Matt Calman is of Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa-ki-te-tonga, Ngāti Koata, and Ngāti Rārua descent. He is a trained artist, with a Diploma of Arts (with Hons) from the Design and Arts College of New Zealand, majoring in photography, and went on to study journalism, graduating with a Diploma in Journalism from Massey University.

Matt worked at the Dominion Post from 2007 to 2010 and he is the author of The Longest Day (Allen and Unwin, 2020). Mokorua is his first book of photography. Matt received his own tā moko from Porirua artist Wiremu Barriball in 2016. He lives in Ōtautahi with his wife, Ranui Calman, and their two daughters, and is currently undertaking full-time study in te reo Māori at Ara / Te Pukenga.