[Vivian cosplay] On-Site Shooting and Character Portrayal Insights in Zenless Zone Zero

Today, I completed the photoshoot for this Vivian cosplay from Zenless Zone Zero at the CHCC Anime Convention venue. The venue's overhead lights were that cold white, and the aisles between booths were relatively dark with many passing visitors around, but the contrast of light and shadow was actually great for rendering the character's slightly aloof and detached atmosphere.

I put a lot of effort into preparing this costume. The upper body is a white wide-sleeve shirt spliced with a black vest design, and the blue-black striped bow at the collar serves as a visual anchor for the lighter portion of the outfit. The silver metal buttons at the cuffs and shoulders have a great texture, keeping the garment from looking monotonous. The black leather skirt on the lower body is the centerpiece; its rigid material retains shape, and the waist and hem feature quite complex geometric stitching, metal buckles, and strap details that display distinct layers when moving. However, because of the multiple layers, wearing it all day in the convention hall is actually quite heavy. Paired with a Black tights outfit, it visually elongated the overall proportions.

Elf ears and purple hair are the core elements of the character. The makeup focus for the day was on the eyes, choosing warm reddish pupils paired with a whitish base makeup to enhance that otherworldly trait. As for props, I held a long-handled umbrella with a black body and purple ruffled edges, secured with a purple ribbon when closed and displaying a black canopy when opened, echoing the overall black, white, and purple attire nicely.

Huge thanks to the photographer "Limbo doesn't know how to act cute". Foot traffic was huge in the venue, making it really difficult to find a clean background on-site. But the photographer was very skilled at avoiding the cluttered crowds, utilizing the long, strip-shaped cool-toned light tubes on the venue ceiling as background light sources, with those blurred, bright light spots just isolating the subject from the dark background. The on-site lighting was also meticulously arranged, especially showcasing the gloss of the leather skirt, the metal pieces on the clothes, and the translucent texture of the Black tights outfit.

As for the lines quoted in the original post, "Burying tears and the past together. If I had never met the sun, would the darkness imprison my flight?" This actually echoes some of my inner understanding and interpretation while trying to recreate this character. In terms of settings, she always seems to exist in some subtle contradiction; her exterior looks calm and cold, but deep down she has her own persistence and expectations. During the shoot, we deliberately controlled a few expressionless poses to make the gaze look deeper. But we didn't completely put on a freezing, unapproachable coldness either; instead, we left small gaps between movements, like lightly touching the cheek or casually holding the umbrella handle, attempting to capture that unique quiet emotion belonging to her.

For cosplay, achieving a superficial likeness is merely the threshold; conveying the inner core behind the character truly tests control over costume and demeanor. The wide white sleeves have a distinct light-receiving surface under the flash, which, combined with the black lower garments, creates a strong visual contrast. Overall condition on the day was decent; despite the stuffiness inside the hall, constantly retouching makeup and fixing the wig, the final output truly achieved the intended atmospheric feel. The completion of this outfit couldn't have been achieved without prior polishing of costume details, and I'm deeply grateful to the photographer for their cooperation on-site.

To share a brief direct feeling of the day: the convention atmosphere was very enthusiastic. Although curious passersby watched during the shoot, once immersed in the character state, it became easier to focus on the performance in front of the lens. Whether standing still holding the umbrella or simulating the grip on the umbrella handle during a walk, repeated trials were needed to find the most natural angle. I hope this work conveys the faint yet steadfast atmosphere we wanted to express.