December 31st holds a special meaning for the character Zhongli, and posting a set of archived photos as a cosplayer on this day brings a sense of commemoration and ceremony.
This set of photos was actually shot a while ago at a convention venue, as well as combining studio elements. The outfit, featuring a black base with large golden stamped patterns, visually complements the character's calm and dignified temperament perfectly. The upper body consists of a high-neck base layer combined with shoulder armor featuring a metallic geometric faceted texture. Honestly, the shoulder armor is quite heavy, but wearing it expands the shoulder silhouette and makes my posture look very upright, which helped immensely in shaping the character's aura. The sleeves and gloves on the arms fit closely, making them less prone to wrinkles when making weapon-holding poses, resulting in a crisp, clean texture.
Speaking of the lower body combination, I wore white trousers inside, covered by a slitted Black and gold robe. This fabric interweaving black base with gold and subtle patterns displays a subtle flowing luster under bright light, while appearing deep and mysterious in shadows. The draping quality of the robe as it reaches the ground—especially during full-body shots—paired with the long coat and cape behind, occupies a large visual presence, giving off a commanding presence even when standing still.
As for props, I carried the character's signature Polearm this time. The grip on this prop was better than expected, but its length is indeed substantial. In crowded convention spaces, holding it horizontally or slinging it on my back required extreme caution to avoid hitting passersby. Especially when executing turns or wide swinging motions, controlling the center of gravity was crucial; otherwise, movements could easily appear stiff or wobbly. While shooting these Convention photos, I experimented with various grips, including slinging it behind my back, angled single-hand holding, and two-handed forward holding.
Regarding the photography, the photographer intentionally used low-key lighting combined with rim light. Since the costume is dominated by a black and gold color scheme, flat lighting would easily wash out the black tones and metallic luster, making it look very flat. Therefore, most camera angles incorporated side-back light sources to outline hair strands and highlight the metal on the shoulder armor. In particular, the photo sitting and drinking from a can was one of the most relaxed shots in the set; it was captured in the convention rest area during a break, with the Black and gold robe slightly parted to reveal white pants inside, legs crossed, holding a drink—preserving the character's refinement while exuding a touch of casual, everyday chill.
For the wig, it features the character's iconic short black hair with orange-red highlights; the ahoge strand on top is the true soul of the look, requiring careful styling with hair wax and setting spray every time to ensure it doesn't collapse throughout a long shoot day. As for makeup, the eye contours were emphasized; orange-red eyeshadow and smudged lower eyeliner echoed the hair color, making the gaze look sharp and spirited without feeling overly fierce, instead conveying calm composure and focus.
As a classic Genshin Impact character, Zhongli's lore and setting in the game are already exceptionally rich. When portraying him as a cosplayer, exaggerated movements are rarely needed; rather, a subtle head tilt, lowered gaze, or calm eye contact with the camera better fits his core essence. I am personally quite satisfied with the emotional expression in every photo of this set. Moving from a combat stance on guard with a Polearm to a casual, relaxed resting pose is a broad span, yet empowered by the costume's inherent aura, it doesn't create any sense of disconnect.
Being able to share these photos on his birthday fulfills a small personal wish of mine. From costume details to the shooting experience that day, I hope these images convey the texture and dedication poured into this Zhongli cosplay.