APA Le Talk at Connections NY

Le Talk at Connections NY 

June 5, 2025 – 5PM
Beyond the Brief: An inspiring look at creativity and collaboration

Moderator:
Juliette Wolf-Robin
National Executive Director, American Photographic Artists (APA)

Panelists
Steven John Irby – Photographer
co-owner & director
Street Dreams New York
instagram.com/stevesweatpants
stevesweatpants.com/
streetdreams.co/

Brooklyn-born and Queens-raised, Steven John Irby, also known as Steve Sweatpants, is a photographer, creative director, and co-founder of Street Dreams Magazine. For over a decade, he has built Street Dreams into a global creative community, recently expanding with Street Dreams Tokyo.
Steve’s work is deeply rooted in the raw authenticity of city life, with a profound love for black-and-white photography that honors family connections and amplifies underrepresented perspectives. Influenced by legendary photographers such as Gordon Parks, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, and Joseph Rodriguez, his imagery captures timeless moments that resonate both personally and culturally.
A Sony artist for eight years, Steve contributed his talents to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Part 2 and has work in the permanent collection at the Museum of the City of New York. In his TED Talk on photography, he explores the saying his father engrained in his memory, “don’t live to pay your rent”.  Photography’s power to foster empathy, connection, and storytelling—reminding others to pursue their passions and cherish the bonds that shape them. The timeless moments that last forever and cost nothing.
In 2020, Irby was awarded a citation from the borough of Brooklyn for his contribution to the arts, music and cultural landscape of Brooklyn and the city of New York from the president of the borough of Brooklyn.

street dreams magazine is focused on creating community through showcasing the talents of photographers worldwide.

Keren Sachs - Founder & CEO
The Luupe
https://theluupe.com/
Keren Sachs is the Founder and CEO of The Luupe, a global creative marketplace connecting brands with top, diverse creatives. With a mission to create income-generating opportunities for underrepresented talent, she’s built a community spanning 90+ countries and collaborated with brands like Sweetgreen and Peloton. Her career includes leadership roles at Shutterstock, National Geographic, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedial. A recognized voice on creativity, equity, and representation, Keren has been featured on Forbes, CBS, MSNBC, and beyond.

Martin Wonnacott – Photographer
https://wonnacott.com/
Founding Partner of production company cake-factory
https://cakefactory.com
Born in England. Went to school in Sawbridgeworth. Remembers playing with
water tanks at age 4. Received first plastic camera in small box, age 9.
Started assisting photographers at age 17. Moved to London age 19. Discovered
pubs age 19. Started own studio age 23.
Fascinated with all things shiny. Has travelled around the world on and off. Paints
watercolour landscapes. Never shows watercolours to anyone. Adores Rioja.
Discovered NY in 1999. Loves airplanes. Has shot virtually every sort of liquid
form of refreshment for sale in the world.
Founded cake-factory 2003.
Loves Paul Smith socks. Has a favorite local bar in NYC and pub in London.
Lives between both cities when not somewhere else. Still loves playing with
water tanks.
Couple of Cannes Lions. Multiple Gold Clio awards. D&AD pencils. 3 Webby
awards.
Collects robots.