Matt’s inclination to manipulate images involving babies surfaced again with the arrival of his son, Ryan, who was born five weeks premature. Weighing under 3 pounds, Ryan spent six weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a challenging period for both Matt and his wife. However, amidst the challenges, the couple sought the positive side of the situation. Their joking perspective painted Ryan not as a premature baby but as an “advanced” one, setting the stage for a creative project.
Inspired by this humor, Matt embarked on a series of photos featuring Ryan partaking in “grown-up” activities, aimed at dispelling the notion that premature babies are inherently fragile. While crafting these photos required effort and time, the outcomes are undeniably hilarious, justifying every minute invested by Matt and his wife.
The MacMillans, Matt and Alyssa, are proud parents of two beautiful children. At the time Matt embarked on his venture into creative children’s photography using Photoshop, their daughter Ella was an adorable 6-month-old.
As Ryan reached 6 months of age, Matt began experimenting even further with editing his children’s photos. The results were fun and imaginative, including snapshots of a cool kid skateboarding.
Ryan’s premature birth meant spending his initial six weeks within the NICU, a period marked by uncertainties and difficulties. Throughout this time, the couple playfully reframed Ryan’s prematurity as a form of advancement, a perspective that later became the inspiration for the whimsical photo series Matt created using Ryan as the charming baby model.
Matt shared his experience of crafting these comical images in a post for Bored Panda, explaining the process in simple terms. Some shots were more intricate to put together than others, involving configuration and editing. For each session, around 15 to 20 minutes were invested. Matt detailed the process of creating accessories and outfits for the images, emphasizing the meticulous work that goes into the editing.
With Ryan growing rapidly, his transformation is evident across Matt’s series. The happy 6-month-old baby depicted in these images is a far cry from the child he is becoming. Undoubtedly, these images will become cherished memories as Ryan grows up, encapsulating his journey from a tiny “pre-advanced” baby to a little explorer with a Photoshop-enhanced twist.
