[Ellen Joe cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero's Shark girl, here with a giant scythe for the photoshoot

Today, I finally wrapped up the shoot for the Zenless Zone Zero Ellen Joe cosplay main photos. This styling features the familiar maid-outfit Shark girl; to recreate that languid yet slightly dangerous vibe, a lot of prep work went into the wardrobe and props. The outfit is a black-and-white maid dress, with the metallic choker at the collar and the leather harness straps on the body all adjusted and secured piece by piece. To ensure nothing came loose during shooting, plenty of hidden snaps were concealed inside. For the wig, I selected a style with pink streaks, paired with red contact lenses to bring my overall look closer to the character's presence.

During the shoot, the most taxing element was actually that massive scythe prop. Although crafted from lightweight EVA, holding it by its long shaft for an extended period still strained my wrists. The first set of movements featured looking back over my shoulder while holding the scythe with one hand; to make the pose aesthetically sharp, the tension across my waist and shoulders had to be dialed in just right. The photographer kept reminding me to cool down my gaze even more, channeling that half-asleep, 'do not disturb' state of mind. In the second front-facing standing pose, to highlight the garment's tailoring and leg lines, I deliberately wore Black stockings with subtle diamond jacquard patterns, paired with red-soled Mary Jane high heels, which instantly elongated my body proportions.

The crouching pose had a very distinctive angle. To convey the tension of the scythe slung diagonally over my shoulder, I dropped down on one knee, shifting my center of gravity forward to stay balanced. The muscles in my back leg were constantly engaged, but thankfully the final look strongly captured that battle-ready readiness. Finally, for the shots seated on a chair holding small props with legs crossed, my posture relaxed considerably. Capturing a character that balances dynamic action and stillness truly hinges on toggling between everyday nonchalance and fierce combat capability—you can't remain stiff the entire time, nor can you completely let go.

Although this was shot in a studio, setting up yellow-and-black barricades, traffic cones, and yellow police tape echoed the character's world-building nicely, bringing out the full atmospheric vibe. Throughout the shoot, I continuously coordinated lighting angles with the photographer; because the outfit is predominantly black, rim and side-back lighting were essential to contour the silhouette, preventing details from blurring into a muddy shadow. Doing cosplay isn't just about looking good—it's about expressing one's understanding of the character through these fine details. I hope everyone feels the care put into this, and I'll keep refining subtle poses and expressions for even better results next time.