Ideal Dad Lab began as a project I first explored in graduate school, long before the technology existed to make it work the way I imagined. At that time, I surveyed people about the qualities they wished for in a father and manually composited images pulled from Google searches to build visual interpretations of their ideal father figures. The process was slow and entirely hands-on, but the core idea stayed with me.

With advances in AI, I developed Ideal Dad Lab to bring that original concept to life in a more immediate and interactive way. The app takes the user’s traits and descriptions and generates an instant set of results, including a visual snapshot from the imagined memory, a written narrative, and an audio version of the story.

If you would like to share your imagined father figure with the Ideal Dad Lab archive, you can email it to me at jim@jamesreimanphoto.com.

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Ideal Dad Lab User Examples

“Then, with a burst of renewed energy, you tried again, a quick, surprising scoop of your hands. You felt a tickle, a frantic flutter. You had it! You pulled your hands apart just enough to peek inside, a wide, triumphant grin spreading across your face. Dad chuckled, a warm, resonant sound. He leaned in, peering into your cupped hands with genuine curiosity. "Well, look at that! What a beauty. Little adventurer." He didn't just acknowledge your catch; he shared in the wonder, making the moment feel bigger, more significant. The quiet joy of discovery, shared between the two of you in the sun-drenched field, made the ordinary afternoon feel truly extraordinary.”

"Ready for an adventure?" he murmured, his voice calm and steady, even as a handler beckoned them closer. You nodded so hard your pigtails bounced. With a practiced, effortless motion, Dad scooped you up, light as a feather, and set you gently onto the broad, warm back of the elephant, right in front of him. You could feel the surprisingly coarse, bristly hair under your small hands as you gripped the edge of the blanket.

He settled in behind you, his arm a reassuring, strong presence around your waist, keeping you perfectly secure. The elephant shifted, a low rumble vibrating through its massive body, and then began to move. It wasn't a jarring lurch, but a slow, rhythmic sway, like being rocked gently on a giant, living boat. From this new, incredible height, the world looked different. The colorful tents, the blurred faces of the cheering crowd, even the ringmaster's top hat seemed to shrink.

You turned your head slightly to look back at Dad, your face alight with pure, unadulterated joy. He just grinned, a genuine, easy grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Pretty amazing, huh?" he asked, his voice low over the crowd's murmur. You couldn't even manage words, just a happy, breathless giggle. He squeezed your side gently, sharing in your delight, completely at ease on top of the majestic beast. It felt like the most natural thing in the world, riding an elephant through the circus, all because your dad made everything feel fun and effortlessly cool.”

“He nudged you towards the glowing yellow maze of Pac-Man. "Okay, here's the plan," he whispered conspiratorially, leaning down so his voice was just for you. "We're going to use the 'Ghost Jiggle 'strategy." He then proceeded to demonstrate a ridiculous, subtle wiggle of his shoulders and hips, mimicking Pac-Man's movement, which made you giggle uncontrollably. "It confuses them! Makes'em think we're just a particularly enthusiastic snack."

As he inserted a quarter, his elbow accidentally bumped the side of the machine, making it wobble slightly, but he caught it with a grin. "Just adding to the suspense!" he announced. With the joy stick in his hand, he'd narrate Pac-Man's journey, making up dramatic tales for each ghost. "Oh no, Inky!He's trying to trick us with his blue eyes! Quick, Pac-Man, to the power pellet!" His movements were exaggerated, his facial expressions mirroring every turn and chase. When Pac-Man inevitably got caught, he’d throw his hands up in mock despair, then turn to you with a wide, silly grin. "He just wasn't ready for the 'Pinky Pounce' today, huh? But we'll get 'em next time!"

He handed you a quarter, letting you try, his large hand gently guiding your small one on the joystick.He didn't care if you lost instantly; every chomp and every ghost eaten was met with a cheer. The flashing lights of the arcade, the electronic symphony, and your dad's infectious laughter filled the space, creating a perfect, silly bubble where the only goal was to have the most fun imaginable.”