01You do not need a flexing photo
The trend supplies the walk, the squat and the muscular build. A sharp, ordinary photo of the person or character is a more useful reference than a blurry gym selfie mid-pose. You do not need a beach, a sunset or a shirtless picture. Start with one clearly intended subject rather than a group shot.
02Make the face readable when it is small
The face is seen frontally only in the final half second, when the character grins at the lens from a squat, and by then the figure is smaller in frame than at the start. For most of the clip the face is in profile. So the photo needs a face that stays recognizable when small: a front or gently angled view with even light works better than a distant shot where the face is a few pixels wide. Avoid sunglasses glare, a hand over the mouth, heavy filters or a crop that cuts through the head. A clear profile cue, such as hair, ears or glasses, also helps during the opening walk. These choices help communicate identity; they do not guarantee exact likeness in every frame.
03Decide whether the outfit matters
The source character wears a shirt, tie, shorts, striped socks and black shoes, and the full body is visible throughout. If your character’s clothing is part of the joke, such as a work uniform, a costume or a team jersey, choose a photo where that outfit is visible from shoulders to waist at least. A face-only crop does not describe a complete outfit. When two photos are both clear, prefer the one that shows both a readable face and the clothing you want.
04Pets, mascots and drawn characters
Use a clear view of the head and body shape that makes the character recognizable: ears, markings, colors. The template asks for an upright, exaggerated muscular build performing human motion, so an animal photo is an appearance reference, not a promise that its anatomy will transfer cleanly. Check the limbs and the face at the squat and the ending in any result.
05Remove ambiguity before uploading
There is one Strutter slot. If your photo contains two people, crop to the intended subject and keep their whole head and the relevant clothing, without another face at the edge. A collage of several outfit options or a split image makes it unclear which appearance belongs in the scene.
06Write a one-line reason for your choice
Before submitting, note why this photo: “clear face, visible uniform, nothing covering the hands” is more useful than “best photo.” After reviewing a result, check those same details in the profile walk, the bend and turn, and the final grin. If you decide another attempt is worthwhile, change one input and read the current quote first. This guide does not report a measured success rate.