This shoot was centered around Yidhari's Brain in a vat concept from Zenless Zone Zero. The overall visual aimed to convey a tactile blend of sci-fi, psychedelic vibes, and mechanical aesthetics. To capture the character's temperament, substantial care was poured into the costume and props during preparation. The cut of this white off-the-shoulder top is quite unique, highlighted by the chest cutout and the bows and eye motifs on the sleeves; I deliberately adjusted the shoulder straps and choker to ensure a sculpted silhouette on camera. The black high-waisted shorts feature orange trims and star accents, which, paired with the leather waist pouch, project a crisp yet rebellious edge.
Prop-wise, the Mechanical staff equipped with purple luminous components served as the centerpiece of the composition. In particular, the black sphere at its base featuring circular purple arrays and a red glowing core required continuous adjustments to my wrist angle and grip to convey an authentic sense of weight. The colossal purple tentacles in the background were the key highlight of the on-site staging. These tentacles, combined with strategic lighting, established the singular aura of a Brain in a vat, as if immersed inside a laboratory culture vessel.
For hair and makeup, pale blonde short hair paired with signature spiral bangs and reddish-brown eye makeup endowed my expression with an effortless, aloof composure. In Photo 1, the gesture of resting a finger against my lower lip was meant to seize that contemplative or secret-harboring instant. In Photo 2, the single-leg standing pose stepping onto the base of the Mechanical staff heavily tested balance; stabilizing in platform heels atop a mechanical pedestal took multiple attempts. However, this posture gorgeously accentuated the texture of the Black stockings and the leg lines, with the garter straps adding rich visual dimension under studio illumination.
The shooting process relied heavily on body language to command presence. The photographer invested deep thought into lighting, casting side-backlights across the white garment and tentacles to produce intense image contrast. To stay immersed in character, I maintained that focused gaze even between takes, channeling the surreal sensation of being experimented upon or observed within a sci-fi universe. The gathered standing pose in Photo 3 was intended to project the character's quiet intimidation. Pairing Black stockings with platform heels not only elongated my silhouette but also brought balanced cohesion to the overall look. Step by step, this shoot translated flat 2D designs into a 3D visual journey. I hope this styling successfully conveys the dramatic tension embedded within the character concept.