[Sherry Cosplay] Roco Kingdom: Haidilao x Roco Kingdom collaboration Photoshoot Record

For this Haidilao x Roco Kingdom collaboration photoshoot, I took on Sherry Cosplay while my partner, Gu Mengchen, portrayed Enzo cosplay. Being a devoted fan of the Roco Kingdom franchise, I was genuinely thrilled when I received this assignment. We did substantial preparation with our costumes and props for the shoot. My blue Sherry uniform featured a crisp, tailored silhouette where the white trim along the edges demanded clean lines. I trimmed the bangs on the wig and paired it with elf ear props, instantly feeling in character during the makeup test. Over on Gu Mengchen's side, he sported short silver-purple hair paired with a red vest and cap, refining the nuances meticulously down to perfectly prepared gloves.

The shooting location was set right inside an operating Haidilao restaurant. Being an official collaboration, the venue was packed with delightful elements. The large screen in the background looped the collaboration promotional video, flanked by an array of adorable yellow duck plushies. Seated in the dining area, we made the most of the ambient warm lighting to cultivate a cozy mood. However, restaurant lighting is notoriously complex with heavy overhead downlights, requiring constant angle adjustments during shooting—sometimes tilting the head slightly upward to avoid unflattering facial shadows. To ensure high photo quality, we also experimented with varied foreground-to-background spatial relationships, such as framing oversized duck plushies in the foreground to deepen the visual layers.

Throughout the shoot, Gu Mengchen and I shared plenty of character interactions. Because Sherry and Enzo share a profound bond in the story, we designed our movements to balance seamless synergy with subtle narrative tension. In the first shot, we flashed peace signs to capture a carefree, joyous collaboration check-in vibe. In the second, I slipped on the yellow duck hooded jacket and posed with two orange props beside my face, infusing the frame with playful charm. With Gu Mengchen resting his chin on his hand, our synchronized posing brought out an intriguing, delightful contrast.

There were a few amusing little episodes along the way. Since the restaurant was actively open for business, patrons occasionally walked past the self-serve counter and aisles. We did our best to avoid crowds, seizing brief empty moments to press the shutter. When framing two-person close-ups, we positioned ourselves near the center of the frame to keep the composition tight and balanced. The duck plushies on-site had a wonderfully tactile texture, so we intentionally placed them on both sides, while the sign reading 'Remarkable Talent' served as a whimsical decorative touch.

Cosplay is never as simple as merely donning a costume and putting on makeup; it demands quickly grasping the character's mental state and conveying it through body language. During this shoot, I actively refined my gaze and facial expressions: although Sherry leans toward a lively personality, under certain lighting angles I wove in calmer, grounded expressions to add emotional depth. Gu Mengchen's expressive range is exceptional—collaborating with him made it easy to lock into character, and often just a quick nod about camera positioning was enough to nail a sequence smoothly. Overall, this photoshoot experience at Haidilao was uniquely memorable: blending rich gaming nostalgia from Roco Kingdom with the lively, grounded warmth of a restaurant, making for a refreshingly authentic cosplay venture.