.
Styling the wig and accessories was equally crucial. The light-green wavy twintails required meticulous brushing, complemented by black cat-ear hairpieces and three differently shaped cute hairpins to load the look with nuance. A bright red backpack popped sharply against the pink, black, and white palette, offering vibrant contrast. The whole ensemble looked like a sporty girl's everyday routine, yet remained full of 2D theatrical charm and cuteness.
To achieve the best results, the photographer and I explored diverse camera angles inside the equipment room. Kneeling on the bench to set the volleyball required a tight core to stay balanced; sitting on the floor with legs stretched forward called for pointed toes to visually elongate the legs. Capturing these candid physical efforts during the shoot conveyed the genuine joy of cosplay far better than static poses. Behind every single photograph lay countless iterations on costumes, props, settings, and body language. While physically demanding, seeing every detail come together flawlessly in the final shots made every ounce of effort worthwhile.