[Hoshimi Miyabi Cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero Animal-Eared Swordsman Cosplay Photoshoot: Presenting Charging Stance and Slashing States

Regarding this set of Hoshimi Miyabi photos, the core idea was to present two completely different combat states. The first image selects a low-center-of-gravity charging stance, with the upper body twisting to look back at the camera, which maximizes the display of the costume's tailoring and the wrapped feel of the blue coat. During the shoot, I specifically asked the photographer to use a high-positioned hard light, which not only gives sharp contours but also extends shadows on the ground, intensifying the touch-and-go tension. The second image, on the other hand, chooses a half-kneeling, side-facing pose with the sword raised. Paired with the blue glowing effects added in post-production, it highlights the inherent power of the weapon and the character's instant explosive force when drawing the blade.

In terms of costume, makeup, and styling details, the key focus this time was handling the positioning of the animal ears. Many animal ears tend to look droopy or soft during a studio shoot, so we added a wire frame inside the headband. This way, whether tilting down or looking up, the ears maintain an upright state, avoiding the awkwardness of defying physical common sense. For the eye makeup, the slant of the brows and eyes was lowered, using a deep red eyeshadow to match the red irises, attempting to catch that cold, murderous aura. The blue, white, and yellow coat paired with a black short skirt naturally creates a strong contrast in the studio. Together with black gloves and boots, the overall look is exceptionally sharp. The prop sword used this time is a blade with golden tassels, which has excellent texture. After adding the blue flowing light effects near the blade edge in the second image, the result looks quite natural without a harsh graffiti feel.

A studio shoot's charm, completely different from outdoor settings, lies in the ability to fully control light sources and backgrounds. This time in the studio, a large area of light greyish-white was chosen for the backdrop, allowing the character to pop out completely. When setting up the lights, the photographer utilized reflectors to fill in the details of the shadow areas, ensuring that light-absorbing materials like black stockings and leather boots also possess a clear luster. The entire shooting process was quite physically demanding; the low-stance composition not only requires core strength but also requires keeping the facial expression from collapsing. Especially for a pose like the first image, twisting the body to look back at the lens, the neck was actually quite stiff, but for the sake of the output quality, we shot dozens of takes before picking this one with the most precise demeanor.

As for the post-processing part, it mainly revolved around unifying the moody atmosphere. The light captured in the initial shoot was quite sharp, so the highlights were slightly suppressed in post, and a few cool-toned filters were added to make the overall visual feel better align with the modern urban, light sci-fi tone of Zenless Zone Zero. When adding the blue special effects in the second image, I deliberately matched the direction of the hair strands, letting the special effect envelop the hair to simulate a sense of airflow when elements erupt. When posing for the two sets of photos, the room for post-production extension also needed to be considered; I couldn't just pose for the sake of posing. When slashing, the blade edge had to be positioned right at the perspective focal point in front of the lens so that the added special effects would carry visual impact.

Speaking of which, the day of the shoot was actually quite cold. Although it was an indoor studio shoot, because there was no heating equipment, I was actually shivering the entire time in my short skirt and stockings. Therefore, to control my expression and avoid looking shrunk from the cold, I had to keep moving my joints during breaks to warm up my body. Many seemingly effortless poses, like single-leg balances or deep squats, actually required grit and clenching my teeth behind the lens to maintain stability. Although it was exhausting, seeing the final results made me feel everything was completely worth it. From initial makeup tests and finding a tailor to alter the clothes, to communicating with the photographer to confirm the composition of the storyboards, a lot of thought went into the entire process.

As a cosplayer, I have always felt that recreating a character is not just about wearing identical clothes, but more importantly, approaching the core of that character through gaze, body language, and even the rhythm of breathing. In Hoshimi Miyabi's setting, there is a cool and decisive temperament, which actually contrasts heavily with my usual cheerful and talkative personality. Therefore, during the shoot, I would deliberately restrain my expressions, minimize unnecessary facial movements, and rely on my eyes to convey emotions. Whether it was staring intently at the camera from a low angle or looking straight ahead while half-kneeling, I tried to project myself into that state.

This cosplay photoshoot has successfully realized our ideas as much as possible, and I hope this cool, sharp style allows everyone to see our dedication to the makeup, styling, and photography. I also really enjoy this process of projecting a 2D image into the 3D world through the lens; the various small challenges encountered along the way are actually an important part of accumulating experience for the future.