While I understand your pov, and I don’t know the shoe market in any way, shape or form, I think it should be that picture or no picture at all.
This is a new company brought up by the little guy, not some corporate goliath trying to be hip. The picture used is genuine, and that is what I think is important to the success of any startup. Phony can sustain a brand for only so long. That picture can be a great representation of the brand, and while I agree there can be risk with it, there also can be reward.
I would make sure everything aligns to the “mad scientist” value proposition. I personally think you have a good start, but it is something that should always be in the design process and go through a lot of change in the early years.