[Exusiai the New Covenant cosplay] Arknights Garrison Protocol Red and Black Shoot

Today I'm sharing the Garrison Protocol outfit for Exusiai the New Covenant from Arknights. While maintaining the character's original style, this gear incorporates techwear and biker style elements. The overall look is clean and sharp, so I had high expectations for the final photos even before shooting.

First, the signature short red hair on her head is one of the souls of this look. I used a wig with a flame-like hue, trimmed with feathered layers to capture the character's youthful aura. The white halo above her head acts as the visual anchor for this cosplay. I used thin wire to fix it onto the wig; since we needed to shoot some dynamic moves, the angle had to be precisely adjusted to keep it floating securely above my head. However, there was still a risk of it falling off, so my movements couldn't be too big during shooting.

The most eye-catching part of the upper body is the black patent leather biker jacket. Its glossy surface paired with the white shirt underneath creates a striking color contrast among red, black, and white that instantly forms clear visual layers. Restoring details like the silver metallic bow ornament on the chest and the red cables woven around the collar edge took a lot of time, especially getting the red cords to drape naturally along the jacket's silhouette.

The lower body coordinate was the most challenging yet rewarding part of the wearing experience. The pattern on the white pleated skirt corresponds to the original design, wearing with a nice flared volume. The white over-knee socks feature black, thorn-like winding patterns; this highly restored printed fabric is quite demanding on leg shape, but luckily it has good elasticity. The black leather thigh ring on the upper leg is a highlight for many players, functioning not only as a fixture and decoration, but also adding a sharp tactical feel.

The red-and-black platform combat boots on my feet are also heavy-duty gear. Although designed with a chunky heel, the center of gravity is quite high. Standing for too long puts extra weight on the ankles, especially for poses like stepping on the edge of a stool with one leg as in photo 1; finding the right pressure point is essential to prevent slipping off.

To complement the costume's texture this time, I chose a simple beige wall at home as the background. The close-up shot in photo 2 was a low-angle selfie taken with my phone; I originally thought this perspective would make my head look disproportionately large, but the final shot perfectly showcased the halo, red hair, and metal badges on the jacket shoulder, paired with a composed, effortless smile fitting the character. Photo 4 switched to a high-angle shot, which looked more lively while guiding line of sight from the red collar cord down to the boots—a composition well-suited for social media displays.

The shooting process was actually very relaxed. Thanks to the home setting, my pet even crashed the shoot halfway through. In the split frame of photo 3, the left side shows my cat sitting on a stool watching me with an expressionless, supervisor-like look, while the right side shows me posing for the camera. This kind of behind-the-scenes content helps shorten the distance with viewers. The white special effects were added later to enhance a 2D comic feel and make the overall atmosphere more lively.

Overall, this Garrison Protocol version of Exusiai the New Covenant works well for both outdoor locations and indoor studio shoots. The key lies in lighting setup: leather jackets need reflective shine for texture, while white socks and skin have a matte finish. If shooting under similar lighting environments, I suggest finding locations with natural fill light rather than flat lighting; retaining some shadows adds 3D depth to flat outfits. For cosplayers tackling this character, paying extra attention to strap details and boot weathering can give the entire set a richer texture, better matching the world-building of Arknights.