Picture Number Five: Your Boxing Picture
What the Hell is a Boxing Picture?
Alright Let’s keep it real, very real. My workout picture is me boxing and I hate to break it ya, but I’m a therapist, not a boxer. Bad Joe-Joe.
To be honest, while I totally did use this picture in my profile, one thing I did not use was an insane edit, I do want to add the disclaimer I did use an edit nonetheless, which I really recommend for this picture and will explain later.
And while I did use an edit, it does not take away from the essence of the picture, and what this picture is about. It is about capturing doing something active, that is cool, even bad-ass, but also you. Now the trick is to make it you, own it, and use the details for the best possible picture.
Me training for my upcoming title fight, while making my tinder great again. **Please note unedited- will discuss later.
So how did I take this picture and make it myself?
Hate to break it to ya, I am NOT a boxer. What I am, is a person who owns their shit.
To do this, I had to be up front and tell a stranger, listen man, I’m taking this boxing picture, you know, to make my tinder great again (okay, and hinge and bumble).
You cant make this picture yourself if you are not owning it. Own everything in life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, that's how you grow. You own it, account for it, and fix it!
I digress, back to our fundamentals, or as I like to call, Three Basic Questions:
Who we take it with (the picture)? What we’re doing and Where are we?
First, who do we take it with?
Just like the first four pictures- your friends, your family, or your loved ones. This is a big one, because this helps overcome what makes this picture arguably the most difficult one of them all.
We take it with our friends for two reasons:
1- you have someone to take the pictures with and for you, and
2- you have someone to laugh and share the ridiculousness of this with.
Why is this picture the most difficult to take? Two Reasons:
You are not a boxer, so ya gotta make it you, ya gotta own it. Just like I am totally sitting here smiling writing about this.
The second reason it can be difficult is I am going to assume you do not have access to a boxing trainer, and ring on demand. But hey if you do, you can probably kick my ass.
Luckily I was able to navigate it and be able to share my experience so that you can do it too. I’ll help you work through the logistics and make it totally you!
That gangsta Joseph still think he’s a boxer. Just to note this is a 5.0 on photofeeler, and will totally be referenced later on in the article this picture. Please note also unedited.
So who did I do it with, and how did I make it “me?”
I dragged my cousin out, oh my poor cousin, he’s a good dude, ladies you should be matching with him, he’s a gem and also quite the boxing photographer.
Why him? Because he’s my dude. He knew exactly what I was doing and it made it easy for me to own it since I had him to share and laugh about it with.
Remember guys, two things can be true at once, you can own how ridiculous these pictures are, and still want to take them to have an awesome profile, you just gotta have fun with it, that’s what makes it you.
What about that poor boxing trainer? Now this how you own it!
I paid a boxing trainer, that’s right. Not only did I take my cousin with me, but I did pay a boxing trainer for his time. He was a really nice young man, who was more than happy to do it, give me a good workout, and do his best to also make it the best it could be.
Oh yeah, and he was laughing with us, when I said listen I’m not here for the workout or to box, Let’s workout and take some great pictures for tinder. This is really for my dating profile. He couldn’t believe it but like I said, he totally went a long with it, and he did his best to even get me the best pair of gloves possible- what a gem!
Own it, Own it and Own it!
If you wanna do something to your absolute best… you have to own it, even a boxing picture. If you own it, nobody can bother you or make fun of you, or knock you down! Anyways….
So, What are we doing?
That’s the second question we ask ourselves when taking these pictures, whether we are eating steak, out with friends or at a rooftop.
Well for now, we are definitely taking a boxing picture, and not training for our upcoming title fight. But ya know what, we are getting in a good workout, or shall I say a little piece of extra cardio.
A workout that includes some pad-work and boxing pictures! Come on guys own it!
Wow, what a left hook. Again: Unedited
Question Number Three: Where Are We?
We're at a boxing gym, and also huge bonus points if you can nail this picture with a boxing ring. It just makes it cooler.
What if A girl asks you about this picture?
One caveat I do want to add and address, If a girl asks, “Do you box? You can smile or laugh and say, “Nah I just did it for the workout, or smile laugh and say, Nope, just for Hinge.”
Why? Because you are owning it. You are being fun and playful and you are not lying. FYI nobody ever asked about my boxing career while on a date.
One time, in a message, a girl did ask if I boxed- and clearly knew the deal. We both laughed, and nothing bad happened. Anyways….
Now for the Details:
Or, as we’ve been saying, the things that really stack the deck in your favor. For this picture the details come down to three things, the clothes, the camera angle/position, and the action shot!
Why are the details important? Because we are going for that action shot, so we want a good outfit (clothes matter), while the camera is in the best position, to make the action shot freaking cool and looking natural.
Clothes:
Guys come on let’s be honest clothes matter, clothes say competence, clothes say confidence, clothes make it look like you know what you are doing. The clothes certainly matter in pictures and on dates.
In this picture it is especially important, because it is one of the three essential details that add to the picture. It makes it more than just a picture of a dude working out.
If you are in average or above average shape, totally wear a tank-top. Show off the guns and your boulders for shoulders. Give the people what they want!
A note on the clothes in my picture
At the time I was definitely not in great shape, so I chose to wear a t-shirt. It’s just important that it fits well on you, not oversized and definitely not too tight.
Also for the love, do not be a D-nozzle like me and ask your friend to buy you a lu-lu lemon t-shirt. But hey, that’s what friends are for…anyways….
Use The Clothes and The Gloves!
The boxing gloves are totally a part of this picture, especially in how they match with your clothes. Notice how my gloves match with my shirt.
Notice the shirt matches the gloves, thank you boxing trainer. Also for the record, unedited.
Also you know who’s idea it was for me to wear real-pro gloves that matched with the shirt? The Trainer! That’s what happens when you also own it, he bought in, wanted to help and do his best, thank dude!
Gloves and shirt matching is a Huuuuge bonus point
Shorts and Shoes: They Matter!
The Shorts and Shoes: Black Shorts and White Shoes. Remember guys while some colors might look better on you in person, or you might have a taste for certain colors, for the profile I highly encourage you to wear the white shirt and white shoes along with black/dark pants/shorts.
Also, I totally got lucky with the background as the black shorts and white shoes offered a nice contrast with the red ring (at least I think so).
Camera Angle:
My position is center in the middle of the frame, and notice my head is nearly at the top of the frame. Meaning there is not really any distance between the frame and my bald head.
Also notice. I’m not to the right, or the left of it, I’m smack in the middle.
This makes the picture look more full and complete. It makes you look cool because you are taking up the whole frame, like you are that bad-ass boxer, or at least having a cool workout.
You can recreate this exact camera angle with the person taking the picture. Here’s how you do it:
Have the person taking the picture hold the phone close to their body/mid section. Also try having the person kneeling, and tilting the phone up at a slight angle.
This creates that effect of you being on top of the frame! I know it sounds like a lot, but all of these details add up.
The Punch:
Well first of all I’d much rather be having a Rum Punch, but I digress. Anyways, as you can see the punch/action shot is a left jab. Stick that left arm all the way out and hold it.
Right hand right below your chin, or at chin level, just so we can see your face.
Do this action shot intently, whether you are working out and having someone else hold the pads, or having a friend shoot and take the pictures of you in the middle of the ring! Just copy the shot I took.
Don’t forget your grooming!
Haircut, and beard looking on point, try your best to get that fresh cut the day of or a day before you take any picture.
Remember it is an action shot
An action shot means you are going for that “caught in the moment” picture. You are not taking this picture with the intent to look like a perfect ten, or a ten on photofeeler.
O.k I’ll say it: You really should edit it!
Because this picture is difficult to really nail, with the action shot, editing it will only again stack the deck in your favor. All of the pictures above are unedited, and the second picture in this blog tested on photofeeler, a 5.0, which isn’t bad but definitely isn’t great. Below is the photofeeler score from it.
Guys also, do yourself a favor please, pay the extra 100 bucks or whatever to a professional editor. It is so worth it, for not just time but also quality of the edit, especially in this picture when it is an action shot.
Another reason to edit it, is the editor can make that small little difference in attractiveness,, whether it is a tanner look, a little more lean. Just don’t go crazy, obsess, or continue to edit, edit, and edit (I used ElizaP on Fiver).
Now let’s take a look below at the edited version and the photofeeler score.
Edited picture 6.9 on photofeeler.
The edit totally made a difference, for an action shot, go for it. Just don’t obsess over it. It’s just one picture. I look tanner, leaner, and just a little better.
The edit didn’t change the essence of the picture, it’s just one detail I used to raise the score, just like the clothes, and the action shot. Use it, but don’t abuse it. Below I’ll include that photofeeler score.
A 6.9 is really damn good for a boxing picture, trust me on this one.
But Joey, Shouldn’t we aim higher then a 6.9?
Yes, you should aim for the perfect ten, that’s life. Even if you have to get in incredible shape to take the best boxing picture ever, yes!
Here’s the reality, you might not be in the best shape right now, but keep going and getting better, then in 30 days when you dropped a good five to ten pounds, you can do it again and notice a difference in score.
Then you can keep getting in great shape and doing it again? Why that is self-improvement and really what this business and service is about, not a boxing picture.
The reality is this picture is part of the information I am giving you so you can be your very best, especially in the world of dating.
From a picture and profile standpoint, not every picture is going to be that 7 to 9 range, like the first four pictures.
The truth is the girl is browsing your profile looking at the picture and deciding if she is double tapping or swiping right, this picture is different, still makes you attractive, it’s just a lower score, when done right it adds variety and stands out!
Alternatives for a boxing picture:
Look, maybe this picture or a boxing picture is just a lot whether it is logistically, or you are having a hard time making it you, So it’s also important for me that I provide you some alternatives for a picture, at least with ideas
Just be very mindful about the details (clothes, camera angle, and the actual action shot, and definitely a recommended edit). Just be sure you are still having fun, and truly owning it, and make whatever picture you do take yourself!
Remember this is an action shot about you being active you want that caught in the moment moment and you look good doing it. That’s why we wear the nice clothes, have good grooming and the right camera angle.
Possible Alternatives:
1. Don’t have a boxing ring, use a heavy bag or speed bag, most gyms have at least one of them.
I’ll include a magazine style type of quality picture below so you have a good picture to copy for when you do it.
Literally copy this picture, the gloves, the stance, the gray tank-top. Just not the bandana, that can be a little much for a dating profile, unless it’s truly you of course.
